Louisiana capitolian., 1879-06-14


belonged to no caste but the outcast,
till the Heavenly tree which they
planted was watered and corrupted
with earthly blood. And else il
would never have taken root in hui
manity's sterile soil. Such is human
nature-and |, too, will accept the
theory and offer sacrifice to my sense
of justice"
He opened large travelling chest
and took from it a huge knife, which
he concealed in his bosom. Next he
picked up specimen Of that peculiar
old weapon known by the name Of
blunderbuss, q small arm of the hall
cannon species, whose charge pro-
duced the great effects of grape OF
canister Oh a small scale.
"Come, old friend," said he in a
half whisper, examining the piece.
''Take care not to fail your duty to-
night-for more savage than W. # OF
panther, more bloc y than the red
man, is the wretch whose arm you
are about to stay. This human viper
who blabs his souls secrets to the
winds of heaven, and makes audible
his drunken passions to the nearest
ear, must feel the dagger enter where
he's barred his guilty BOSOM"
The weapon was a superb one, and
might well be called an old friend; a
heavy twist barrel, twenty inches
long, and an inch and quarter in
calibre, with small compact lock
and movable rifle stock. He removed
the stock, and the gun presented the
appearance of a monster pistol. lie
then loaded it with two ounces of
fine powder.
"Let's see-Ill give him three
times three-that's an honorable num-
ber," he remarked, smiling, as he
rolled nine eslugs into the barrel.
"Now, old comrade, you'd astonish
any man by coughing in his face"
Disguised in a bad hat and a huge
grey overcoat, which concealed his
arms and his neat dress, he proceeded
quietly and unknown into the street,
and in a few minutes aft1 inward might
be seen reconnoiteringl an elegant
private residence not fair from Astor
place.
20, my eod~ he sal I, in scarce
audible whispers, as ha concealed
himself in a courtyard !. under the
rear windows of the house, "thou
who hast brought me here in thy
Providence, perhaps to dYthis thing.
let my act tonight be justified, and
atone for my sins!'
n.-"rnou SHALT sorl KILL"
1t was nearly one o'clock, and tile
watcher had been but a few minutes
in his concealment, when he heard
slow and stealthy steps in the area
outside the yard. Presently a man
dropped silently over the little wal
that separated them, and for a mo-
ment paused to listen. All was silent
as sleeping nature could make it
The new conner approached one O
the rear windows the sill Of which
stood level with his breast, and afte1
some difficulty opened the blinds
raised the sash, and listened: again
Finding everything still silent, hi
vaulted lightly into the room an(
examined it with dark lantern. Tht
chamber was cozily and richly fur.
nished. TO the right, as he entered
stood a bed, with head toward the
window. He cast the light that way
and observed lady sleeping; bu
there was one thing he did not throw
light on, or obselve-a tall figure
standing outside in the dark, side.
ways, by the window, and the muzzlt
Of a deadly weapon pointing into the
room. He contemplated the features
of the sleeper for a moment-the
light, meanwhile, rehected on his owl
and then leaned forward to heal
the breathing. The sleep was heavy
interrupted occasionally by sigh
He rolled down the clothes, anG
smiled a bitter, vulgar smile, as ht
observed an infant sleeping by its
mothers side.
The face he bore was a disagreeablt
face-that sort of worn, hang dog
half brutal, half cunning face, which
a certain class of men have, whose
souls are too mean or too stingy tt
build for themselves respectable bod.
les. He was surely big and strong
enough to pass for All average physi
cal man but there was peculiar
snake-like cast about the eyes an(
forehead, and u constant half yawI
about the mouth, as though the all
refused to nOurish such creature
and he must be always gasping fol
unwilling breath.