The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-12-25
5 NO. IS.

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Eshe had approached, was one that
opened out of a conservatory. She
saw Colonel Humphries busy with
some rare plants he just set out,
Ito the warm sunshine that fell
Through the glass. He had takenoff
Ibis coat and rolled up his sleeves
Now he left the conservatory and
looming forward proceeded to wash
His. hands il basin Of water that
had been set ready for, him. He was
close to Ida Halifont. He did not
I,see her, but siel gould have reached
lontcherIhand and touched him. lsa q
i Willy did she not speak and call
him by name2 Why did she sink
down upon her bands and tremble.
like an aspen, leaf2 Alas! the awful
reason was this: Upon that arm to. q
which she was about to give the,
right to clasp hersin tenderest en-
brace she saw a terrible mark-a.' 2
mark she had seen once before. She (.
kheY its shape and size and color.
Her eyes had been riyeted upon it as :,
the sinewy hand, at the wrist Of
which it ended, grasped her dying
husband throat. z She had learned
heart; shecouldl not be de-if
ceiyed. Though. years had rolled .
away that horrible marked arm was !.
not to be forgotten or mistaken by
any other. go s.. :.
Suddenly Colonel Humphries felt
himself grasped by a hand that,
small as 1t was, had the fierce touch
Of tigers claw. The finger closed
over that red mark--a white fa;e
came close to his. iu oil aaa1
,''Yeu are my husbands murder,
erg' Missed a voice in his ear. I
Then the two stood staring at
| leach other. ..3ls.9
| He made no denial; he only look
Cd down at5the red mark upon his
arm and cursed it aloud. saw 2ah
! tHow dared you make love to
msi" she gasped.. s''Yout-" g22ie $50
| isBscanss Iiloved you," he said
sWoman, if Ihad not fallen ia love
/ With dah Va you that that night / would have
killed lille yen, also 4. L was vas riskng NY
| life to spare you, With your screams
calling men TO Oh, hunt mt NE !, down, a,,o,
nj foh, if youl b bad di] bqt killed me
1thens' she moaned. .b,eg n bs,oaes. ot,,
i Well, / am at jour mercy now
The said 4qi gsttsd 81 01iaTa.f -
II ,sSheanswereds onil 3 nesi5 iiailaaAih
'saYou cankiai!a Iwfsh yoniwoulda
Ispfay you adol it.aia You1 killed my
husband. The murderer of'my hass
lband must be- brought to i!jasticsj
land yesterday; nay, an houragoGa
/ loved you! o., God pity me! I
have, loved this man, this thief, who
came in THE night to rob my hus-
band, and who murdered him. .,
She remembered saying this. AZ
| terYard strange drowsiness over.
came her, she seemed to let 60 her
hold upon the world. She family
recognized the. fact that Colonel
Humphries knelt Eat her feet and
kissed her hands. Then there were
blank hours, s and strange wild
dreams, and She awakened in the
4 twilight and found herself bound
.fastcto!a great armchair, long cords
about her arms tying her hands and
fcaonfning her feet. -
f. So her servants found her; but
she was the only living being in the
great house. Colonel Hamphries
and his two black servants had
disappeared. - 'i'.' s2ia
The empty bottle Of chloroform
on the foor-the fact that he had
left little behind him, and that he
had always kept bis. money in form
that left him free, to leave the coup-
try at any time, all proved that de-
lection had been prepared for, that
he was neved traced--or had the
means to bride those who were set
), upon the track. m i,8 saea
,Ia.l Mrs. Halifont lived through it all.
She lives to-day An the quiet house
beside the estate, but NO one has
ever seen her smile since that hour.
q A------------.--HsO>Se----- ssd
! IDOSE'S NAME WRITING FANCY
ILL STITCHING, AND DARNING AT