The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-03-26

NulOAOu III OSu. OO OOSbd ncaI \
a blindness came over him, and he
CROPPED his way to the fatal cham
Der. Lying in bed, as beautiful as
the night before, was his idolized
child, but o God what a sight!
Coiled tightly around her body
and throat was a deadly reptile, its
eyes glaring and its fangs buried
deep in her cheek. Life had gone
out of the lovely girl who lay there
cold and rigid, but still beautiful.
"My God! My child" was the
only utterance which escaped the
distracted fathers lips, and in those
agonizing words his whole life
seemed to go out, and he was soon
borne from the room utterly uncon-
scious. Aid was summoned, and
the dreadful serpent was uncoiled
and strangled to death.
Ricardo entered the house at his
usual hour, bright and joyous, and
going to the stairway called out,
Louise, 1 am waiting for you"
AS his voice was heard, old Will
liam, who had grown gray in the
generals service, advanced from
the dining room, and said in broken
tones, "Mas' RichardO, an awful
thing has come to this family! The
sun has done gone out! Miss Lou
won't answer you no NOR
William! quick! answer me-!
What do you mean? said Ricardo,
all in one breath, and beside him
self with commotiOn.
ooh! young masterr' said the
faithful old servant, "don't ask me
i can't speak de words"
In < the next moment Ricardo
rushed madly up the stairs, where
he met Marie, who, with streaming
eyes end bowed hesrt, was just leav-
ing the chamber of death.
marie! Marier' said he, clutch
ing both her hands, "tell me, in
Gods name, what has happened, or
shall go mad"
Between her tears and sobs the half
distracted girl related the terrible
story.
Ricardo, transfxed to the spot,
did not move a muscle or a feature,
he merely gazed into the vacancy
few minutes, tottercd, and was
about to fall, when Marie caught
him. This seemed to arouse him,
bring him to himself again, when
he said, "Marie, can see your mis-
tressF"
Sadly she conducted him to the
beautiful apartment, every detail
was reflex of the lovely occupant.
By the bedside, holding one of
the cold hands in his, sat Gen.
De Costa, looking ten years older
than on the previous evening, when
he proudly walked across the ball
room with his loving daughter lean
ing on his arm. The words spoken
to his old friend seemed full of
promonition, when he said, eff that
life were taken from me, mine
would go out in one endless night"
The sight of Ricardo reopened
the fountain Of grief, and clasped
in each others arms, they stood in
dead silence.
The general was the first to
speak.
Ricardo said he, "who could
have done tits there human being
who could have perpetrated this
foul act? Speak to me Ricardo,
speak to me! Say that you will
not rest day or night until this
creature-this DEVILS found and
once found"
The effort was too much for him,
and he sank back into his chair.
Ricardo kissed the cold lips,
smoothed the silken tresses, and
then, on Bonded knees, took this
oath: Father in heaven, from
this day 1 devote myself, body and
soul, to the task of vengeance.
As he rose, Marie, who had been
standing near the window, came
forward with a long sharp blade 10
her hand which she discovered "
ing just outside of the win
dow'sill. Gen. De Costa and Rio
arde both examined it closely, as it
showed signs Of usage.
This aroused the general, who,
taking it in his hands, descended to
the dining room, summoned the
| faithful William and said to him,
Command every slave en- the
plantation to appear before me at
twelve O'Clock to-day"
With a respectful bow, William
departed on his mission.
At noon one hundred and fifty
slaves, men, women and chill
children, stood in his presence.
He spoke to them from the vsran-
dab.
"My faithful servants" said hs,
you have all heard of your young
mistress, and the dreadfal deed
which some one has committed
Here the negroes swayed them
selves back and forth, and with
tears and groans expressed their
eorrOw.
''New," continued he, Il want you
all to do your utmost to find the
wretch who caused her death. To
the one who captures him 1 will
give his liberty and thousand dol
lars"
Then, holding the blade aIott, he
said, Have any OF you ever seen
this blade before? Come and ex-
J anime it,"
They gathered around him, and
each looked sharply at the wedpon.
Almost the last to make the exami-
nation was tall fine looking boy
of seventeen. His eyes danced as
, he took the long, narrow blade.
eyes, MASTER" said he, "Ts seen
dat blade fore dis. Hercules loan
. it to me to cut sugar cane wild jest
fore he went away"
Hercules gasped the general
= through his clenched teeth. care
you sure of this, boyY'
: "His had a star on de side of the
: handle, master"
The general turned the blade in
HiooO-aroI