The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-11-13


the face.
''Do you listen to clients after Office
hours?' she asked, in a rich voice, which
rippled over smile that played over her
coral lips.
eyes, Miss-or Madam"
Madam, if you please, Mr.. Moultrie,'
she said, her eyes flashing hatefully, and
then she laid white, ungloved hand on
the table. ''That hand" she murmured,
''you must separate forever from the hand
it grasped before The altar FIVE years ago.
Do you understand, Mr.. Moultrie 20
az think | do. You seek divorce"
''And | must not seek in vain,'' she said,
firmly.
Parke Moultrie drew some paper from
the drawer, and sharpened his pencil.
''Please state your case, madam" he
said, glancing at her.
Give years ago, come the tenth of next
October, l, as Maud Raymond, better
known to the playgoing world as Madam
oiselle Beauchampe, was united in marri-
age to Marion Rhett.''
At mention Of his rivals name Parle
Moutrie almost dropped his pencil. The
woman did not seem to notice his emotion
and continued after brief pause.
~ don't know why | married him. l
never loved him. lie had no money!
"Perhaps he had prospects ?'' suggested
the lawyer.
Prospects ~ echoed the petitioner,
with smile. 'tAh he had prospects. He
had rich uucle-Randolph Rhett, think
his name was. He expected money there,
but his marriage with me ruined all his
prospects. His uncle cursed him in a long
letter, and told him that he had cut him off
without cent. ] hold the letter. After
that, Marion Rhett soon tired of me. He
basely deserted me in Mobile. That was
three years ago. | have spoken to him
but once since. 1t was in Harrisburg. /
was playing my last engagement there. 1t
was the night of the Goth October, 1853"
.'What ~ cried Parl1e NIoulirie, start
ing again.
Marion Rhetts wife repeated the declar-
alton.
care you confident of the date ?''
az am. l can swear chat l talked with
him then and there
Mrs. Rhett, on what grounds do you
, petition for a divorce ?''
''On the grounds of desertion ; but there
is another charge which L would to God
the court would hear?''
''Will you make It now ?''
She rose to her feet, and looked the law
yer in the eye. All The passions of Ce nci
burned in her eyes, aud her voice was cut
tingly vindictive and emphatic.
~ charge the man VINO charmed me to
the altar with :he basest Of crimes the
crime ef MURDER she cried.
.sCan you prove it ~ cried Parke Moul-
trie. springing almost triumphantly from
his chair.
81 do not know" she said slowly. ooh
God, if thy angels could speak in the courts
of men He slew Colonel Rhett, his uncle.
The dagger he carried would fit the Death
wound which have seen so minutely de-
scribed in the papers. l know he killed
him, for have heared him swear that he
would do it. What sweet revenge if l.
could prove it -
''Hoid - cried the lawyer. cone of his
les shall furnish the missing Ink ! have
a letter which he wrote to the colone's
child one week after the murder. In that
letter he declares shat he was in Alexan-
dria the on night of The. twentieth"
ssHe was not On the morning of the
1fth OF October 1853. | left Harrisburg
for the South. was obliged to retire from
the stage on account of my health. reach
ed Cloyden on the 28th. That night !
rambled among the suburbs of the town.
saw q man approaching, and | shrunk
iafc The shade of palmetto. He passed
me. and 7 saw the face Of my husband. He
went toward Colonel Rhett's plantation.
The next day he was not in Cloyden. l
have not seen him since. Mr.. M0uitIie,
Won can draw your own conclusions"
palIze MouItrie was not slow in drawing
them.
The next day he left Richmond, and one
night suddenly confronted Marion ithett.
A gentleman whom he made known as MIR.
Swails, of Pittsburgh, accompanied him.
ssWhere were you on the Goth of Octo-
Der. 1881 inquired MIR. Swails, during
the conversation that followed the intro
duction.
The answer came after a moments tho't
s.In Alexandria and Washington"
ssAh fine old town, Alexandria, " said
the questioner and then the conversation
, fell upon the murder at the plantation.
, 81 was in Richmond that night at the
Spotswood,' said Marion Rhett.
The last word was still quivering on his
Inns when Swails rose to his feet.
s'MaIion Rhett, iu the name of the Com
mouvealth of South Carolina, l arrest you
for The murder of your natural uncle, Ran
dolph Ehett."
The accused laughed.
s.Well, we'll this is a joke. Mr.. Moul-
trie, suppose am indebted TO you for its
perpetration. So l am to exhibit clear
! alibi TO n dozen men. Well drink over