The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-06-14
Selerf Stbry.
The Price Of a Secret.
BY MRS. s E. COLLINS.

BY MRS. s E. COLLINS.
"Who was she2' 1t was the photo
graph of fair, girlish face, with smiling
eyes, dimpled chin and childish mouth
A woman bent over it, drinking in every
dainty, beautiful feature-a dark woman
with eyes in whose depths there smoul
dered fire OF repressed passion-a wo
man who could love devotedly, idola
trously, whose hatred was something te
fear.
81 will kpoww she continued.
"Who is she, Herbert ?" turning to th,
man who lounged on sofa at her side.
"She1 Why, did l never tell you
She is my ward, Nora Deane."
"Your ward? How is it, Herbert
Clayton, that 1, who have been YOU
wife for nearly year, have never before
heard of herr"
"Why, Rene, to tell the truth, l die
not think much about it. She has beer
at school for several years, but now hav.
ing finished her education she will re-
main with Us until her family sends fol
her,"
Nora Deane came-a sweet.faced
laughing girl; she brought sunshine into
The house, and silent rooms echoed to
the sound of her musical laughter. Blu,
wherever she went pair of fierce, DARK
eyes followed her; there was no escaping
them, for Rene Clayton was ever on The
watch for any chance word or action
upon which to feed the jealous fire which
was consuming her. And so the days
few by. No word yet of Morals intend.
ed departure, and in the meantime Her.
bert was ever at her side attending to
her comfort, while the wife looked on
with clouded brow and compressed lips,
and uttered no murmur or complaint.
But the end came at last.
One night could she ever forget that
dreadful night 2-they were gathered iu
the snug little library when Rene was
called away to attend some household
care.
Returning an hour later she was about
to re-enter the room when her ear caught
through the door, which stood slightly
ajar, the sound of Morals voice in pas.
sionate earnestness.
These were the words that fell upon
the ears of the wife and scared and
blackened all hope and trust in her
breaking heart:
"You will care for me just the same,
Herbert2"
A burst Of tears followed the words
"Just the same always!" Herbert's
voice replied in low earnest tones.
Softly pushing open the door Rene
glanced into the room they did not per.
ceive her as she gazed and beheld a
scene which seemed to turn her heart to
stone in her breast.
She saw her husband, the man who
had sworn to love and cherish her even
'till death do US part" with his arm
about the waist Of Nora Deane and her
fair head resting on his shoulder. Then
Rene closed the door quietly and went
away. There was murder in her heart.
That night at midnight the door OF
Nora's sleeping apartment was stealthily
opened, and woman with wild, starting
eyes, and a stern, ghastly face, softly en-
tered the room. In one hand she held
a sponge and small vial labelled "chlo
roform." To this day the slightest smell
Of that drug has the power to deprive
Rene Clayton for hours at time Of con-
sciousness.
With her dreadful, burning eyes de-
the fair face OF the sleeping
girl, she approached her bedside, and
the sponge with the chloro-
form, she applied it to the nostrils Of the
sleeper.
When satisfied that the drug had done
its work of stupefaction, she took from
her pocket small, sharp lancet; then
she barred the arm of her victim and bent
closely over her. One quick, decisive
and the warm blood spurted
out.
The murderess drew sigh Of relief
and gazed for q moment upon the IN.
conscious form before her.
"It will be pronounced suicide" sht
whispered at last as she turned and glid
ed from the chamber OF horrors
But what is that lying upon the carpe
at the bedside upon which the pale, still
form is sleepiDg3 Rene Clayton saw il
not in her haste to escape from tha
dreadful room and its unconscious occu
pant.
1t was a diamond ring which shon'
and glittered upon the crimson carpet
1t had slipped from her finger unno!icet
while she was engaged in her fearfu
work.
The morning sun rose clear and beau
tiful; the dew sparkled upon the gras
like diamonds; the birds were wild witt
song; the lilies at the window droope'
with the weight of their own fragrance
and these two-man and wite-stood a
the bedside of the young girl, and gaze
upon the white, still form.
Down upon his knees Herbert Clayto
fell and wound his arms about the dea
woman. There was unutterable woe j
his eyes.
But what was that shining and fashin
at his feet? He raised it from the cal
pet; his heart grew cold with horror; b
turned to the woman who bore his nam
and held it up before her gaze.
"Rene," he demanded sternly, "ho'
came this ring here2"
Something in his eye warned her tbs
deception was useless the farce was 8
an end; the curtain must fall now. Sh
turned wildly toward him, her eyes fash
ing fire. crazsd with her love, her ar
guish and her guilt.
"Since you suspect me-" she cried {
last mockingly, II suppose concealmer
is useless. You are right. / murdere
Nora Deane!'
"Great God"
Herbert Clayton sprang to his fe,
and strobe like madman toward th
shrinking, covering creature
"God forgive you, Rene Clayton" /
cried. "You have murdered my sister
"What do you mean ?"
There was death in the eyes whic
turned toward him.
81 mean this u he cried wildly, eth.
this wretched secret, which for so man
| months have kept sacred, because ! ha
sworn to do so-would have all been e,