The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-01-19

of sufocation was in her throat, as she
whispered;
"How long time will ycu give me p
'Not IN holir-not moment. / will
never lose sight of you till you are in
the hands of the law. Think you !
would work for this hour so patiently
through the slowly crawling hours and
days, only to let vengeance slip through
my fingers at last? When the play is
ended shall accompany you home, and
tthere, in the presence of the man you
love, l will establish the identity of Ga
brielle Eggleston, the idolizcd belle of
society, and Gabrielle Clifford, the mar
deress! had thought that your cold,
selfish heart was incapable of love, but
how will it add zest to my revenge to
know that | can thus add the deepest
lpang to your agony--the scorn of one
Eyaus love-" .. rr..l. .....r..
A roar like the rush of mighty waves
sounded in her ears; the lights danced
before her eyes; she scarcely heard the
voice from the stage, to whose wailing,
sobbing sounds the crowd listened al
most breathlessly.
She touched her husband and whisper
ed a word, which he obeyed, rising qui-
city and leaving the-box.
Had Earl Clifford been observing her,
he would have feared the radiant sparkle
in her eye, the glow that tinted lip and
cheek in the mad desperation of that
moment; but significant gesture from
Malvern, sitting opposite, caught his at
tention just then.
When Malvern looked again, "A moment
after, Mrs. Eggleston was standing beside
Clifford, supporting his head in her arms,
with face from which every particle Of
color had died out. ......-......
Mr. Clifford has tainted, / Think she
said to her husband and Captain Malvern,
who entered the box together. perhaps
you had better call our carriage and take
him home with u.s.
But Malvern, who had seen death on
many hardly contested field, knew the
unmistakable seal Of the destroyer only
too well.
''He is dead" he said sadly. "His
physician warned him some time since
that death might occur at any moment
from disease Of the heart.
They stopped to raise the lifeless form
already growing rigid in the coldness OF
death.
As Eggleston, assisted by two others
bore the body from the box to the carri
age, Malvern turned suddenly to Mrs
Eggleston.
"What is this ?" and as he spoke he
held up long, needle-likc stiletto, glis
tening with blood.
She uttered sharp cry, and sprang
forward to snatch it from his grasp.
At that moment she saw her husband
approaching, and looked at Malvern with
appealing eyes.
"We have taken poor Clifford to his ho
tel" said Egaleston to his wife, 'ant
now we viii 60 home This has been ;
terrible shock to you, Gabrielle. Yol
look frightened and pale"
'Captain Malvern will accompany us,
replied Gabrielle. II have an explana
ton to make, and tile sooner it is done
the better" -
Captain Malvern, obeying tile. gesture
with which she motioned him forward
followed them to the carriage.
In silence they entered it, and in 81
lence drove through the streets, unit
they reached the residence of Eggles
ton.
"Come, Gabrielle said her husband
But there was no response from thu
mufiled figure in the corner.
Poor child, she has fallen asleep will
fatigue" he said, and he leaned forward
land attempted to lift her from the carri
age in his arms. But as he did SO his
hand touched her cheek, and he stagger
ed back with a loud cry.
Gabrielle was dead.
Her husband supposed that she dice
from the shock caused by the exciting
: and fearful events of the night, and Nal
vern never undeceiyed him.
He, however, in examining the corpse
, of Clifford, found a small, livid blue spo
! directly under his left ear, which was
evidently, caused by puncture from
some small, sharp instrument.
This mark. which the physicians, il
their examination, had overlooked, HI
, had no doubt was caused by the SLENDER
stiletto he had picked up from the floor
and this belief was confirmed by the fac
subsequently ascertained-that the lad,
and accomplished wife of Lloyd Eg
gleston was none other than the notori
Gus Gabrielle Clifford.