LITERATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6705, 19 November 1889, Page 1

LITERATURE.

A TERRIBLE RIDE. li, —as a comely-looking old lady, spectacles and 'that thing of the past, a grandmotherly cap, who eat opposite me in a seeond-claßß compartment of the ' "Flying Scotchman/a nd presently produced her crochefc-work, remarking to me as -he did bo— "I think this will be pretty when the fringe is on ?" I agreed that it would. "I am going to see my daughter, who is married, in Glasgow," she said, "and ifs a long journey, bat so different from what it used to be. - Why, we had days of jolting in stage-coaches. And once I had a journey that I think you'll like to hear about, if you like stories; and it began with my waiting alone at the corner of a road, just at sunset, to catch the coach that passed there. When it came up it was empty, and as I got inside I felt sorry to think I was alone. Night was drawing on; a storm was coming up, and it was uncanny travelling with not a soul to speak to. "At first the solitude oppressed me. Then I fell asleep, and was awakened by a jolt of the vehicle. I started up. The moon had peeped from under the clouds as I awoke, and I saw a dark figure, wrapped in a big cloak, climbing in, supporting a female, who leaned against him as if faint or ill. Instinctively I drew myself into the darkest coiner of the coach, and let ray veil down. The. man put his companion on the seat in a reclining position, and retired to the other corner himself, taking no notice of her. I saw in the moonlight a fair face, shadowed by golden hair, and enveloped in the hood of a great cloak; but though the eyes were wide open, they seemed never to turn to the right or to the left, nor was the slightest motion of the body perceptible. This fact produced a very strange effect on me. A horror, for which I had no words, crept over me. I felt that I would have given any precious thing I possessed if that woman would but have turned and spoken to hex companion, or he to her. " Perhaps the man was conscious of my stare of horror, for in a moment or two he drew a handkerchief from his pocket and placed it over the woman's face. The action instead of quieting my feara, iatensified them. What could this be that lay bo near me but a beautiful corpse ? And this man, who had doubtless believed the coach empty, was her aaaaßsin. , "To communicate with the guard without this passenger's knowledge was impossible. I felt that my own life might be in danger. A black-bearded wildlooking creature like this, who looked like a half-savage, was not likely to stop at anything, and to conceal one murder would doubtless commit another. In terror I curled myself up in the corner, and pretended to sleep. " I peeped through my veil, and to my horror saw the man open a bag which he took from his coat-pocket, take thence a box, and extract from it a razor which he began to sharpen with the greatest nicety, using a stone, and stropping it on the leather strap of the window. Finishing this, he produced another and another. In fact, he sharpened twelve razors, one after the other. . . • . "Here was a murderer for you! Here was a wretch without parallel, who prepared with, such care for the murder of a dozen innocent creatures! "Certainly I ought to give an alarm, But how, how, how ? Again and again I Baked myself the question, but each time the great black eyes rolled towards me, and I felt that I was risking my life. "Suddenly, however, the coach stopped. We had come to a trough by a roadside inn, where the horses happily stopped to drink. I made one venture. I boldly pulled the window down. "«lam thirsty/ ißaid. Can J -have a drink?' " The guard opened the door. I jumped down and soon whispered my fearful story in his ear. " My listener looked horrified. "' I thought the lady looked queer.' he said, 'when he hoisted her in— but it was dark; furriners always take to razors, but I'll fasten the door outside, and lock him in, and when we get to Grantham, to gaol he goes, razors or no razors.' "Then he went to the coach door, and shortly we were plunging through the darkness again. I held my bonnet on and clung to the guard's rough coat, that I might not be blown away ; and I was glad, I tell you, to see the lights of Grantham. "Up we drove; down darted the guard, lifted me to my feet, and presently I saw men gather about the coach, heard the passenger crying to them to let him out, saw the men preparing to arrest the murderer, saw the coach door open, and saw him dragged out. Then they lifted the woman— the corpse !— tenderly in their arms; and then a shout, a roar. I saw a female figure with a wax head and golden wig, attired in blonde over pink muslin, perched on the steps of the hotel. I saw a foreigner of mild aspect, despite his hair, exhibiting cards and papera, and Bhortly the guard came to me. " * Ifs all right, miss/ he- said. • It's all a mistake. He is a barber from Newcastle moving over here ; fetchin' his dummy for the winter along with him, and he just, passed the time sharpenin' his razors.' " You may guess how ashamed I felt," added the old lady, as she finished her story, "and I got laughed at; but for all that it was* terrible ride."