Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-08-11
F0ILED BY A WOMAN.
A Leaf from the Diary OF an Old De-
tecttve.

''You dare not /"
The lips were white with passion rather
than fear, and the lady stood before me
like lioness at bay. Even then could
not help but note the splendid beauty of
this grand lady. Tall and slender, eyes
black and flashing almost lurid now, the
spectacle che presented, standing there in
the middle Of the apartment, was more the
appearance Of O queen than hunted GRIM
inal.
81 must" replied. II do not doubt
your innocence; looking in your face, it is
strange that any one could couple it with
guilt. But ! am constrained to do my
| duty, madame, however inimical it may be
to my feelings"
"Will you allow me TO change my dress2"
she said in tone almost pleasant The
hard lines around the mouth had relaxed,
and the passionate glow on tho face gave
way to apleasant smile.
Certainly, will wait for you here"
II wish also to send messenger for q
friend; will you permit him to pass"
"Certainly."
This was my first interview with Euginia
Cormile. had seen her here for months,
the leader of our gayest and most fashiona-
bile society. In her splendid mansion she
dispensed the most profuse and elegant
hospitality.
ASpanish lndy--a widow she had rep
resented herself-and had been resident
here almost year. No one eever suspected
her of beng aught than what she seemed,
until one day was ordered to arrest her as
q murderess.
1t was now alleged, said Mr.. F., thatthis
young beauty was no other than the woman
who had poisoned her husband III Havana,
and fled with oil his wealth. An immense
reward was offered for her apprehension,
and the circumstances that had come TO our
knowledge. pointed her out beyond all
doubt as the person We were in search of
Yet had the person who recognized her the
evening before at the theatre advised us TO
he careful lest she should escape us. /
laughed at the idea. Mr.. l, and myself
were surely sufficient to arrest lady. We
we're old enough in the ways of cunning to
defeat any such attempt. When the lady
left me, I stepped to the window, and
said to Mr.. l., whowas waiting at the door:
"The lady desires to send messenger
for friend; suffer him TO pass"
Almost at the same instant tho door of
the apartment the lady had enteredopened,
and youth h-apparently q mulatto boy
came out and passed hurriedly through the
room into tho hall, and from thence into
the street. 1t vas, no doubt, the messen-
ger, thought, and picked up book and
commenced reading. Nearly on hour
passed, and still the lady did not make her
| appearance, nor did the boy return. The
| H., 10 1s,yo at
distance, / thought, or the lady is unusual
" careful about her toilet; and so another
hour went by. at last grew impatient,
and knocked at the door.
MADAME, can wait no longer"
There was no reply, / knocked repeat
edly, and at last determined to force an en-
trance. Strange fears harrassod me; i be-
gan 10 suspect knew not what. 1t took
kbut moment to drive in the door, and,
once in the apartment, the mystery was re-
yealed. The robes of the lady lNy upon
the floor, and scattered over theroom were
suits Of boys wearing apparel, similar to
that worn by the mulatto. On table was
a cosmetic that would stain tho skin to q
light, delicate brown.
/ was foiled, for q surety; the lady had
escaped in tho disguise of messenger. /
should have detected the rtse; Ifelt humil-
lated, and determined TO redress my error.
/ knew she would nOtremain in the city Oh
instant longer than she could getaway
hurried to her bankers, but found she had
drawn the amount due her an hour before
"Who presented the checkP" I asked
the clerk
ga mulatto boy. 1t was made payable
to bearer"
There was yet chance. The Frencl
steamer left within an hour; it was possibl,
she would seek that means of escape.
jumped in cab, AMI arrived there ten min
utes before she left the wharf, just in tim,
to assist an aged, decrept gentleman int
the cabin. There were few passengers
none of them answered the description o
the person sought stood on the whar
watching tho roceding vessel until it disap
peared. Twas in the act of turning away
when aShackman approached me with tht
remark:
"Mr. F., did you see that old man OF
board; he had long white beard, and hai
that fell on his shoulderSI"
eyes"
"Well, sir, there's something curious
about him"
"WhyP"
"Why sir, when he got into my carriage
he was mulattO boy, and when he got ou
he was an old man y
will not repeat tho expression uset
then-it was neither refined orpolite--fol
| knew the vessel would be far out to Sc,
before she could bo overtaken. was foil
ed by woman. Nor could help rejoic
ing, now that the chase was over, that sht
had escaped.
Innocent or guilty, there was q charm
about her none could resist. The spell o.
her wondrous beauty affected all who ap
preached her. 1t fingers in my memory
yet; and / could not have the sin of hel
blood upon my conscience.