The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-12

him with my hands. It seemed as if he
knew how felt; for he kept at distance
from me. When saw him going away.
I could not stand it any longer. l had
to be cautious about it; for he seemed to
be afraid of something, and every now
and then stopped to look behind him. l
crept along, edging the houses. 1t was
springtime; but the sun sank rapidly,
and it was soon dark. Dalto kept on;
quickened his pace; 1 followed, and came
closer to him.
And all the while was blaming N.Y.
self. 1t seemed to me that I was doing
wrong in spying the woman loved-the
child l had picked up in The snow, and
made my wife.
Misere de Dleu! Dalto stopped, and a
creature came to him. 1t was she!-It
was La Tarpiaude.
And she threw her arms about his
neck. just as she had done with me
only the evening before, when she came
in late.
I was about to spring forward, but con-
strained myself, by tremendous effort.
1 wanted to know all.
She had taken his arm and was
walking along with him, lolling upon
him, laying her cheek upon his shoulder.
Just as with me!-just the same thing!
It was at the uinconces-among the
trees and flowers. The promenade was
deserted, for the weather was still cool:
the trees which overshadowed the walks
gave me q good chance to follow them
closely. never losta single movement.
Every moment they kissed each other,
and the sound of their kisses felt to me as
though something burned me to the very
marrow of my bones. I bit my lips-I
buried my tingernails in my breast. But
still followed them. They sat down
upon q bench; and 1 hid behind a
great chestnut tree to listen. I heard
him say:
"No! No! we must not remain longer
together this evening. I am sure Jalrus
suspects something;--he never took
his eyes off me all day. We were fool
ish to remain so long last evening. He
suspects u.s."
She burst out laughing.
He! pecaire! ali the poor fool You
don't know him! could make him eat
dandelions, believing they were aspara-
gus. Why, whenever let him kiss me
he sees stars and all sorts of things, and
goes crazy-6eally crazy"
Yes, she was right. was crazy, mad,
frenzied. leaped upon them with the
roar of wild beast. Course your
I cried. Course you, shall kill you
bothw
But still I controlled myself.
"Here" I said to Dalto, striving to
keep myself from leaping at his throat
II do not wish to murder you. You have
your knife; I have mine! Defend
DEATH"
Aud put myself on guard, my knife
in my hand. He also flung off his jacket
and rolled it about his left arm.
I had a narrow escape, for as was just
on the point of burying my knife in his
heart, l stumbled forward, stung by an
atrocions pain. La Tarpiaude, crawling
upon the ground, had got behind me,
and bit my leg in hopes of making me
fall. 1 knocked her from me with heavy
blow and as Dalto rushed forward, we
grappled. His knife grazed my cheek,
but at the same moment | buried mine
in his chest.
It was time! La Tarpiaude had
attacked me again and bit me second
time.
When she saw her lover fall she
uttered smothered cry, and fled! All! 1
never even thought of running after
her. l had killed man, loyalty, how
ever, in stalking my own life against his.
And if La Tarpiaude, the wicked thing,
had succeeded in making me fall, they
both would have murdered me.
did MT think of runnirp awav 7
remained right there-my teeth chatter
incorporating to myself oil the while,
II have killed mani have killed a
man.
People passing by saw Dalto lying stiff
and dead, and shouted, Murder! Muir
der" the police easily captured me, for 1
made no effort to resist them.
The Police Commissary questioned
me. When l told him my story lie only
laughed in my face. He declared that l
had had private quarrel with Dalto, and
had lured him to the Quinconces in
order to murder him. He did not believe
in the duel story for a very good reason.
When was arrested still had my knife
in my hands. But the dead mans knife
could not be found.
And then I remember having seen La
Tarpiaude stoop down just before she
ran away. had thought it was to see
whether her lover still breathed. 1t was
not. 1t was in order to get the knife. 1t
was in order to make murderer out of
me. La Tarpiaude had revenged herself
well.
What use my explanations to the