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

3AOAo1oeu MN. OOmO0ts LOOKING o&O000
the apartment.
because l have something to say which
must not be overheard" returned her COM
panion.
"You might surely have chosen better
scene for our interview. Mr.. Dalton."
who says that am MS. Daltoq7" aid
tho mask, in strange tone.
sYour voice says so.
''But voices are sometimes alika You
might be mistaken in tho identity"
''But am not mistaken" replied MEs.
Dumont 'You told me that you have
something Of importance to soy. or should
not have Co scented to accompany you here"
II have to inform you Of peril which
menaces vou."
"A peril!'
''Ths peril of being accused Of tho mul-
der Of your lover, Clarence Suydam-"
GranbJ Dumont expected that his wife
would start from her seat, Ungry and indig-
nant, to repudiate the vile charge contained
In these words; but ahe did not stiy!
''who accuses met" she aske9 in hoasse.
yourself" answered the mask. sYou
are your own accuser, and the strongest ac-
cusation almost that exists against you 10
the evidence Of your own Handwriting ng-ths
letters written by you o'the murdered man,
Clarence Suydam."
The face of Maud Dumont grew ghastly
white, and the General could sec that she
was trembling violently.
''There are no such letters in sxistence"
she said.
.'rhere are, and You know that there ara.
Why did you refuse them when they were
offered your
II refused them." gasped the vrstchsd
woman. ''because-
because they were offered by the deadr'
said the mask. in o solemn voice. ''Maud
Dumont, you who deceived the most geneR-
ous Of men by your false smiles. your hollow
words-you are the murderer Of the man
whose only crime WIS to love and trust you.
The letters written by you to Clarence Suy-
dam ore still In existence; they prove the
motive of your crime. and they are in the
hands Of those who will not scrupls to use
them when the fitting time comes. But
that is not ALL In the grave dug fo9 IN.
other is the body of your murdered lover,
whose birthmark, when he is exhumed, viii
establish his identity. He was slain BY
man in your employ and cast into the river
The guilty woman uttered . long, Wild
shrek, and fell upon her knees ct the feet of
'.Mr. Dalton" she cried, ''why are you
thus pitiless2 What have ever done 70
win your hate7 We have always been
friends I have greatly esteemed you-you
cannot say TINT have ever injured you in
word. look or deed!'
'.You have injured-murde,ed my friend
Clarence Suydam. said the mask. sternly.
.Ah! am innocent m his murder-l 10
peat, am inuocent-foI / loved him truly,
and would have married him when my hus-
band died. wished money, and sacrificed
all to obtain It. But think you love Gran
by Dumont7 No. mol fooled him BY falss
words. and he WAS weak enough to belisvs
that loved him! Have pity on me! have
pity! may appear guilty. bat swear that
/ am innocent It il oil . mistAkel Al
your feet. supplicate for mercy: Remem-
ber, Mr.. Dalton, that am weak woman,
and withhold your hand!
Had Maud Dumont been less ag1tated BY
the terrible agony Of fear. she might have
heard stided groan Of despair that was a.
tered in the chamber above. The one
bright dream of CRANKY Dumont's life Wa
broken. The mask had fallen. He now
| knew the nature Of the woman he had loved
and trusted.
Il have told You before that you are mis-.
taken, Maud Dumont," said her companion,
in q cold and pitiless voice; Il am not James
mot James D.ltonr repeated the woman
In utter bewildexment. who. then, axo
your
.One whom you should have reason 70 -.
member" answered the man.
At the same moment he threw aside the
black velvet mask that had covered his face.
The glare of the lamp sh0ne full upon
that rigid and marble-like countenance.
A shrek of terror and despair burst from
Maud Dumont's lips, and she fell fainting
on the rugged flooring Of the chamber. The
ace upon which she had looked was ths
anne which she had beheld in the private
box at the Academy Of Music. II was the
race Of Clarence Suydam. her murdered
lover.
The shrek had been overheard. William
Gorton had followed his mistress. Hs
heard her wild cry and rushed to her assist
ance.
William Gorton raised the PROSTATE wo-
man in his frms and carried her out into the
open dir.
The cool breeze revived her: she opened
her eyes and gnzed wildly about-
Kill him, William she cried in . hoarse
voice. as she recognized her servant and &C.
compilce-.'klli him! He has returned TO
tornl.nt me-he has returned to denounce
me! Hill him, and will reward you more
richly than have yet rewarded you!"
William Gorton drew a pistol from his
pocket and rushed toward the empty house.
He ran into the empty chamber and took
deliberate aim at the mask, who stood calm
and motionless beside broken table. But,
before William Gorton could pull tho trig.
ger, the stranger flung aside his black velvet
mask and Aaxen wig which had concealed
his dark hair.
The servant uttered cry Of terror scarcely
less wild and piercing than that which had
burst from the lips of his mistress.