The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-08-17
@tltrtt1 Galt5
From The Star Spnngled Banner.
CONDEMNED
~ AND
5SELF.C DE M NED;
-oR,--a
THE MYSTERIOUS MURDER.
by DONALD MCDoNALD.


Is one of the uppers rooms Of an old
building in the very heart of obscurity,
where ragged children swar,ned and pale
women daried mysteriously about, u
strange deed had just been done. II was
late IN the afternoon, and the spring sun
had already began To climb the roofs and
the chimreys. The sounds in the crowd
ei alleys had begun to die away, aud the
rattle oi the carts IN the distant streets
Nas soiic and more subdued.
lhe room in question was otkel on the
1nsid". A woman, seeming more like n
maniac than person of right mind, stood
i, the middlco of the floor. g,arng fright
fall Fan object that lay upon the bed
IN the corner. That object was fclnal,
hoiy. IL was dead, and lay extended On
its back. A pool Of blood hud collected
mrihe bed-clolhes, ne its neck and shoul
ders, staining the cheeks and the throat
witt, its crimson spots. The throat had
been gaahei ir,shIlully, all the way from,
ear to ear
The female who stood and gnzed 50
fcarlulIy at this horrid spectacle, held an
open razor in her right hand, its hrigI,
blade snearcd with the blood. Size hal
fastened the door, and secn'ed 10 have nc
fiars of discovery. She was contempla.
ting with strange ferocity the deed hcI
haad had done.
"fes, had long ago determined on
this" said she, in low, but highly excited
voice. "She wronged me-she did tia,
which no other person ever tried To do: il
was she who robbed me Of the one tha,
had promised to be my husband-she who
deceived him deceived me-aye, dcceiv.
ed herseifi All that cruel work was he,
doing, and now she gets her pay, and get
my revenge Allthis work is mine, mine
take the responsibility, and can get rid
Oft, too y
II was long time before the infnratt
female could compose herself TO her ordi
nary manner. She had long been mono
maniac on this subject cf revenge, anC
now that she had tasted it, her feeling
with difficulty went back to their usna
condition. .4
She kept the door locked for nearI,
two hours. Evening gathered; the shsd
ows crowded to the windows. The nigh
Dune on. 1t was dark; it grew darker
II was quite dark. The woman cautious
ly unlocked the door, looked out to sc,
that no one was near, put the key in o,
the outside, locked the door again, anc
concealing her face, crept like cat dowr
stairs.
She found her way round through sew
eral alleys and confined by-ways, and a
length approached u thoroughfare Man,
people were passing. She stepped up {,
the f.s; i,esscn she sould fx be! eyea o.
man--and begged him for mercy's SAX
to come and help her sister, who was DIV
ing. So earnest was her appeal, ms sh
plead with voice seemingly choked will
amotion---so wild was her manner, as sh
caught the stranger by the arm, that h.
could not refuse to 60 with her whereve
she might lead the way.
slow far is't :" asked ne, in his grul
voice.
eonly few streets. BE quick. or sh
viii diei oh, h,my sister my poor sis
tesr'
.eWbafs gut her 40 sisls o. said he !; .sha
she heen 80 long ~ ~ = Il 6s.fs
sHunger4-st starvation She's dying {
wantir
@There, take that,v and lie plunged hi
haud into lis pocket and brought up
couple Of pieces Of money. Nobody aha
stsfye while I've no, dollar in sy pocL
ct 1 1eah on the way"
"oh, il yeu can but bring her back I
ssrengsls again, shall never know how /
thank yod for iti--if my poor. dear siste
can hut get wellw
.WegI hops Tor die best, anyhow" n
marked he. :.
"r@ most afraid i.'s hoping again.
hopsl'
rDop's give up ibe ship TOO soon; there
nothing 70 be got hysoo much hurry. yo
Know s.s, 4 ~ )
The man happened TO be,a sailor, an1
cue Of Che most generous of his geaetou