The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-04-18
NUMBER 10.
A Tragedy.

A Tragedy.
There is low ruined cottage ON st.
Anthony street, New Orleans. where the
moss gt6ws-sver the roofing. and the
ickety doors hang on broken hinges.
Dust and age have hid the4foor from
sight, and the Gecaying walls are damp
md moidy. Only one room is tabitabie,-
and that shelters an old woman, gray
and decrepid. Sitting ION low stool
she murmurs lullaby--an old.tine
song. Age has deprived her of reasofi,
but the sorrow Of tragedy is yet fresh
at her heart,
Thirty yesrs ago she. was besutiful.
The olive cheeks were radiant and the
glorious eyes flashed the triumph of a
belle. Tall and slender, exquisitely
formed, with rich Andalusian type of
beauty, it is no wonder that she reigned
regally over many hearts. At, the time
no society in the world was more bril-.
IisnS- than soufs Wealth and hospitality
went hand in hand, and the most re-
fined and elegant in the land did hom.
age to the beauty Of New Orleans. To
be star regnant of such society involved
mores than physical, ioyeliness, and.
B!anco CASTILLO had all the graces that,
intellect bestowe.
None knew then she was married. A
young clerk of her father had gained
her hand. In this cottage her infant SON
was born-here, when she stole away
from the bewilderments Of fashion she
enjoYes the society OF the man whose
love she had ventured SO much, to win.
Wedding him in secret, she had cohtfived
to deceive her parentsisnd friends.
There we're gfew things that father
would not have pardoned in his child,
but. net this He was@went TO boast
that kingly blood was in bis veins; shat
his ancestry had fought under the stand
ard of Arraeon. How could he, accept
a plebian son.in-lsw2 Months went by
and the mask was .persevered. in, but;
jealous rival discovered the deception at,
last. And one night the young husband
fell dead from shot fred by conceal
ed assassin. The bullet that pierced bis
heart destroyed the life Of the child be
held in his arms, % 2" 2
Who did itp sr oe ss.s
Mr.. I. and myselfha the working up
Of the case. The city was wild over
the tragedy. The unhappy wife7 mad
with grief, had not hesitated tor ayow
her marriage. 1t produced an excite.
ment In soeiety''rare!y iiever seen before.
But who was the murderer ma7, ~
This vas. the question upon every
tongue 1t was for us to discover.
Months went by in incessans search.
Here and there link in the chain of
evidence was picked up until at last We
were able to lay our hands upon the
maa. But, if the deed 10 itself was shor!
rifying, the culpfit,e when known, oc-
casioned a thrill of indignant s. mpathy
for the unfortunate wife ielt by all. Be-
fore airesting him however, We deemed
it advisable t6 consult the lady, For,
this purpose Mr.. |. snd myself visited
her She was still at the cottage, never
having left it since the night of the mor-.
der When shown into the room my
heart turned sick as contemplated the
ravages few short months had made.
The form was bowed and bent The
beauty which had been the toast of bril-.
liant society had fed Before US stood
a lady whom grief had all but wrecked.
MADAM, we have come to consult
you in reference to the murder of YOUR
husband"
"You have found him then ," she
eagerly inquired
"Yes" x g 49,
'sAnd he is--" al ss s,ss, =
i could not help the sad look that
came into nv face How could. ] infiict,
on heart so worn and weary additional
sorrow9
"You dc, not tell me" she said with
an intona.ion OF voice 90 exquisitely sad
that it went to my heart. '.f 2
~ must tell you, madam, deeply as
grieve to do so; but you must prepare
yourself for "a great shock, l rejoined.
"What otter calamity can befall me ?"
l.Psrhaps greater one THAI you havs
yet encountered. ! fear ou,will esteem
it such
"Speak Who is il2"
"Your father" sn si.i 9see' 81
my father 2 OF. no; not be. Say
it was not be, and her arms stretched
out TO me so sppeslingly; the white lips
and angdished eyes were so beseeching.
that, felt l would rather die than face
such an ordeal again., -.,.
"Mv fatherp"
ayes, madam. The cEain OF circum!
stantial evidence leaves no room for
doubt. He did the deed"
II seemed as fthis last sorrow had
broken her heart. She stood up before
a e, every trace of color fed from her
face, with unptterable anguish in look
and gesture.
+ ''Leave him alone with God /" and fell
fainting to the floor. ais'ssft'
From that hour to this / have never
seen her. She holds no intercourse
with any one. All else save . faithful
servant lie bsnished from the house.
From her I learn what /, repeat to you.
Her reason has no, doubt fed, and che
sits by the freless hearth nursing hef
sorrow with her Wretched meuhoties.
"Youne man" said the landlord, 81
slways eat the cheese rind." And the
new bosrder REPLIED "Just so : / am
| leaving this for you,n ls3s