The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-06-24

demons: to whom he Ind resigned him.
self lent him supernatural strength.
"Murder was in his heart, Death in his
handi Blood and revenge were hammer
ing at his brain"
His wife was still asleep when he re-
turned, and day light was rapidly increas-
ing.
''AIary," said lie, shaking her, "you
must get up"
"John," said she, rubbing her eyes,
'but just returned? Where have you
been oil night?"
tNo matter"
"Why SO early?" ashed she.
"Nay, 'tis past four
He then stated some reason, which, if
it did not satisfy her, put an end to fur
ther Questions. She was soon dressed,
and ready to follow him.
It is needless to attend them in their
rapid progress to the goal of his unhal-
lowed labors; their haste precluded all
attempts at conversation, though Mary
frequently essayed, in vain, to learn their
destination. Her belief in the unbound
ed affection of her husband forbade her
to suppose that he could, for one instant,
mediate mischief against her, but she
knew not the dreadful revulsion that had
taken place.
Tired by tho smart walk up the ascent,
on their arrival ut tho small gateway of
tie castle, she asked whittier they were
going, and receiving no reply, declared,
pettishly, she would go no further.
AS he turned round, she remarked the
frightful change in his countenance. The
expression she there beheld called up oil
her fears, and, with n stifed cry Of hor-
ror, she fell upon her knees before him.
Everything conspired against her
tho tremors of terror were mistaken for
the confusion of guilt. AS sho watched
in agony the scintillating glances of his
eye, he displayed the fatal ribbon, and
demanded, in q voice of unearthly mean
ing. hollow and deep.
Whore did you lose this garter?'
In moment she saw tho mistake.
"Dear John, hear mel" and she at
tempted to embrace his knees; but in the
same slow and terrible accents, he inter
rupted her.
s'The truth-the truth; where did you
lose this garter?'
Trembling with apprehension, and
with faltering accents, she replied:
81 believe-I think-it was somewhere
near this place."
Then, with frantic yell, and with a
spring sudden and quick, the maniac
rushed upon and seized his victim; her
entreaties for mercy were stiAed by suf-
location. A few seconds sufficod to COM
gle was succeeded by the silence of death |!
dug, he thrust it in, md with frantic
haste shoveled over it the mold and
stones, till it was level with the surround
ing turf; and having trampled it into
hardness, the murderer ceased from his
labors.
The sequel may be told in few words.
The wretched man did not attempt to
escape. but Immediately surrendered
himself to justice.
On the trial. when the circumstances
of the garter were traced and explained,
the effects of tho evidence upon the pri-
soner were extraordinary. Instead of
being overwhelmed with compunction at
the affecting discovery, the sullen stern
ness he had till then maintained, gave
way to manner resigned and almost
cheerful; the conviction of his wife's
falsehood-that his ardent affection
should have been returned by treachery
and dishonor- bruised his spirit,
obscured his reason, and rendered him
alike Indifferent to the present and the
future; but the veil had been removed,
the weight had been lightened from his
oppressed mind; and though he died
strictly penitent, feeling of satisfaction
pervaded bis whole demeanor, and he
was frequently heard to repeat, with ex-
ultation:
"Then. she was iunocent She died
innoccnt!"
Singularly tragic as is this tale, it is
true; and the fact is registered i'll the an
nails Of justice.