The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943, 1865-07-08


there aay .SHAoe Of AGoaasS Of his death.
excapt. - later iallha naee Of TIE Ittie
George, that Which might be found in tbe
thin vivid red lines which formed cross
upon bis wrist. NM 'ro' t''' .@'e - .
Search was then made for the Hiudus.
tAROe wCanAn, but DO tracaa Of her could
be found. Bat . few ImOntha alaer tbO
generals death, Mrs. Courtney had 70.
ceived letter, written in HiEdustaneo,
and signed W the Ayahs naNe, in which
she RsFeoiy reiterated hst vows 06 vsnes.
apcA- She y0qh not Fset aAP said, until
every greep branch ENP loPPfd from tRs
A succession of these mysterious letters
induced Mrs. Courtney 70 emigrate TO
Amsriea. For Eve years she had dwelt
there in safety, but now it was evident
that her mysterious and vengeful foe had
discovered her retreat.
At first the afflicted lady resolved once
more to remove her household to new
home. But the counsels Of her friends
prevailed. If the woman were upon her
track, she would doubtless follow wher.
ever she might 60. Whereas, in that
thinly settled district, foreigner of pc.
culiar appearance could not long remain
undeteeted. Therefore, one and all, ad-
vised her to remain, with increased pre-
cautions against the admittance Of stran.
gers in her present home. And there for
years more, utterly undisturbed except
by her fears, she did remain.
The blow fell again. A beautiful girl,
just budding into womanhOod, was the
next victim. She too, was found dead
with the tiny red cross upon her wrist.
And again no traces Of the assassin could
be found.
Then followed q succession Of similar
disasters. One after another those beau
tiful children those blooming inaidens,
and promising yOuths-died, all mysteri-
ously-all with that fatal mark the sole
tracs Of human agency 10 the event
some at school or college, some even, in
the we'll guarded houses of their friends
till but one remained.
Julia Courtney was seventeen when,
twelve years after the arrival Of the fami
ly in America, the last Of the band o.
brothers and sisters were snatchcd away
He, youth OF twenty-full Of hope and
promise-was found dead in his securely
locked and bolted room in huge city
hotel. The room was three stories above
the stony pavements, and there Was nc
possible place of egress, so it was said
but by the one bolted door. Yet thu
young man was dead, and the fatal eros
show ed that it was not by some suddeI
visitation of Providence alone.
Ali how closely the heart.brokeI
mother guarded her one darling from thai
hour. She scarcely suffered her to leav'
her side for one instant, and, sleeping o.
waking, q constant watch Was kept upoI
her. And so, for four years more, tn
foe was kept at bay. Perhaps she chos'
to wait until she could strike more dead
ly blow?
At last Julia Courtney was wooed AM
won in marriage, and her wedding daJ
had arrived.
A large party was entertained at th'
Hall and Mrs. Courtney had given orders
that the closest scrutiny should be main
tanned over all who entered either tht
house or domain. Her fears were Away!
vivid, and she tolerated no half measures
But she hoped that the ban might have
been removed, and her one darling nigh
be spared to her and to the almost ador
ing bridegroom, who had promised to de
vote his life to her. But how vain th'
hOpel
The evening waned, and though th'
festivities were still kept up, the guests
we're departing when the bride retired t
her chamber. By Mrs. Courtney's direc
tion, the entire suite of apartments, o.
which this was one, was thoroughly
searched, but no traces Of other occu
pants were found. The doors leading tc
the corridor were all locked, and wher
the attendants, after assisting the bride tC
lay aside her robes and jewels, and wrap
ping her in an elegant dressing.gown, re
tired, they heard her lock and bolt thG
door by which they vent
A few moments later, the bride groom
| entered the adjoining dressing. room, him
self unlocking the door which led from
the corridor, with . key which had been
in his possession all the evening.
A moment after he entered, he heard I
faint rustling movementin the next room
and glancing through the half-open door
thought he saw . woman shrouded in
long black garments gliding across the
apartment Mrs. Courtney habitually
wore black and had not laid it aside ever
on this festive occasion. and he supposed
that she bed not yet left her daughter
He silently closed the door, and waited 4
quarter Of an hour before he again ven
tured, after knocking softly; to open it,
A deep silence pervaded the room, " hict
at FIRST glance seemed empty, He called
but received no answer. Brilliant val
lights burned in the bracket beside thu
toilet, and flashed back as brilliant rayl
from the brides jewels lying carelessly
where the attendants had left them. III
called Julia's name, but no answer came
He drew aside, with unsteady hand, the
glistening white curtains which shaded
the bed, and there beheld the bride.
Her elegant dressinggown still enWFap
ped the form extended there. Pale, Ant
still, and gloriously peaceful In It's younl
beauty, her face slightly pressed the pill
low. Her eyes were closed rs 10 sleep
and one snowy arm, from which the loos'
sleeve bad fallen back, was thrown abov'
her head, as her young brothers, the firs
yictim, had been. And there upon be
wrist was the fatal mark. The thin ant
narrow but clearly defined bloody eros
was there.
With q great cry the strong man rush
ed from the room, and soon succeeded II
alarming ell in. the house. In momen
the chamber was crowded with frightened
guests. And Mrs. Courtney herself cam
to cast one glance upon ths daughter sh'
had lust kissed with al . mothers fond
ness, and dismissed her to her nev life
and to fall like one dead beside the beau
} tiful corpse. ..;.#
But where was the murderer Va:l
, was all search, though on Mrs. Courtney