Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-11-01
VOL g. BATON ROUGE. LOUlolANA fI4l1so4h
lowed by:a roar Of dissent. Finally one
voice prevailed over the others, and


said:
"What sort Of a woman 10 she -
"Well, gentlemen" replied the land
lord, II don't know for sure, butt think
she's bride, and that they are on their
wedding tour"
"A bride!" roared the jewellers; "bring
her here. Fetch them both here, fer we
want to drink to the bride and talk to
the husband"
Our friends in the blue room trembled
they feared an assault on them would
be made. But the same voice prevail
ed over the din, and it was evidently
that of a superior officer.
The night wore on. Leon and his
bride had almost forgotten their Eng
lish neighbor, when they heard astrange
sound in his room. ID was that of the
fall of some heavy body. Mingled with
this there was o peculiar crashing, gra-
ting sound, followed by a stiaed cry.
Silence. Then there were two or three
oaths, and silence again.
The young couple shuddered. What
could it mean ? Leon tried to reassure
his trembling companion, but he was
interrupted by cautious opening Of
the next door. 1t was softly closed
again, and then slow, and apparently
careful footsteps were heard in the hall.
They were lost in the distance. They
ceased. Again all was STILL
Soon the young bride was sleeping
| calmly. But not SO with Leon. Despite
himself the sinister face Of the English.
mans nephew returned to his recollec-
ton. There was hatred, he thought,
in the glance cast upon the uncle by
the young man when he left him, and
then that roll of bank notes in the va
lise. And that dull, heavy sound but
now, like the fall Of body upon the
floor--the cry-the curses. Such was
the train of thought that ran through
Icons mind.
Mechanically he fixed his eyes.upon
the door which communicated with the
Englishmen's room. There was little
space between the bottom Of the door
and the flooring. BY the dim light fall.
ing from the partially turned down gas
he could see something forcing its way
under the door.
what can it be 7" thought Leon. III
it knife. No, for it has divided into
two parts. And now it divides again
and yet again. What can it be 7 1t is
some liquid"
The thing slowly crawled toward ;
little blue slipper. 1t excircled it's heel
1t stained it's front. 1t was liquid, O
strange and unmistakable color-tht
color Of blood.
For a long time Leon lay and gazet
upon the stained slipper and the red
dish stream which encircled it. HI
pictured to himself the corpse lying il
the next room; its discovery the follow
ing, the door opening directly into tn
room Of which the bolts were on hi
side; the blood stained slipper. III
attempted to rise and hide the slipper
as he did so, his wife spoke and starte'
with alright as she felt his icy hand
"What is the matter"
Leon explained to her the terrible sit
uation in which they were placed. II
, arose and attempted to remove the tell
tale stains from the slipper, but it wa
; useless.
Day was breaking. Already the sci
wants were moving around the hotel
In few hours the crime would be dis
covered, and the officers of the lax
r would be upon them.
'Alasw said Leon, "our only hope
, this: At eight o'clock the train leave
, for Paris. If the Englishmand's body
not discovered before that time we aT
safe. We will take the train and los
+ ourselves in the great city. There W
: shall be SAFE"
3 His weeping bride flung herself upo
his bosom. She felt almost as thong
the committed the deed.
81 But there yet remained two morts
. hours before the train left. At eac
step in the corridor they trembled wit
: alright. They made their preparation
for departure. Icons bride wished
r burn the bloody slipper, but he restrain
f cd her, and concealed it on his persol
+ Seven o'clock sounded. The hot
t was alive again with busting servant
t Leon forced his wife to take cup I
. coffee, although she declared that h
1 parched throat refused to swallow
. rrbn,, +bap lacoanIod m tho syoitip,