Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-04-07

That night, at midnight, the door of
Noras sleeping apartment wes steal
thily opened, and a woman with wild,
starting eyes, and a stern, ghastly
face. softly entered the room.
In one hand she held a sponge and a
small vial labeled 'chloroform.' To
this day the smell of that drug has
power to deprive Rene Clayton for
hours at time of life and unconscious
ness
With her dreadful, burning eyes de-
vouring the fair face of the sleeping
woman she approached the bedside
and saturating the sponge with the
chloroform, she applied it to the nos
lrils of the sleeper When satisfied that
the drug had done its workof stupefac
ton, she took from her pocket a small;
sharp lancet; then she barred the arm
of her victim, and bent closely over
hel. One quick, decisive puncture,
and the warm blood spouted out.
The murderess drew a sigh of re-
lief and gazed for a moment upon the
unconscious form before her.
1T will be pronounced a suicide,
she whispered, at last, as she turned
and glided from the chamber of hor-
rors.
But what is that lying upon the car
pet, at the bedside upon which the
pale, still form is sleeping? Rene
Clayton saw it not in her haste to escape
from that dreadful room-its dreadful
occupant
1t was diamond ring, which shone
and gHtered, and scintilled upon the
crimson carpet; it has slipped from
her finger unnotlced, while she was en-
gagged in her fearful work.
The morning sun, arose clear and
beautiful. The dew sparliled upon
the grass like diamonds; the birds
were wild with song; tie lilies at the
window dropped with the weight of
their own fragrance; and those two
man and wife-stood at bedside and
gazed upon white still form.
Down upon his knees Herbert Clay
ton fell, and wound his arms about
the slender figure of the dead woman.
There vas VI utterable woe in his eyes
But-what was that-shining and
flashing at his feet? He raised it from
the carpet: his heart grew cold with
horror; he turned to the woman who
bore his name, and held it up before
her gaze.
Rene he demanded, sternly, how
came this ring here?'
Something in his eve warned her
that deception was useless; the farce
was at end, the curtain must fall now.
She turned wildly towards him, her
eyes flashed fire; poor creature-pity
her she was crazed with her love- and
her anguish and her guilt.
Since you suspect me, She Cried at
last, mockingly, i suppose conceal
ment is useless. You are right,
murdered Nora Deane.'
Great Godr
Herbert Clayton sprang to his feet,
and strobe like madman towards the
shrinking, covering creature.
God forgive you, Rene Claytonr
he cried, you have murdered my sis
teri
What do you mean?
There was death in the eyes which
turned towards him.
4 mean this! he cried wildly; that
this wretched secret, which for so
many months have kept sacred, be-
cause ] had sworn to do so-would
have all been explained to-day. I told
her. pointing to the form on the bed
as he spoke, last night. She is my
fathers child, by second and secret
marriage. The proof of this marriage
was lost; and it was found. | had
promised to take charge Of Nora If
it was never found she could not be
honorably received in the family, and
we would never have revealed the truth
to her. Yesterday l received word
that the missing proof is recovered ,and
Nora was to 60 at once to take the po,
sltion lawfully hers, and claim her
share of my fathers estate. I would
have explained the whole mystery last
night, but you absented yourself the
entire evening"
He paused, with sudden pang of
pity at his heart--his wife lay upon the
floor in convulsions.
The family physician arrived, gave
the necessary directions for the care Of
Mrs. Clayton, and ordered her removal
from the chamber of death. Then he
turned to the still, white form upon
the bed.
'Suicide! muttered the doctor.
Strange, that sucn should be the case;
and she so young and so beautiful
A sudden thought seemed to strike
Linn; he stopped, and observed the face
of the dead girl attentively; he seized
her arm, and cautiously examined the
wound; then he rang the bell furiously.
Herbert CLAYTON rushed to the room
followed by the servants.
Have my orders carried ont at once
Mr.. Clayton, said the doctor hurriedly.
PAY strict attention to the directions
| am going to give you. have rea-
son to believe that this was but case
of c,ro,joJ on;,,oot;<,,