Year: 1868

their work for he turned, held out his
arms, and she, with a cry which could
distinctly hear, flung herself upon his
bosom.


I confess I breathed sigh of intense
relief at the termination of the domestic
pantomime, and ever since | have been
racking my brain for solution of the
mystery.


During the day everything went on as
usual. saw nothing of the lady, but had
frequently seen the gentleman pass in and
out with a repose of countenance one
would little expect after witnessing the
dreadful scene of passion. This explana-
ton will be sufficient to g We an insight
into the singular conduct Of the couple.
It was evident there was some great mys-
terry, not unmixed with guilt, and my
woman's curiosity may be pardoned for
undertaking the task of its unravelment.


Nothing, however, of any consequence
occurred, and, although nearly q week
passed, was no nearer the end, until the
sultry night I speak of showed me the
windows were open and the room lit up in
its accustomed brilliancy.


While i looked with newly awakened
curiosity, saw the gentleman cross the
room to the 1lcove and disappear for a
moment. But only for a moment.
He almost instantly emerged with
vial of some liquid, walked to the
centre table directly under the chandelier,
poured few drops into glass, which
glistened like molten rubies as he slowly
counted them out, laid the vial upon the
table and seemed to listen, with his face
half turned towards the alcove. Evident
ly satisfied that all was right, he took a
small powder of something from his breast
pocket and emptied its contents into the
glass. could plainly see his face, as the
light shone full upon it, which was almost
Iivid. saw him raise the goblet, look at
it between the light, slowly turn it around
in his hand, as if to dissolve the powder,
again set it on the table, and with one
hand press his forehead, while with the
other he crushed the small piece of paper
which had contained the powder.


Perhaps he stood thus ten seconds,
though it seemed much longer to me, when
he suddenly walked to the window and
flung the particle of paper out, then took
up the glass again and with quick step
disappeared within the alcove.


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


One by one the lights began to disap-
pear in the neighboring houses. had
grown tired of my watching and began to
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
miniature illumination, as the drowsy god
took possession of my brain.


/ must have been sleeping, as I awoke
with sudden start For minute could
not collect my thoughts, and when / did
80 my first glance was at the opposite
windows.


All was dark. Every light in the place
was out :" 1t must be very late, thought
I, and walking to my dressing-room l
looked at the time Two o'clock! Good
heavens! was it possible had been sleep
ing by the window so long Forgetting
all about my opposite neighbors, pro-
ceeded to disrobe myself for bed.


was Just in the act of unfastening my
dress, when l hearda scream not an or
dinary scream, but one which is seldom
heard, and when heard curdles the blood
in the veins. A woman's scream-a hor
rible sound, that rings through the brain
with q nameless dread of something. A
vague, underlined terror seized me, and not
well knowing what did, 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 recognized the
white robe of the lady, which clung to
her form like 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 sIltry
air could plainly hear the voices.


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


ooh, George, bring help to me; / am
dyingl Helpr Again the scream-more
prolonged, more terrible than before!


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 it takes me to write Tiny eyes
never left the opposite house The couple
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 alcove.
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 may be pardoned
for the confession when / say that my
heart was beating so loudly that l 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
l could hear the words spoken quite
plainly:


"What is the matter here?"
81 was not aware that you had any
right to enquire as to the every day occur
rences of private house." In this
voice / recognized the man whom / had
a moment before seen disappear in the
alcove.


al am but doing my duty, sir. When
anything unusual occurs in 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
fulfill your duty, but | fear that you will
| be disappointed in your calculations as to
discovery of anything sensational here
NY wife has been i'll 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
l IL i