Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-03-15
The Blue Domino.

creepers shading the doorway. A youn
girl peered from the tangled foliage ou
into the darkness; the young face wo,
an anxious look, and the eyes were sa
with sorrow. The bright golden curl
, were thrown back. and a little whit
hand was lifted to the ear, as if to cate
the first echo of footstep. The ligh
from the room flashed over the sum
tresses that shone in the glare like
golden crown. Suddenly the report @
a pistol rent the air, and man stag
gered and fell at her feet.
The noise of the street had long die
out. The busy city was sunk to rest
the wild fever that had burned alon
its arteries had ceased; in that seclude
spot no sound was heard, save the pisto
shot and the death-rattle as the victim
pallid face was raised appealingly.
J.! These were the facts as they were re
lated to my assistant and myself an hou
afterward.
The head of the dead man was pll
lowed on his daughtar's lap, and to tn
stiffened lips she pressed her own re
peatedlJ. But friends interposed, an,
the man was carried into the house.
"Have you any idea who did it?"
asked of the young lady.
She hesitated for a moment No
even her overwhelming sorrow had pow
er to suppress the blush that stained
neck and face with burning glow.
81 have nonep she said, faltering.
1 did not belieye her. Whoever til,
assassin was she knew him. I was sa
tisfied Of tlis, although some reason, /, fol
which l could not then account, KEEP
her silent. This was all the public
learned from the daily papers, and for
while it passed from mems thoughts
But yeu know what others forget W,
remember.
/ The detectives work is never done
The clew lost must be regained. But
in this instance the mystery seemed
impenetrable. Still the belief that the
girl knew by whom the fatal shot was
fired, kept her constantly in my mind.
L watched her necessarily. 1 searched
out her history-learned of her loves
her courtshfps and all the secrets tina
young ladies guard so secretly. 1 as
certained from them that she had been
addressed by young man of dissolute
habits, and wild, wayward character
She was an heiress in her own right
ut her fortune depended on her mar
rying with her fathers consent. This
could not be obtained. Inow settled il
my own mind who was the murderer
But 1 had no proof. Since the night O
the tragedy he had not come near her
But something assured me that an in
terview would yet take place. To this
end 1 waited impatiently.
1t was Mardi- Gras night-the night
of the carnival The brilliently lighted
city. was wild with excitement. The
population was en- masque. The sound
of music-the sound of echoing feet
reached the street from many palatial
home and public building-a night OF
revelry. 1 stood in the centre of a room
thronged with dancers, my eyes never
straying from a blue domino. 1 had
traced it here. knew the lady who
wore it; 1 had seen the milliner VIII,
had fashioned i; had seen it fitted to thu
beautiful face. Ihad not lost sigh: o
her from early dawn. She was standing
underneath the chandelier when a man
approached her dressed as harlequin
Instinct would have told me who he wa.
had not recognized the sound of hi.
voice-the simple word.
"MaryT
The girl trembled violently, hut
heard the reply.
"Murdererp
"It was for love OF you'll"
cit was for love of my money-goI ]
have not and will not betray you. Blu
I will never willingly look on your fac,
again"
"You viii desert me, tben?"
"Would you have me marry the NAL
who killed my parent7"
"Mary, what else could do?"
| 1 did not wait for the reply. 1 ha.
proof enough now. 1 whispered il
his ear and he followed me from til,
room.
"You are my prisoner"
'.For what he inquired haughtily.
'.f'or murderT 1 replied looking hin
steadily in the eye. He bore the lool
unfinchingly for moment, and thel
broke down utterly.
MARY has betrayed mel he said.
"Not sol but heard your converse
TONI
"No matter, I will confess it," An,
he did. 1t is useless to repeat the re
cital 1t was such as wild impetuou
nature Injured to crime would be ikel
to make. A great effort was made b,
his friends to save him, but in vain
The crime he perpetrated was too crue
the deed too heartless. He is i'll mid
die age, but his hair is white, and hi
face is wrinkled with care-an old man
whom remorse has cheated of youth
The girl yet lives in the city unmarried
She has a strangs heart, and min
warped by affection. She refused t
testify even at the trial