The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-07-10
A DEATH STRUGGLE.
BY A nETECTIV T..


New Orleans so grandly aaas been mad
the receptacle of many a fruit of crime
has hid beneath its silent waters man,
a horror. Many years ago it was th
scene of a tragedy, the saddest eve
witnessed, and despite tile long year!
that have flown, it still rises as vividly
before me as if it occurred but yesterday
had been watching man for weeks
suspected of heavy robbery in the East
There was no prort, and we were waitin4 =
day by day for details that should salts
ty the law
The man gave his name as Torpin. 4
tall, finely proportional man, and with
face bearing no traces OF crime. His
wife WAS one of the most ltauiful wo-
men ever met. They had been il,
New Orleans, tor weeks, with no apra-
rent occupation or design. They wis.,
ted all places of amusement, rode out
daily, and never seemed happy unless
mingling with the crowd. There was
restlessness abont them which no ef-
fort could wholly repress, and which first
excited our suspicious. There WAS an
Other fact connected with them vhicI,
attracted attention and occasioncd re-
mark. 1he "am uas afiaid Vhjs Wyt
One could See it in the restless un-
certain glance Of his eye; in the paliny
cheek and trembling lips when she
taullted him. as she sometimes did in
a low tone. When her eyes were IF of
him, he repaid the taunts with lool.
OF hatred, that fevered III his eye, wrath
full an / malignant as death. | sludder-
ed, and a cold chill Wen: through my
frame, when one day detected that
burning 6 lare, which tor a single moment
rested on thes fair young girl with the
beautiful but II cate like face.
Often at night they strayed arm in
arm along the avenues, o: walked upon
The Levee. and one evening | saw him
her to take ride upon the
river. She refused for long time, but
inaIIy he oHercame her scruples, and
he miniature boat glided away from the
lock, bearing the two out upon the food
could never tel you why, but feeling
hat something was wrong came over
ne. 1telt that the man meant evil
Hastily getting into skif, Mr. I. and
myself followed them. The night settled
lense and cloudy, and a low, restless
Wind moaned along the waters. The
nom was hid behind masses of clouds,
nd the uncertain light from the l. mps
N the bank did not relieve the darkened !:
tmc sphere.
The boat g'iIed silently, and we fcl-
owed almost breathlessly iu it's wake
n y the creaking of the oars was heard,
nd the regular splash of the paddles in
he water. Presently these ceased, and
'e knew the boat was at rest. Ap-
reaching as silently as we might, soon
low conversation struck upon our ears.
You intend to betray me?' We heard
le man cay.
The woman laughed-a strange. mock
g laugh. "You are insane;' she said
last
II am mott"
"Am not | as deeply implicated as
ourselt?" the woman asked.
"Yes-but you do not feel the degra-
alton as [ do-you hate me;r'
"No, | have only more co',raSeT
lyon taunt and despise nlc!'
No, 1'm foolish enough to love you,"'
" You have strange way of cvincing
1ectionW .4r. -. .....
Have | indeed" And even in the
stance ! could note the scornful into
lticn with which each word was breath
led "Have I, indeed? | have loved
III, andyou betrayed me. have clung 6
You in disgrace, and you hate me- I
managed your escape, eIuded your
emies, defeated their schemes and '
eserved your. plunder You reward I
y devotion with suspicion. | have !
united your cowardice-I despiSe the v
lfishnsss of your nature-yet l love r
w." Il
At first scornful. the voice grew gentle
her utterance ended, and sob, almost
updHs stfN0u uCT HOEuS.
Il do no. believe you!'' q
81 dare say you do. not" Il
i mean to kill YOU It
"What?" ..''''. ''-. il
Out upon the moonleSs air came ST
rick, piercing and fearful, and then "
plash of a body falling heavily through G.
J water @s1s ..A 7.:....-.' = t,
One sweep of the oars and we were '
e by side. a4 I'D: ..a..G.s. .... tt
Itwas too late. Tue woman had al 2
ldy persisted. Before We had time to +
, hold of the criminal he leaped into g
river and sunk from sight. Whether III
not he ever escaped | never knew. ! u
'er saw him again. Sc
The next day the body of the young ST
l was found and buried. Her his p
y no one could asccrtain-a beautiful, c'
neless wanderer, dead with the roses to
ife at their bloom before the t'
i spirit Of an erri',g life had made her al
auty fade. 1851. - if E@s s...as. a.
1lihDlNt NrHA hAl liER.----I ueIHa ID III
ucture which everybody is building, cI
ing and old, each one for himself d,
s called character, and in it every act bl
ife is a stone: IF day by day we be st
eful to build our lives with pure, no. tt
!, upright deeds, at the end will stand al
mir temple, honored by God and man.
as one leak will sink ship, and one
v break. a chain, SO one mean, untruth- ia
act or word will forever leave its i'm tl
IS and work lis Influence on our char b
ers. THEN, let the several deeds to
tt'to form a day, aud one by one the al
IS grow into noble years, and the e
RS, as they slowly pass will raise at I'll
"a beautiful edifce, enduring fore yer pl