The Portland daily press., 1874-05-16

black. She refused to take any noursnment,
SO the nurse informed me. l took the two
hands of the young widow in my own; they
were like ice.
With the authority which my age gave me,
my profession, my old friendship, spoke to
her of her duties to ner cEild. l opened one |
of the shutters, blaming this sequestration,
this obscurity. The light penetrated in
floods of gold into the room. Eyornia sur.
prised, blinded, quickly carried her hands to
her eyes, and ran to kneel before the image
of the Virgin.
l remained silent a moment. examining
this beautiful body so enfeebled; saddened by
the idea of sufferings which must torture tnis
heart which beat constantly for MN;
The Young lady rose up, looked at her
sleeping child then returned slowly 10 her
former seat. As the evening before, her lace
had a hard, fierce restless expression. WIN
ont revealing The suspicious OF the judge,
announced the possibility of his visit. Evor-
MIA. seized with slight shlver, arose, Went
to the window, stopped, then with sudden
movement leaned towards the place where
her husband Lad been killed. l carried her
back to her chair She allowed me to do so,
but could obtain from her only monosylla-
bles, tears. sobs, dispairng cries. By su-
preme effort OF the will she restrained these
noisy expressions natural to her sex, and pre-
served a calm exterior, from which fOreboded
no good
returned home in haste to resume some
scientific experiments, in which l was great
ly interested.
Twas not long left alone Some one knock
ed at my door, took no notice at first. IN
ally said s'come in.' The.alcade of the pris-
on entered. He came in the name OF the
Judre of Criminal affairs, to ask me to Visit
La Grecque. who complained of sickness, in
order to know if he could without danger
bring the young woman that night before the
body of Don Felipe.
It was with feeling of disgust which
did not take the trouble to conceal, that L re-
ceived the communication of the judge.
blew out my candle, pushed away my chair,
unscrewed the glass of my microscope, ,curslng
assassins, and men foolish enough to allow
themselves to be Killed by them. Such curl
Gus experiment, fact which might revou-
.ionize science, "a discovery equal to the best OF
modern times adjourned, lost, and that for
woman who was as well perhaps as l.
Il see that disturb you DOCTOR" said the
alcade to me, but it is not my fault, not be-
ing rich enough to command, lmust obey"
These sage words restored my calmness.
Alter all, l alone was wrong. Was this the
hour of study? the time to attempt expert
ments? When l received my diploma did
not swear, according to the formula OF the
Spanish medical code, to consecrate my time
my well being, my interests, my life, to the
well being of my fellow men? This oath |
had never broken. l shook hands with the
alcate, thanking him for the lesson which he
had given me. The brave jailor surprised at
my action, murmured, turning his hat all
manner of ways, that was very honest
When l entered the court yard of the pris-
on, the prisoners were in the open air. They
surrounded me, running out their tongues ex-
tending their arms, complaining OF a thous-
or,I
to the nfirmary, from whence it was easy to
escape. The jallor struck them with his
cudgel compelling them to allow me pass,
which made me indignant.
Thieves! assassinsr' said the guardian
who conducted me.
'But men, sick men," / answered.
''Sick men who, if the occasion offered would
rip open your stomachwith the same coolness
that you would open an abscess, DOCTOR"
They had lodged La Grecque in large
room, with white-washed walls, room Or
dinarily occupied by those condemned to
death, Circumstance of which the young
woman was fortunately ignorant, Reclining
upon camp bed, she rose up on hearing the
grinding of the key in the door, and her great
black eyes made her deathly pale face appar-
ent to me.
Seeing me she ran to meet me and began
to cry. The alcade, remained outside.
''What do they wish of me, what have 1
donep' repeated the young woman weeping.
l well know that women as children, cry
easily and freely. l can not see one of these
beings crying without being profoundly STIR
red. 1 endeavored to calm La Grecque. She
had some fever, and her languid eyes sadden-
ed me. Her head bent upon her bosom, she
allowed her magnificent arms to fall power
less. Her features always marvellously fine,
pure. regular, had an expression both of fear
and resignation. What would the admirers
OF this mystic woman of graceful stature,
regal head, and imperous look, have said,
could they have seen her in such state of
prostration? What strange sight! The
timid, f.ai, blonde Evornia seemed to have
taken possession OF the manners of the
naughty beauty and she on the contrary bent
weeping in the very attitude 1 should have
expected to find Evornia.
HE is dead, is he not?' inquired the
young woman, repeating by singular coin
cidence the words of the widow
''Are you ignorant of it?'' l said to her.
mo, doctor; bat doubted, despite myself
L loved him."
She pronounced these words in low voice,
blushed and hid her face in her hands, as if
ashamed of her confession and began to cry
silently.
'.You know that they accuse valetin? l
said to her.''
''And me also no doubt?' she answered
with a disdainful gesture.
"Have you not threatened Don Fipe for
merely ?''
''He abandoned me after having promised
to marry me, doctor, and l was crazy with
modification. l! to kill him! To-day, above
ALL"
''Was he again your lover?"
La Grecque raised her head and looked me
full in the face
eyes," she answered proudly. / would
baxo frn,1 hut I Jnfo., ,ol
My duty compelled me to conceal from her,
the cruel trial which justice believed neces-
sary, and l left her in tears.
l went to the cell of Valentin, whom I
found indignant, furious, walking back and
forth in his prison. He had been questioned,
and cried out against the judge.
''This is a mistake which shall cost them
dear. l will never forgive the judge his sus-
picions. Upon my salvation, as soon as l am
free will set fire to this court house. Alone
in broad day light, in the face and eyes of
their alguazils, their officers, their jailors, l
Will demolish the prison, doctor, as sure as
your name it Bernaguns, and mine Va.entin,
the prison where they confine honest men.
As for the Judge he shall give me a reason for
each one OF the foolish questions he has asked
me.'
1t was not worth while to reason with the
prisoner, brave youth who believed what
NC sdlu, DuG WHO WOuu IOTSeC IL as soon as
he was set at liberty. He sent a message to
his father by me and or Tered his supper.
went out of the prison thoroughly con-
vinced of the innocence of the two accused.
At the door found the judge, who invited
me to dine with him.
Upon my report that the fever of La Gree
que, caused by grief, inquistude, and sur
prise, would not hinder his intertion of coll
irontation, he rubbed his hands. He desired
to finish up the busnes promptly, as it was
necessary to proceed without delay to the
burial of Felipe.
During the dinner we very naturally dis
cassed the question of the murder. He al
lowed me to talk without interruption, smil-
ing and bowing the head each time 1 declar-
ed that the law was on the wrong track, and
that he must at once release La Grecque,
and Valentin.
When l had finished, the judge confidently
gave me his opinion. the results OF his own
Investigations, and the reports of his agents.
La Grecque was originally from Tam leo,
and not from Guadalajara. Married at four
teen years, she soon after separated from her
husband, and at Vera Cruz, at PuebIa and
Thacotalpan had caused scandal by her CO. |
queries. She helOp oe1 to on avoaIIo,+ G.: