St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-09-06

kie as a friend and now I hated him.
How | longed for his destruction! L
gloated over the time we might meet.
A year passed by and chance threw us
together, and--but come closer to me. F."
[ bent my ear down to his lips and he
Kissed between his clenched teeth
81 murdered hint"
I started back as if l had been shot
Happening to glance up to the mirror
for one second [ saw the face of Flora
Dale 1t was but an instant there and
then disappeared The painting was a
perfect one.
''And the wife," I gasped under the
greatest excitement.
Il am her murderer, too," Kissed
the old man, ''for my bloody deed made
her maniac for years, when she died!"
care you sure she died?'' | de-
manded.
"Sure!' gasped the old man. Didn't
I see her laid out in the white shroud?
Didn't see her lowered in the cold,
damp ground? Aye, yes!'
How pitifully he moaned these SEN
tencesl Growing more calm, he said:
''When my arm struck the fatal blow
l did more than murder husband-I
murdered 8 father. The babe was a
little girl. No one imagined me the
murderer. had been absent so long
that when the deed was done the world
supposed it was the work of some I'M
known assassin. No one saw me, ex-
cept-Marguerite. My secret is safe in
her keeping.
81 have provided for the child until
now she is woman. The same face
that caused me my life's agony and
crime is under this roof. She loves me
as father, and little suspects me of a
crime. I am dying by degrees. and she
will be left alone in this cursed world.
I make you my heir-the will is made
ON condition that you marry her.
All the wealth l possess is hers by
right. She need never know my crime.
Do as request"
l madeno answer. could not utter
a word.
Seeing that hesitated, he said:
ssGo to your room and at five o'clock
tomorrow morning give me your an
swer."
/ Marguerite made her appearance and
conducted me to my room.
| slept very little that night. Horrid
dreams came to vex me, and | was
up long before FIVE o'clock the next
morning.
How Should decide?
Here appeared an opening which per-
haps never in lifetime would come
again. Here was fortune at my finger
ends only waiting for me to grasp. My
profession was slavish one at best.
Well did know what close compan-
ion poverty was. Here was wealth and
happiness before me-and an angel for
Wife--why did I hesitate?''
Aye, it was that conscience that
E'makes towards of us all. y In accept
inc this must sacrifice my manhood,
must be the receiver of blood money,
the partaker of a crime. He had &C
knowledged that all his wealth was
hers by right.
| 1t was enough. Before the old
fashioned clock in the hall struck five
i had decided the course l should pur-
sue.
| quickly stole from my room to that
of my uncle's. Without knocking |
went in, came close to his bedside and
said:
81 reject your offer"
expected torrent ofpassion. There
he lay as had left him; one hand on
the Counterpart as it had been stretched
out to receive mine. His eyes were
glazed. He was dead!
1t is hard thing to keep a man down
when he is determined to rise.
roco II L11| c17roIu IN my T1TN0fA9-
sion. The two years succeeding my ad.
venture e call it adventure recorded
above were given to interminable study
and zeal. very seldom losta case
!. took hold of. A fever broke out which
. devastated the country. [ was in de
mand constantly, and my success bull
me up a home.
Too close attention could not help bu
tell upon my health | must have
change of air, my friends advised, anc
concluded to have it.
I sought the mountains, and in
quiet pastoral home my health returned
The glorious Catskills! What an an
tidote they are to the sick and diseased
mind!
, One morning, taking my mountain
, stall with me, L lett the village ab ttt
foot of the mountain, where | resided
and commenced the ascent OF Soutt
Mountain.
There was but single cloud visible
in the heavens, and that brushed the
top of Glove Peak, across the ravine
Tie air had that transparency that il
+ often noticed in early autumn. Yol
may gaze until the eye wearies of thu
distance, the atmosphere is so clear
+ NV path was very intricate, and it wa
fully two hours after leaving the plan
! haln,u hefnra I stood ON BoWlder Rock