The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-02
CHAPTER xxx.
DEATH AT THE ovINoroN MANs1oN.

DuHinnt returned from tno masquerade al
| Morrisania
She threw aside her domino and mask
Her beautiful face was of a ghastly and
corpse-llke pallor-of a marble rigidity.
The dead" she muttered-''the dead!
! Even my courage failed before that white,
accusing face, and William Gorton, my un-
| scrupulous tool who could commit murder
! for golden price, even he shrank from that
CHASTITY sight, and could no longer help me-
put the Spaniard, Levinto, upon the track
Surely he will not fail-surely notl Oh,
that l could see George, and get his advicer'
Ten minutes alter. the outer door was
cautiously opened, and Levinto entered the
rooln
Speak, Levintor' she cried-'speak, I
implore-I command you! Have you sue
ceeded?'
unfortunately, no, madam" answered
the Spanlard "He had disappeared"
"Oh, horrorp cried Maud Ovington, de-
spairingly. bah! fool! coward! why did
you come away with your work undone?
would have paid you as have never paid
you yet. l would have sacrificed the last
penny have, every jewel possess!'
The Spaniard smiled with o strangely sim
| lister expression.
you would pay me well, but am rich al
| ready, and have no great fancy for risking
my life, even in your service The laws of
this country are hard against the murderer.
l have escaped once, but might fail to es-
this, and therefore, lady, shall do wisely,
perhaps, in wishing you farewell"
FAREWELL exclaimed Maud Dumont,
h an of atn slVpu
not surely desert me2"
''It is no desertion madam. / would re-
turn to my own country. / am rich, and
there | may be q noblrman. Here my life
| is in danger; 40 farewell"
'Tou are determined"
"Ay, madam; Levinto does not easily
change his mind"
Go, then!' cried Maud Dumont. Your
crimes have made you rich, and your cow
ardly spirit would take you from all peril!
But, before you go, it is in your power TO
grant me favor. My wealth has helped to
make you rich, SO you cannot we'll refuse to
do what ask Your countrymen are skilled
in the use Of the stiletto?"
"We are, madam"
"Do you know Of stiletto SO fine at the
point that one puncture would go directly
to the heart and yet leave upon the skin no
trace of its course, for prying eyes to dis
coverr
Levinto smiled.
II do know of such an instrument, mad
am, he said, quietly.
And can you procure one for me?'
II can give you one" replied the man,
significantly.
| He took from his pocket o small morocco
case, which resembled cigarette holder.
| He opened this case and took from it a slen-
| der piece of steel, to which was attached tiny
pearl handle.
''On the blade of this stiletto, madam .
| said Levinto, lis substance which viii
| zeal the puncture made, and also aid the
steel in its deadly work. One stab, and a
| painless death results. Any one finding the
stiletto could scarcely guess the purpose Tor
| which it is used"
"And you will give me this2"
II will, said Levinto, handing her the
delicate instrument. "The person who
possesses it, need not long dread q sleeping
enemy, nor fear the hangman. | shall start
this morning for my native country Fare
| we'll madam"
II am glad he has goner' muttered Mrs.
Dumont; "and yet-and yet he might have
been useful to mer'
The gentle daylight crept in through the
rese-colored Innings OF the white lace cur
tains, and made the pale face of the Gen.
erals wife even more ghastly than it had
been before.
| She was about to throw off her masquep-
ade dress, and fling herself upon the luxuri-
Gus couch in her bed-chamber, when the
door was once more opened.
Maud nxmont looked up with o start Of
terror
General Dument entered He was as
pale as death, and there was an awful calm
ness ON his face which caused the guilty
woman to stite cry of fear as she beheld
it.
She disguised her terror with terrible
effort and looked at the General with o
smile.
'You have risen early this morning,
CRANKY" she said, gayly. "You shame my
dissipated habits. The masquerade WAS so
delightful that fingered longer than had
intended. have only Just returned, and
am going to take few hours rest, for ana
terribly sleepy"
The General did not reply to this speech.
EYES, l am very, very tired" murmured
his wife. "But it is only seven O'Clock,
CRANKY she added, looking at tiny jew
eled watch that lay among the trinksts be-
fore her. II had no idea you were such an
early riser!"
II am not an early riser" returned the
General coldly. II have not been to bed
ali night"
Indeed! Oh, then of course you were at
some private meeting of your party. 1 am
only sorry you were not at Morrisania. The
masquerade was delightful!
You enjoyed yourself very much, thenf"
said the General, fixing his eyes, with e
searching gaze, upon the false and guilty
creature whom he had SO long loved.
ooh, yes, indeed! cannot remember
ever having enjoyed myself more My ouly
regret was hat you were not there TO share
my pleasure" she added, with one of those
half-pensive, half-tender smiles, which had
so often fascinated the General
Now his heart was marble. The mask
had fallen from that once idolized face, and
he could only look upon it with feelings of
horror and disgust.
"Ysu are mistaken, madam, he said. Il
was there!'
deathly shadow came over the face Of
the young bride, and she graSped the tiny
stilstte tightly in her slender hand.
'You were there?" she gasped-"you were
at the masquerade?"
mo, madam, was not at the masquer-
ade. was ut Morrisania. was the wit
ness of strange scene which took place in
the dimly-hghted chamber of a tenantless
cottage"
Maud Dument rose from her chair with a
wild cry of anguish She tottered forward
few steps and fell upon her knees at the
feet of the General.
"Pity me~ she crisd-'have pity upon
nae"
"Nor said Granby Dumont. sternly