Year: 1870

new life, and l understood perfectly thu
but little of their conversation would b
for my ears that day.


| One morning, as we were approaching
New Orleans, they came into the pilo
house to bid me goodbye, thanking m,
for the privilege they had enjoyed in occu
pying seats in my glass cage, and suggest
ing the hope that we should meet again.
I regretted that we must part company
and limited at change of cards. The gen
tleman readily consented, and playfully
remarked that pasteboard was cheap, and
with my permission he would give me a
more lasting, at the same time drawing a
diamond ring from his finger, he stepped
to the window and cst two names upon
the glass, and to convey more signifca,
meaning, one name was written across the
other. There said he, you will always
think Of us both when you look at tha,
card, and as it is cut with diamond, lei
US believe that you will not readily erase
our names from the glass or your men,
ory.'


told him the card should be preserv-
ed and the memory treasured with care,
little thinking whit mysterious charge
had to keep. Ispoke to my partner about
the names, and requested him to always
use care in moving the sash, and let no ac-
cident befall the card.


Even at the time was well along in
years, and what people call romance had
long since been buried in the cares of a
large and happy family, but never could
look upon those names without feeling Il
strange superstition, and recalling the
face Of that woman. 1t became habit
with me on entering the pilot house to
look at them, and l am sure should have
felt lonely if by chance they had been de-
stroyed or spirited away. Mon!hs had
elapsed since saw my friends leave the
boat, and had settled into the regular
routine of my Office, looking upon my card
case as the gentle remainder ofo friends,
but one that would never bring the rea'i.
cation of my former superstitions. But
not so for on my up trip, shortly Lefore
landing at Vicksburg, l was forcibly re-
minded that the diamond names we're Of
more Importance than I had ever dreamed,
and the fact was demonstrated by tall,
black-eyed, dark-complexioned man. who
stepped into the pilot house. He did not
attract much attention until his eye chanc
cd to rest upon the card, then terrible
oaths burst upon my ears-the very sight
of those names had transformed him into
o fiend, and thousand demons seemed to
be struggling in his breast. Seizing a
chair that stood near, he was about to
shiver the glass into atoms but, anticipa-
ting his design, removed one hand from
the wheel and caught hold Of the chair
saying sharply, Sir, you must not injSre
the card; it was left in my keeping"
shall never forget the expression of his
face as he Knocked my words.


in your keeping! Two names that
have been buried into my ssul for years
names that l have written in blood
names that


The demon within seemed to choke him,
and his words were cut short. For me.
ment I thought the blood would leap from,
his eyes. Relaxing his hold upon the
chair, he drew two Derringers from belt
beneath his coat, leveling one at me, and
the other at the glass, he said:


Now, sir, move but hand to oppose
me in destroying the names left IN you,
keeping, and your life shall pay the for.
feitr


Hardly had his words been uttered,
when ball went crashing through my
treasured names.


Tell your precious pair for me- said
he, that their lives hang on thread more
brittle than the glass that bore their
names


Before I could make reply, he had left
me alone, and in q few minutes I saw
him step from the stage plank at Vicks
burg.


For weeks and months, fearful dread
took possession Of my thoughts, and
could not free myself from its hold; tn.
terrible dark man, as I called him
would rise between me and the shattered
pane, and by some strange reasoning
held myself responsible for the broken
names, and feared that two broken live.
would be the result unless in some way
could change the drift Of affairs. Once
had stood before the names, but to nj
purpose. Would / ever be called upon tt
stand between the persons and the mar
who seemed bent upon their destruction
What was to do? They had not giver
me their residence, and knew not where
to address them.


i All my inquiries concerning the darl
man were fruitless. A person answering
his description had stopped ono night a
Vicksburg. Nothing more could bt
learned regarding his movements.
! Nearly six months passed and still thu
terrible mystery remained to burden my
mind and break my rest.


In October, of that year, We left New
Orleans with very large load Of passen
gers. Everything ran smoothly until thu
fourth night. was then standing at tht
aft watch, and toek the wheel q few miles
ohova V;ck shnr0 Tho kVhts were tnrn