The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-04-07

Female beauty had forever lost its charm
for James Dalton.
CHAPTER XVII.
TERRIBLE REVELATION.
Two evenings after the events recorded in
the preceding chapter. Mrs. CRANKY Du-
mont was to attend select masquerade at q
friends, Mrs. Elbert Carlton, in Morrsania.
The General cared little for such scenes, but
he believed that his young Yife wished to ap-
pear ut the soiree, aud y was willing to
sacrifice his own happinesAto hers, although
he did think that her Axperiencs at the
Academy Of Music would keep her from at-
tending any more, at present, of the same
sort Of entertainment. even if it were private.
As he was waiting to attend his wife to
the masquerade. . servant entered and
handed him a letter, which informed him
that if he would come Is the masquerade
alone, he should see. with his own eyes, and
hear with his own ears. tbs guilt of the wo-
man whom he had weddsA Il was signed
''Lady Friend" .
II will eor exclaimed Granby Dumont.
"Surely shall be able to 1athom this vile
plotr'
He ascended to the drsasing-room of his
wife and informed her that an unexpected
summons called him away. He wished her
to go without him.
Mrs. Dumont was inwasdly glad that her
husband was not to ~ present at her
friends house.
The parlors were com1mtably filed with
beanty and fashion, but there was no form
there more graceful than alat Of Mrs. Gran
After the first qnadrilk, Mrs. Dumont
contrived to drop the ~ Of her partner
and to disappear.
She went out upon the piazza at the back
of the house and descendal the steps to the
grounds below. e..
she murmured. drawing the thick shawl
which she had flung over her costume close
about her.
She had not to wait long
Two men entered the gEeunds by the car
riage-way-William Gort1h and Levinto,
the Spaniard.
"You both know what to odo?" she asked.
eyes. madam" replied Gorton. 1--WE are
only to watch. and to be ready, should our
services be needed"
Precisely so-onc Of you will be near me
wherever go; and you will make it your
business to keep your eye upon Mr.. James
Dalton. if he appears here tonight"
The two men glided silently away beneath
the skeleton trees.
''Would it not be bettsr TO end this sus-
pense now?" muttered Mr4 Dumont mo,
she added; II will 60 forvard-I viii see
what cau be done ~
The General went in coach, which he
hired from livery stable, but he took his
own driver.
"Why do these people persist in slander.
ing her ?" he thought. 81 viii believe in
her aud trust her to the hs&, md il shall b
my business to unravel this mystery"
About . half mile from the house, the
coach was brought to . stand-still
The General thrust his haad out of The
window.
''lf you are General CRANKY Dumont
stopr said voice. ''You ass close 70 youa
destination"
"IamY' answered The General, proudly,
alighting from tho vehicls.
The man who bad accososd him bade him
follow, and, in . few nainuias they reached
dilapidated building. :
| This house was empty.
General Dumont said nothing. and the
stranger requested the coAchman. who had
reined in his hoEses at the door, 10 drive on
. little further. So soon Il the vehicle Was
gono, the man entered tha house, tho Gen.
eral following. The shuatsrs were closed
Tho Genezals guide poihied 20 laddes.
leading to the second story. which the Two
ascended.
The General looked around him, and, by
the dim light which issued from q lamp be.
low, he beheld, in the further corner Of the
chamber q form whose presence sent thrill
10 his heart For the third time be beheld
that white-robed figure.
"You do we'll, CRANKY Dumont," said the
fgure-''you do we'll to obey my summona
Perhaps, now, you will credit what you see,
and know that have spoken tzulyr
| ''lt is the appointed hour, said the guide.
whose voice was mufned in tho folds Of o
huge scarf ''You have but to watch and
listen" He knelt down and slid away .
portion Of the flooring. ''You may watch
without fear Of being ssen."
| The General stationed himself at The ape9.
ture. and waited, with wildly beating heart
He had been watching about ten minutes
when he heard . door open. 4 moment
aftezward. he saw tvo persons entes the
room beneath him.
| They vsEe both maaked-eoe vas man,
and the other woman, .vho ~ dressed
from head % foot n bloek oomino.
| sSThaAk H0ven," tAoogA1 ~ 0enesa1I
1T II not Nandi She voso . d6osns
dress." But. IN . moment, b 0uxmused:
':Ah. misery, Is b Gha!'
! why teW you bsoqeAb - p 0iD paed.