New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-11-06

Wait one moment, sir, and / will be
down.
Here, then, was a chance to satisfy all
my woman's curiosity. entered my dress
ing room, turned down my light, and fling
ing light shawl about my shoulders, hur.
ried down stairs. He was waiting for me
Without word followed him into the
opposite house. Up the long dark flight o.
steps to the second floor. Through TIE
brilliantly lighted room to the alcove.
She lay on the bed-her lefty wealth o.
hair 10 coillng, trailing, notwithstanding
the pillow and the white robe resting upon
the hoer. A deathly white face that was
beautiful in its marble purity. The dark
| eyes were closed, but the lids were so white
and transparent that the eye beneath was
defined IN shadow. The lashes, black as
INK, lay like fringe upon her cheek. But
the expression of the countenance, the
utter misery-the mortal agony written in
the pallid, beautiful face, God keep me
from ever again seeing
The voice OF the man at my side aroused
me from my contemplation.
This is my wife--Mrs. Randolph INV
name is George Randolph; as said before,
we are strangers here"
turned my eyes from the face on the
bed and looked at him.
The first mental question was
Why did | ever think this man hand
someT The features were good and at
the short distance of across the street
were sottened, but now close beside him
there was a harsh, cruel look about the
lips or cold glitter in the eyes. and alto
gether bad, reckless expire, sion of per
son. lie smiled as he noted my keen
glance, and displayed the whitest of teeth,
hope you are not afraid to remain?'
Oh, no, | answered, but what can
do what is the matter with her?i
"She has been i'll for some time-uuick
consumption. She has been much worse
for the past week, and tonight think will
bring a change
Have you had physician for herr"
" No. She did not desire one"
This sounded rather strange and added
to the mystery in my mind.
Is there no person in the house but |
your wife and yourself?r
mo, we rent the house furnished. and |
our servant left yesterday. But pardon me.
Ii You have family which requires your
will not ark you to remain. |
see that you are an elderly lady, and l
would prefer some one like you, but if you
'an not remain l must manage with Minnie
llone."
| did not speak from that cause, sir. l
AVE no claims upon me. / am a widow
md l have had daughters of my own.
willingly offer myself to assist your vile, if
can be of service
- thank you" He placed a chair be
ide the alcove for me, and | could do
iotbing but passively occupy it. turned
nny attention again to the figure on the bed
'hee seemed to be breathing quietly, but the
ook OF agony was still the same.
must have been sitting there over an
our, when noticed her large eyes slowly
pen and fix themselves upon me. leaned
1rward and looked at her. Her lips moved
My. l bent lower, Only one word came:
Mother.' and, making an effort, she tried
reach out her arms to me.
MI. Randolph came softly to my side and
poke:
" Minnie, are yOu better?"
She shook her head again made the effort
reach out her arms, and with the Effort
gray shadow fell upon her face. The ,
gut died out of the eyes, and with low
loan the waxen lids clo-ed forever!
There was no passionate grief in the long
rawn sigh of the husband. 1t sounded
me more like relief, and the first words
Deken by him were:
We'll, she has gone. How long does it
Ike for body to cool?n
l looked at him in horror the tears dim
ing my eyes as | thought of the Young
e gone out of eXisteuce-so lonely, so
rlorn-Were almost frozen back by such 1
question. i
ut is necessary for me to be in Philadel- n
ia tomorrow. | must have the BODY 9
moved as soon as possible. | believe T
ere is some foolish prejudice against put l
lg body in the coffin while warm. but |
We no time to waste with nonsense, |
ppose you can assist me in placing it
ere ?" 81
Was this man or fiend All sense of a. a.
cency was outraged in the beastly ex- :
esslon OF sentiment; and with every feel y
oil Indignation aroused, asked him if q
supposed me capable of countenancing o,
= such proceeding. b.
surely" said l, you can not put aside tteT
body Of the woman who has been your al
e as You would the carcass OF brute ~ ~
lie smiled, and stepping to nv side. sa
lght me by the arm, Kissing to my ear; az
not trihe with me-she tW
known what it is to trife with nv will
10 as desire, or two bodies will have to -
disposed Of instead of one 81
Villain you poisoned her Ithen, as L
'posed!" a
Yes, and there is enough left for Won ." tn
What could l do 1 was weak wo- -
n. In that house-all alone with the ett
nan fend and the dead. l could only O.
1ply.
Walking to the side of the lookingglass S%S
ch described as occupying the end If ter
room, he touched the frame. Slowly II s ifs
we'd, until it opened like door, show or
a dark closet at its back. For a mo- III Ia
ut he disappeared in the darkness, then sol
ne forth, carrying-O, my God what? tw
,ofin
braced myself against the side of the q
ove' as l watched the horrid thing,
cea upon two chairs directly in front of
linen seemed sinking downtown. ~
loughtmyseit rapidly fainting. But as 4
eyes were closing, they rested upon the IN
inly written on its faee-the inkerip- an
/: iss
MINNIE RANDOLPH. . q
AGED NINETEEN. pu
'oWni doWn, L seemed to sink, until t tE,
all power over myself, and--struck nav hol
ID against the window sill, with terrible tor
;e! The pain of the conclusion soon 4
ught consciousness, and | awoke to the ssl y
lization of knowing that had fallen sal
Yep at the window and dreamed the 5 10,
ole matter l could scarcely realize lin
It was dream, and perhaps, woman S co.,
}, was little disappointed in being No
ated Of my ideal sensational. En- En-
u course, after rubbing my head and bsl
- |