Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-08-05
Secret Murder.
An Ep6ads b q DsleGdTe's EIlsrelGs

An EPISODE IN a DeisstTs's EIHsFislsa.
s(Fsora the New oorleans Pieayane-1
/ once arrested a man, said Mr.
E., iOr killing his wife. Although
convicted, 7 have always been
been deublfuI if his sentence were
just. He came here a stranger
silent and repellant in his manner,
making no acquaintance and shun-
ming society. He was a foreigner,
too. speaking our language but
imperfeetiy, and relying solely for
sympathy and confidence on the
beautiful woman whose warm, sun
my loveliness seemed chilled by
the Geld, rigid manners Of her hus-
band. She was very young, too,
and those who knew them best,
from seeing them most, declared
that her glad utterances were often
frozen-.her childish laughter
stilled-by a gloomy look or stern
command. He seemed a man at
war with mirth,, and brooked no
Joy in his alienated sympathies.
She feared him, too; for those who
saw how the young creature glad
dened when the sunlight flung It's
beauty around her when the
flowers bloOlned in her way, or
Nature answered back her smiles;
saw, too, her fnrtive glances to see
if he noted the transient Joy she
felt, and saw her sadden at the
frown she met. ss
One night the people of the
house at which they staid heard
her scream in terror, but the mans
gloomy nature had made them fear
to enter his room, unless invited.
and several minutes elapsed before
they summoned courage to ascer.
tain the cause of her alarm
When, at last, a servant opened
the door, the young lady lay dead
upon the floor, stabbed to the
heart. Mr.. L. and myself were
sent for. at once, and came imme-
diately. The window fronting
the street was open-a leap Of
nearly twenty feet to the banquette
but through this, twas certain.
the man escaped. The knife that
still pierced her heart was a Span
ish dagger, and usually lay upon
the mantle--its sheath was thrown
upon the floor It looked as if it
had been Snatched up in a sudden
passion to do a deed of blooda
II was late at night and the wo-
man had been aroused from sleep.
Her long gown was stained red
with blood, and elung to the beau
tiful frame like winding sheet.
But the face shone ashem in the
gas light with fear. There was
horror iu the stosy outlines, and
the parted lips seemed open for a
cry of despair. l shuddered as 1
looked at the spectacle. Soyoung.
20 lovsly, so full of witching gra.
,es, one could hardly think a be,
ng so beautiful could die. Only
he day before had seen her, with
,yes flashing like the sunlight, q
orm of beauty. and laughter rip
sling like the song of the waters on
Ter lips, looking, indeed, s'like a
hingof beauty and a joy forever
And now she lay dead, / noted
veil each mark essential in the
earch had to make, and then,
ick at heart, turned from athe
1lace to look for her murderer
At the threshold / met her hus-
and. | laid my hand on his
houlder
"You are my prisoner ~ Z lsa'
"Sir!" he Indignantly exclaim-
d, show dare yen ?",sass} aa7 fHf
The te ars were yetin myeyes;
be horror of his deed still before
1y vision. Icould scarcely retain
1y patience, but ] did.
II arrest you, sir, for the u1ur.
er of your wife l"s ! ~ sssd
Hisiery was like that of some
hid animal, as he sprung by me
p the stairs and disappeared in
is room. The people stood
rouped around the dead body,
ender hands washing off the blood
tains. These he flung aside, and
melt with q cry at her side-a
ry like that Of despair might ring
rom courage when hope had fed
nd life was at its ebb--a cry like
hat "of some dying swimmer in
is agony" or such as virtue gives
'hen hOnor's fed. Sobbing, cry
ng, calling her name in accents
iteous and tender, he at last
unk back, fainting, and We car
led him away.
1t seemed SO certain he killed
er that none could believe him
lnocent, yet his manner showed
o guilt. FItmay have been insau-
", or another may have done the