The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-29
FOiled by u Woman.
MADAM, 1t is my duty to arrest you!"
"YOu dare not p


"4ou dare not t!''
than fcar, and the lady stood before me like
lioncss at bay. Even then could no;
help but note the splendid beauty of this
grand lady. Tall and SLENDER eyes black
and tjashng-almost lurid now; the spec
tacle she presented, standing there in the
middle of the apartment, was more the ap-
pcarancc of a queen than a hunted crimi-
! nal.
81 must" replied. "I do not doubt
your innocence; looking in your face, it is
not marked with guilt. But am constrain-
ed TO 90 my duty madam, however inimical
it may be to my feelings"
Nlll you allow me to change my
drcssf" She said in tone almost pleasant
The hard lines around the mouth had re-
laXcd, and the passionate glow of the face
gave way to II pleasant SMILE
''Ccrtainly, l will wait for you here"
81 wish to send u message for friend :;
will you allow him to passY"
''Cerlanly."
This was my first interview with It,l
gcnia Cormillc. | had seen her here for
months, the leader OF our gaycsc and most
fashionable society. In her splendid man
| sion she dispensed the most profusc and
elegant hospitality.
n Spanish lady--a widow, she had re-
presented hcrsclf-and had been Il resident
here almost year. No one ever suspected
her OF beng aught but what size seemed,
until one day l was ordered to arrest her as
a murdcress.
1t was now alleged, said Mr. f., that the
young beauty was none other than the
woman who had poisoned her husband in
u Il al ,skl I. Nh
immense reward was offered for her upprc-
hension, and tho circumstances that had
come to our knowledge pointed her out be-
yond all doubt as the person we were ia
search Of. Yet the person who had rccog-
nizcd her the evening before at the theatre
advised us to be careful lest she should
escape US. l laughed at the idea. Mr..
-and myself were sufficient to arrest Il
lady. We wclc old enough in the ways Of
cunning to defeat any siich attempts. When
The lady left me, | stepped to the window
ana said to Mr.. /, who was waiting ut
the door:
"Thc lady desires to send friend; suffer
him to pass.
Almost at the same instant the door of
The apartment the lady entered was opened,
and youth apparently mulatto boy
came out and passed hurredly through the
room into the hall, and from thence into The
street. 1t was no doubt the messenger,
thought, and picked up book and COM
menced reading.
Nearly al hour passed, and still the lady
did not make her rappcarunce or did the boy
return. The friend she had sent for must
llVca at some distance, or The lady is unusual
ly careful about her toilet, thought; and
so another hour went by. At last l grew
impatient and Knocked at the door.
"Madam, | CAN wait no longer"
There was no reply. l knocked repeat
edly, and at last dcrtermincd TO force an
entrance. Strange fears harassed he.
began TO suspect, l knew not what.
took but moment to drive in the door.
and once in that apartment the mystery was
revealed. The robes Of the lady lay upon
tue floor, and scattered over the room were
suits OF boys wearing apparel, similar to
that worn by the mulatlo. On the table
was cosmetic that would stain the skin
light, delicate brown.
was foilcd for Il surety, the lady had
escaped III the guse of Il messenger. |
should have detected the rusc; felt hu-
INFLATED, and determined to redress my
error. knew she would not remain III the
city moment longer than Wa. necessary.
hurried to her bankers and found she
had draw II the amount due her an hour be-
fore.
"Who presented the check" asked the
clerk.
"a muatto boy. 1t was made payable
to bearer"
There was yet a chance, The French
steamer left within al hour; il was possible
she would seek that means Of escape |
jumped into Il cab and arrived there ten
minutes before she left the wharf, Just in
time to assist an aged, decreplt gentleman
into the cabin.
There were few passengers none answer
Ing the description of the person | sought.
l was In the act of turning away when a
hacknlan approached me with the remark
MIR. f.. did you sec that old man on
board; he had long white beard and hair
that fell on his shoulders2"
eyes"
"Wcll, sir, there's something curious
about him."
"Nhy7"
"Why, sir, when he got into my carriage
he was Il mulatto boy, and when he got out
he was an old man."
| will not repeat the expression I used
thcn-it was neither polite nor rclincd-for
| knew the vessel would be far out to sea
before she could be overtaken. | was f,i.cd
by woman. Nor could | help rejoicing,
now that the chase was over, that she:had
escaped.
Innocent or guilty there was charm
about her none could resist. The spell of
her wondrous beauty affected all who ap-
preached her. 1t fingers in my memory
yet; and l could not have tho sin of he'll
blood upon my conscience.
---- A Deadly RInn.