" GIVE HER REST IN HER GRAVE !"

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 85, 18 April 1885, Page 3

" GIVE HER REST IN HER GRAVE !"

•'Life, struck sharp on death, Makesawfullightmn^l bkowning

Any answer yet?"

"No, sir." Yoylo turned away from the telegrapher s desk with a relieved air. Perhaps there would bo none. Heaven grant so. Silence would give him the assurance he craved that Vella was ?afe -with her friend.

He would wait half an hour longer, though, and make sure. So he walked briskly down several blocks and back. The collar of his light overcoat was turned up to his ears, his soft felt hat was drawn low over his brows.

He was thinking of Aunt Dolly's dismay of the provious night. Ho smiled at the recollection. Though pathetic, it had been irresistibly comical, too. And she had not proffered a single quotation—sho had been too dazed for even that.

Ho ro-ontered tho telegraph office. The smile in his oyes and on his lips died a sudden death as the operator oxtendod to him an envelope lying near. ' Como at last, sir !" cheerily. He opened it unheeding, An undefined fear mmlo his hands shake as do those of the palsied:

" To .Alit Voyi.b Vehxeli. : ■' Your despatch is Greek to mc. Have nol seen Vella sincn last Christmas, nor heard oi her Shu:,: March, but read of her wedding.— Kvklyx GaciK."

He crushed tho message into his pocket and turned away. What did it mean? — what in Heaven's name could it mean ? She had not gone to Philadelphia at all, Whore then had she gone ? Nor had she written. What was the cause of her silence win rn-cr sho was ?

A wave of sickening fear swept over him. What accident had there been —what wrong —or could it bo death V Ho grew actually

faint. Ho mustn't stand idle—that would never help her, find her, bring hor back to him again.

Tho first he certainly was not doing. Ho was walking at a rate which mado the poople on tho sidewalk turn and look aftor him, and those on tho cars nudge each other and refer to tho approaching speed contest at tho Exposition Building and presont

pedestrian craze. Fears too terrible for even momentary credence surged through his brain, Or

might it not bo possible she had missed her train that night, had docided not to leave town at all, and was still in that city ? But, no ; that was n,ot probable. She would

never have remained, no matter with whom, and left Aunt Dolly ignorant of her proximity. Was thoro any accident about tho time of hor departure? Ho could recollect

lono, but he had not road tho papers ahou

that time, and very often such affairs wero barely slurred over, occasionally successfully suppressed. Tho only way to mako sure was to go to the oflioo of that particular road, stato his case, and ask for information.

This, with the promptitude of terror, he did.

The gentleman to whom ho applied was all that was courteous and obliging.

The day and date given, memory and records wore examined.

Yes, thoro was au accident to that particular train that particular night—a 'collision. Loss of life? Not as numerous as tho nature of tho accident might lead ono to suppose, Brakoman killed, trainboy injured, engineer scalded, old lady injured. Name ? Mrs Costello. Young man, back hurt; child killed; throe or four others injured, taken in and cared for by families living noar scene of calamity. Yes, that was all tho information ho possessed. If tbe gentleman would leavo his addresß, anything else he could learn ho would immediately inform him of. Ho hoped he would discover his tears wero without foundation, and he was, in fact, prophetic that Jho should. His timo, unfortunately, was limited—and—aw—what a delightful day, and—aw— joot/-afternoon.

if ow Voylo got out of that comfortablo ofllco and into the street ho nevor afterwards had the slightest remembrance. The fruit of his fear was conviction of tho worst. She was dead !—that was what he told himself. She had beon fatally injured, carried to a house near by, thero died ; and tho peoplo, knowing neither her name nor home, had quiotly thero buried her. This was what his passion of gloom and foreboding forced on bim. Sho was dead !

{To be Continued.)