Year: 1868

again set it on the table, and with on,
hand press his forehead, while with tn,
other he crushed the small piece of paper
which had contained the powder.


Perhaps he stood thus ten seconds
though 1t seemed much longer to me, wher
he suddenly walked to the window anC
flung the particle of paper out, then took
up the glass again and with a quick ster
disappeared within the alcove.


This time he did not come out so quick
ly, for it seemed long time to me as sal
there, in the sufocating atmosphere of thai
summer night.


One by one the lights began to disap
pear In the neighboring houses l had
grown tired of my watching and began tc
doze in the chair by the window, while
the gas. jets in the room opposite resolved
| themselves into fantastic forms, first grow
ing dim and shadowy, then blazing up into
a miniature illumination, as the drowsy goc
took possession of my brain


must have been sleeping, as l awokC
with q sudden start. For minute coulC
not collect my thoughts, and when die
so my first glance was at the opposite
windows.


All was dark. Every light in the place
was out, "It must be very late" thought
/, and walking to my dressing-room ]
looked at the time. Two o'clock! Good
heavens was it possible had been sleep.
ing by the window so longl Forgetting
all about my opposite neighbors, 1 pro.
ceeded to disrobe myself for bed.


l was Just in the act of unfastening my
dress, when l heard scream not an or.
| dinary scream, but one which is seldom
heard, and when heard curdles the blood
in the veins. A woman's screams hor.
rible sound, that rings through the brain
with nameless dread of something. A
vague, underlined terror seized me, and not
well knowing what did, l sprang to the
front window, as the sound came from
that direction.


One look at the house of my opposite
neighbors was enough. Again the light
streamed from the windows and two fig
ures came between the looking-glass and
the light. In moment'I recognized the
white robe of the lady, which clung to
her form like a shroud. Her long, black
hair fell in twining masses to her knees,
and she was struggling in the arms of the
gentleman had seen in the early part of
the night. In the stiffness of the sultry
air | could plainly hear the voices.


Minnie, be silent, say" came in sup
pressed tones from the man. But the
woman was evidently too much excited to
heed him.


ooh, George, bring help to me- am
dying! Helpp Again the scream-more
prolonged, more terrible than beforel


By this time there was sound of foot
steps in the street. The noise of raising
windows in the different houses, and the
quick clatter of opening blinds.


All during the short interval-shorter
than 1t takes me to write tiny eyes
mn Iast f6.nrN 19f
continued to struggle. Now close to the
window, now far in the room. At last the
woman's screams grew faint, then ceased
altogether. The man held her passively
in his arms and carried her into the alcoye
AS his figure passed from sight, a police
man ran up the stoop and rang the bell
1t seemed an endless period of time until
it was answered, and l may be pardoned
for the confession when | say that my
heart was beating SO loudly that could
hear it. There was no light in the hall
when the door was opened, and could
only see the shadow of some one, though
could hear the words spoken quite
plainly:


"What is the matter here?"


1 was not aware that you had any
right to enquire as to the every day occur
rences of private house." In this
voice l recognized the man whom had
moment before seen disappear in the
alcove.


al am but doing my duty, sir. When
anything unusual occurs in a private
house-we have the right to enquire
heard lady's voice several times before,
tonight, and it's my duty to see that there
is nothing wrong in this"


"You deserve credit for the manner you
A1tx 1V.fT 4l,ok
be disappointed in your calculations as to
discovery of anything sensational here.
My wife has been ill for some time-dan-
gerously i'll, and tonight she is delirious.
Is there anything in that fact which calls
forth your assiStance?" There was sar-
castle ring in the voice, but the good ma
tured officer did not seem to perceive it.
Or, If he did, preferred not to notice it.


II beg your pardon, sir. presume its
all right" and with the apology he walked
away.


The man stood at the door gazing after
him-then suddenly looked across the
street at the window, where I, half lean
ing out, was watching him. Ididn't know
what impulse made him cross the street,
but he did, walking straight to the win
dow, and looking up at me said: "Mad-
anne pardon me for troubling you You
evidently are acquainted with the un-
pleasant occurrence of tonight May /
request that you come over and render
some assistance to my wife?"


What could do? I am not courageous
at the best of times, and 1 confess there
was strange dread of something's knew
not what. l suppose hesitated so long
in answering that he expected refusal.


Indeed, Madame, you will confer a
rnot Of L.
My wife really needs some assistance from
one of her own sex, and we have no ac-
quaintances in the city"


Wait one moment, sir, and l will be
down"


Here then was chance to satisfy all my
woman's curiosity. l entered my dress
ing room, turned down my light, and fling
ing light shawl about my shoulders, hur-
r1ed down stairs. He was waiting for me.


Without word followed him into the
opposite house. Up the long, dark fight
OF steps to the second floor Through the
brilliantly lighted room to the alcoVe.


She lay on the bed-her jetty wealth of
hair in coiling, trailing tendrils-covering
the pillow and the white robe-resting
upon the floor. A deathlY white face, that
was beautiful in its marble purity. The
dark eyes were closed, but the lids were
so white and transparent that the eye be.
meath was defined in shadow. The lashes,
black as ink, lay like q fringe upon her
cheek. But the expression of the coun-
tenance; the utter misery-the mortal
agony written in the pallid, beautiful face,
God keep me from ever again seeing


The voice of the man at my side
aroused me from my contemplation.


This is my wife-Mrs. Randolph
my name Is George Randolph. As said
before we are strangers here"
| turned my eyes from the face on the
bed and looked at him.


The first mental question was;
why did ever think this man hand.
some y The features were good. and q,
the short distance of across the street.
were softened, but now close beside min
there was harsh, erU& look about the lipl
cold glitter in the eyes, and altogether a