The daily gazette., 1877-11-24
The Dead WOInan's s ecret
BY AN Ex-DETEcTIvE.

my friend Sleuth one evening as we sat
alone in my apartment, awaiting the ar
rival of a Neapolitan gentleman who
wished us to undertake delicate piece
of professional work involving his daugh |
ter's welfare.
had wore the ornament alluded to |
for some years, and its antiGne pattern |
had attracted much attention among my
friends. "a They Gall inferred, from my
constantly wearing it, that it was en-
deared TO me by some association and
1 had beer. .importuned very often to give
its history.
As sat impatientlY awaiting my eli
ents arrival, I had been toying with my
locket from the sheer force of habit, and
in doing 80 the circumstances OF its COM
ing into my possession were marshaied
before my minds eye in all their roman-
tic sequence. My friends question, there
fore, could not have been pronounced In
a more apropos time. 1 had both the
leisure and the incliRation to while away
the quarter of an hour on my hands, and
what was still more opportune, an all-
ditor ready to become interested
''This locket has something pf his
tory" replied to the inquiry Of my
friend, ssand if you are in the humor for
a short story I'll tell you how ] came by
it,"
"Go ahead, thsn,' said Sleuth, light
ing fresh "Cabarga," and seating him
self in his comfortable chair. "But /
say, old fellow" he added, "doI't be too
prosy about it. Life is short.
/ arose, and detaching the locket from
my chain, placed it in his hands, bidding
him open it and tell me what he thought
of his face within. He did so,
"The devil! Why this is the face of a
man, net woman?" he exclaimed. with
an astonished look. "Now you must
tell me its history.
"It is just two years ago last Christ
mas eve since that locket was fastened
on this chain, and the way it goL there
was briefly this," said I. "I had been
detained at the Bureau until near mid
night and was on my way home. 1t was
a gorgeous night. The snow lad been
falling heavily during the evening, but
had ceased by this time, and as the
bright rays of the moon, which had just
risen, fell upon it, it glittered and spark
led as though studded with nhyriads Of
priceless gems.
81 had Just entered the Rue Jacob; the
distant sounds of the jingling bells and
careless mirth which made the boulevard
a scene OF such gayety reached the silent
street throng which was passing like an
echo. Up and down the whole length of
the street not human being could be
seen, not sound save the reveTberated
revelry of the distant bacchanals broke
the stiffness of the midnight hour. l
quickened my pace and hurried on. Sud
denly, as neared the Rue Cont, two
figures emerged from a doorway. In
another Instant they stood upon the un-
trodden snow, bathed in the bright moon
light, with their swords crossed could
see that the face of each was wrlthed
with the firecast hatred. A few rapid
passes ere could reach the spot, quick
thrust, a stifed groan, and one OF the
two figures fell upon the white glitter
ing shroud that covered the earth. Then
the man who stood unwounded turned
to fly, but my hands fell upon his arm
and he stirred not.
tin low notes, quivering with passion
he turned, and pointing to the figure up
on the snow, said:
"He was the friend of my bosom; ht
became my rival. We fought and he fell
Let me pass"
"Let us care for this poor fellow first,
said l.
"Without word he assisted me to re
} move the body into the house; the fol
had passed through the heart the maj
was dead. Then inquired how it cam'
about.
"srhe woman have loved, said he
lived in this house. Ten days ago she
was stricken with fever. Night ant
day was at her side. Her attendants
] fled, and alone remained to watch AM
: care for her. She grew worse, and wa
yesterday confessed by the young prizes
, from the chapel in the Rue Chartres. A
dark she bade me farewell, and in an
l other hour her soul had fed from eartl
forever
Sand here the strong man bowed hi
Y face in his hands and wept like woman
Presently he resumed:
Last night alone watched by he
side. To-day pressed her cold lips an
4 pleaded in vain for a word from them
= Night came again, and still l fingered
n beside all that remained of her hat
s loved so passionately, SO blindly. Ha
q an hour ago I awoke, as slumbered Il
a my chair at her bedside, with a start.
}; had been dreaming of the hour when
q placed upon her bosom locket set wit
e pearls and rubies, within which was m.
s portrait; and thought that on the NOR
e row she would be consigned tb the tomt
h and with her the locket which she wore
it 1t was my gift to her. would take
l, from her breast, and wear 1t ever nea
q q my heart. Silently drew the curtaiH
v aside and felt for the locket, and there
1t moving quick over her cold, dead bosom
% felt the warm hand of man. An
II across her body l saw him, the man
,e slew, standing there.
h "Who is robbing the deadp' / cried.
:. "sThis woman,' said the friend of m
A. bosom, on the other side, 'loYed n
ID well.n
le "Liar!" groaned as l seized him b
as the throat; this woman loved me-
le "He threw my hands from his nee
n and said:
70 "'Upon her breast she wears my po
th trait set in locket of rubies and pearls
Vt "Then l struck him across the fac
at He taunted me with his love for the dea
ch woman. l struck him again, and dare