Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-07-02

flowers doomed in her yay. or nat,,
sWered back her smiles, saw, too. bar au-
tive glances to see if he noted Tho TT art inr-
Joy she felt, and saw her saddoncJ ' ~ 81
frown she met .t At tie
One night the people in the bou.o
which they staid heard her scream at
ror, but the mans gloomy nature Yer,
made them fear to enter his room y,, iad
invited, and several minutes ELAPSED lies ItesS
they summoned courage to ascerto;x i ore
cause OF her alarm. When, at last . 'he
want opened the door, tho young VITA T u.
dead upon the floor, stabbed to the boaoay
The man was gone. Mr.. /. and nar "tT;
were sent for at once, and came imr1a9ii
ately. The window fronting the oteoII
was open-a leap Of nearly twentv ro oLeet
the banquetto-but through this II 10 70
certain the man escaped. The knife t%aa
still pierced her heart WAS Snaniabo mat
ger, and usually lay upon the mantla 'lg
sheath was thrown upon the floor -
looked as if it had been snafcbed t., 1t
sudden passion to DO deed of bIood p III
It was late ut night, and the wornan
been aroused from sleep. Her lone a, li"u
was stained red with blood, and cjn60l o.A
the beautiful frame like windino,eIoonI."
But the face shone ashen in the oos .Iiob,
with fear. There was horror in the ST. 9n'
outlines, and the parted lips seemed on
for cry of despair. ] shuddered o.
looked at the spectacle. SO yonno 80
lovely, so full of wltching graces, one CnnlJ
hardly think being so beautiful copJ dio
Only the day before had seen her MI,
eyes flashing like the SUNLIGHT . form, IS
beauty, and laughter ripping like tho
song of waters on her lips, looking. in.
deed. " like a thing of beauty and io,
forever. And now she lay dead. poioGI
well each mark essential in the search
had to make, and then, sick ut bea,t
turned from the place to look for her r,nr
derer. '''
At the threshold met her husband
laid my baud on his shondcr:
You are my prisoner :"
Sir !! he Indignantly exclaimed, chow
dare you 2"
The tears were yet in my Dyes The Lor
ror OF this deed still before my vision.
could scarcely retain my patience, but /
did.
l." I arrest you, sir, for the murder OF
your wife p
His cry was like that OF somo wild ami.
NAL as he sprung by ne up the stairs and
disappeared in his rooms. The people
stood grouped around the dead body, ten.
Vel A"Auo washing OH inc DlOOQ STAINS
These he flung aside, and knelt, with
cry, at her side--a cry like that DESPAIR
hight wiring from courage when hope had
fled and life was at its ebb-a cry like that
" OF some strong swimmer in his agony"
or such as virtue gives when honor's lcd
Sobbing, crying, calling her namo in ne.
cents piteous and tender, he at last snDh
back falnting, and we carried him away.
1t seemed SO certain that he killed her
that none could believe him innocent, W.,
his manner showed no guilt. 1t may have
been insanity, or another may have done
the deed ; but jury said he did it. As
the years go by the mystery may he cleared,
but my heart acquits him now OF the law
less deed done years ago. It robbed him
OF the only sunlight his manhood knew
1t took from his path the only flower that
gave to him its incense and perfume. Bnt
he never denied it-only looked ut you
when he was spoken to in an oimless.
wandering way, as if the shock that had
deprived him of the only being that he
loved Lad destroyed his reason.
Long years have passed since then but
the memory of that horror lingcr3 in my
mind, an episode so sad and wretchcd that
L shudder at the thought of it.