Daily Republican., 1882-05-04
A TRAGEDY.
BY A DETECTIVE.

Anthony street. New Orleans, where
the moss grows over the roofing, and
the rickety doors hang on broken
hinges. Dust aud age have hid the
floor from sight, and the decaying
walls are damp aud mouldy. Only
ons room Is inhabitable, and ,ha,
shelters an old woman, gray and de.
crepit. Sitting on a low stool she mur.
,nurs a lullaby-an old time song.
Age has deprived her of reason, but
the sorrow of tragedy wrought is yet
fresh at her heart.
Thirty years ago she was beautiful.
The olive cheeks were radiant and the
glorious eyes flashed the t.iumph 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
that time no society in the world was
more brilliant than ours Wealth aud
| hospitality went hand-in hand, and
the most refiEei and elegant In the
land did homage 10 the beauty of New
Orleans. To be star reguant of such
society involved more than physical
loveliness, and Blanco CASTILLO had all
| None knew then she was married.
a young clerk of the father's had
gained her heart and hand. In this
cottage her infant son was born-here,
when she stole away from the bewild.
erments of fashion, she enjoyed the
society OF the man whose love she had
ventured 10 much to win. Wedding
him in secret, she had Jontrived To de-
ceive her parents and friends.
There were few things the father
would not have pardonel in his
child but not this. He was won't to
boast that kingly blood was in his veins;
that his ancestry had fought under
the standard of Arragon. How could
he accept a plebian son,in-law Months
went by and the mask was psrsevered
in. But a jealous rival discovered the
deception at last. And one night the
young husband fell dead from the
shot fired by concealed assassin. The
bullet that pierced his heart destroyed
the life OF The chill: he held in his
arm.
Who did it?
Mr.. lind my self had the work
ing up Of the case. The city was wild
over the tragedy The unhappy wife
u!ad with grief, had not besitated to
avow her marriage. 1t produced ex.
citement in society rarely, if ever seen
before.
But who was the murderer?
This was the question upon every
tongue. 1t was for us to discover.
Months went by in incessant search.
Here and there link in the ch.in of /
evidence was picked up until at last we
were able to lay our hands upon tho
man. Butt the de.d in itself was horri- |
flying, the culprit, when known, occa.
stoned thrill of indignant mpathy
for the unfortunate wife, felt by all.
Before arrestiug him, however, we
deemed 1t advisable to consult the lady. |
For this purpose Mr.. |. aud myself
visited her. She was still at the cot
tage, never having left it since the wild |
fever that had Lurned along Ter arteries
had ceased in that secluded spot no |
sound was heard, save the pistol sb OF i
and the death-raytle as the victims
pal face was raise appsalingly.
These were the facts as Chsy were re.
lated to my assistant and myself an
hour afterward.
The head of the dead man WAS pill
lowed on his daughters lap and to the
lips she pressed her own
repeatedly. But her friends 10 terpos
ed and the man was carrisd into the
house.
Have you any idea who lid it 2" l
asked Of the lady.
She hesitated for a moment. Not
wen her overwhelming sorrow had
,ower to suppress the tell.tale blush
hat stained neck and face with burn
Dg glow.
81 have none p she said, faltering.
II did not believe her Whoever the :
ssassin was she knew him. was salts d
led OF this, although some reason, for ;
which could not then account, kept '
or silent. This was all the public 3
earned from the daily papers, and fora a
7hile it passed from men 3 thought
But you know what others forget Wa
The detectives work Is never done. |,
he clew lost must be regained. But r
l this instance the mystery seemed n
npeuetrable. Still the belief that the
lrl knew by whom tho fatal shot was s,
red, Kept her constantly in my mind. Al
watched her necessarily. l searched
1T her history-learned of her loves
er cOurtships and all the secrets that
oung ladies guard so secretly. l as
'rtained from them that shs had been "
idressed by u young man of dissolutel u
abits, and wild, way ward character. ai ~
ne was an heiress in her own right VI
1T her fortune depended on her IN ar.
ing with her fathers consent. This Ia
uld not be obtained. l now settled tu
my own mind who was the murder pa
. But had no proof. Since the 81
ght Of the tragedy he had not come le
ar her. But something assured 81
that an interview would yet take w
ace. 70 this end l waited impa- IN
'ntly.
1t was Aardi-Gras night the night of
Q carnival. The brilliantly lighted
y was wild with excitement. The l.,
pulation wan en- masque. The w.
and OF mustC-tbe sound of echoing @ @%n
It reached the street from many a no ne,
iatial home and public building-a!f"r
zht Of revelry. l stood in the center 10 10
q room thronGed with dancers, my as s
ps never straying from blue domino. ,,a nn
lad traced it here. knew the lady NV tne
10 who wore 1t | had seen the milf. uS
r who had fashioned 1t and had III ~
n it fitted to the beautiful face. I hn tn'
not lost sight OF her since early ~
wn. She was standing underneath
chandelier when man approached
dressed AZ harlequin. 4
instinct would have told me who he yar
s had not recognized the sound Of Nc
voice-the word. o'cl
Mary p lily
he girl trembled, but heard tie the
ly. pow
Murderer p of t
1t was love for you!" to b
1t was fer love Of my monoy-go ! In t