The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-08-31

low, ne DEuE1Us III tic AGA sAAOA 1890
chamber form whose presence sent thrl1
to his heart. For the third time ne oenela
that white-robed figure.
s.You do well, CRANKY Dumont," said the
ficure-s'you do well 10 obey my summons
Perhaps. now, YOU will credit what you see,
and know that have spoken trulyf
SIT is the appointed hour, said the guide
whose voice was muhled IN the 1oIds OF
huge scarf. ''You have but to watch and
listen" He knelt down and slid away
portion of the flooring. you may watch
without fear of being seen.
The General stationed himself at the aper-
ture, and waited, with wildly-beat1ng heart.
He had been watching about ten minutes
when he heard door open. moment
afterward, he saw two persons enter tins
room beneath him.
They were both niasked-one was man.
and the other woman, who was dressed,
from head to foot, in black domino.
"Thank Heaven" thought the General,
sit is not Maud She wore o different
dress" But, in moment, he murmUred:
''Ah, misery, it is shel'
''Why have you brought me to this placer
exclaimed Mrs. Dumont, looking around
the apartment.
because have something to say which
must not be overheard" returned her COM
panion.
''You might surely have chosen better
scene for our interview, Mr.. Dalton"
''Who says that am Mr.. Dalton2 said
the mask, In a strange tone.
"Your voice says so"
''But voices are sometimes alike. You
might be mistaken in the identity"
''But am not mistaken" replied Mrs.
Dumont. 'You told me that you HAYS
something of importance to say, or should
not have consented to accompany you here"
81 have to inform you II peril which
menaces you"
ga perilI'
''The peril of being accused of the muir
der of your lover, Clarence Suydam.
CRANKY Dumont expected that his wife
would start from her seat, angry and indig-
nnnt, to repudiate the vile charge contained
in these words; but she did not stir.
'tWho accuses nne?" she asked in o hoarses
gasping voice.
yourself" answered the mask. "You
are your own accuser, and the strongest ac-
cusation almost that exists against you Is
the evidence of your own handwriting
letters written by you to the murdered man,
Clarence SuydaTn."
The face of Maud Dumont grew CHASTITY
white and the General could SEQ that she
was trembling violently.
''There are no such letters In existence
she said.
''There are, ard You know that there are.
Why did you refuse them when they were
offered your
81 refused Them" gnsped tbs WTstehed
woman, "because-
"Because they were offered by the deadF
said the mask, il solemn voice. "Maud
Oumnnt Won who deceived the most 0aheE.
Gus OF men by your rRlse Smiles, your nolloW
words you are the murderer of the man
whose only crime was to love and trust You.
The letters written by you to Clarence Suy-
dam are still IN existence; they prove the
motive of your crime, and they are in the
hands of those who will not scruple to use
them when the fitting time comes. But
that is not all. In the grave dug for an
other is the body of your murdered lover,
whose birthmark, when he is exhumed, viii
establish his identity. He was slain by
man in your employ and cast into the river
The guilty woman uttered long, wild
shrek, and fell upon her knees at the feet OF
ler accuser.
''lIr. Dalton" she cried, ''why are you
has pitiless? What have I ever done to
vim your hate? We have always been .
riends. have greatly esteemed you-you
annot say that I haVs ever injured you in .
Vord, look or deed!"
''You have iniured-murdered my friend, .
Jlarence Suydan, said the mask, sternly. /
"Ah! I am innocent of his murder-I re.
,eat, am innocent-for loved him truly,
nd would have married him when my hus-
and died. I wished money, and sacrificed
II to obtain it. But think you I1Ove Gran.
" Dumont? No. no! fooled him by false
lords, and lie was weak enough to believe
hat 1 loved him! Have pity on mel have
ity! may appear guilty, but I swear that
am innoccnti 1t is all mistake! At
our feet, sDpplicate for mercyI Remem-
~ " Dalton hat I a wAa IL vvOF0QY1 !
nd withhold your handF'
Had Maud Dumont been less agitated by
ne terrible agony of fear, she might have
card stifed grOan of despair that was ut
red in the chamber above. The one
right dream of CRANKY Dumontg life was
roken. The mask had fallen. He now
new the nature of the woman he had loved
ad trusted.
81 have told you before that you are mis-
ken, Maud Dumont, said her companion,
O cold and pitiless voice; 81 am not James
altonr'
mot james Daltonr' repeated the woman,
utter bewilderment. Who, then, are
ou?"
"One whom you should have reason to re.
answered the man.
At the same moment he threw aside the
lack velvet mask that had covered his face.
The glare of the lamp shone full upon
lat rigid and marble-like countenance.
A shrek of terror and despair burst from
Iaud -Dumont's lips, and she fell fainting
4 the rugged flooring of the chamber. The
ce upon which she had looked was the
me which she had beheld in the private
Ok Mt the Academy OF Music. 1t WAS the 9
ce Of Clarence Suydam, her murdered
YER.
The shrek had been overheard. William
orion had followed his mistress. He
lard her wild cry and rushed to her assist
ice.
an in his arms and carried her out into the
ben air.
The cool breeze revived her; she opened
r eyes and gazed wildly about.
"Kill him, Williamf' she cried in a hOarss
ice, as she recognized her servant and as
him! lie has returned to
-meRt me--he has returned to denounce
:! Kill him, and I will reward you more
lilly than have yet rewarded your
William Gort0n drew q pistol from his
cket and rushed toward the empty house.
ran into the empty chamber and took
liberate aim at the mask, who stood calm
d motionless beside broken table. But,
fore William Gorton could pull the trig-
r, the stranger flung aside his black velvet
six and n faxen wig which had concealed
dark hair. ..
The servant uttered cry of terror scarcely
5 wild and piercing than that which had
rst from the lips of his mistress.
The dead!" he cried-''the murdered VIC
/ risen from she grave to glare at me with
hollow eyesl Hide me from hii-hide
from himP'
lie flung up his arms wildly, as if to shut 2
the sight of that dreaded face, and :
he'd from the building, staggering as he =
ut. I
{ was thus CRANKY Dumont learned the J
K secret Of his beautiful wife's history "
CHAPTER XVIII
THE RELENTLEss ENEMY. :,
The General turned toward the shadowy Il
IN which still remained in the gloomiest c.
ner of the room.