The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-27


freely and his voice rang clear; yet still
nothing to the point Of the matter on
hand, no information, in fact. / was sen.
sible Of certain impotence. had not
come there to be harangued with plat.
tudes.
1--WE might have known we should be
let in for n sermon when we had parson
at the head OF affairs" whispered lively
little lady at my elbow.
Hush his voice had different tone in
it. lie was describing the awfulness of
sudden death; lower and more impas-
stoned came his words. Iwould not spoil
them by garbled extracts II was impos-
sible not TO listen intently. Scorn and
anger flashed out rs he spoke Of the das-
tardly cowardice that could strike harm
less victim. Then, with pathos | had
never heard equaled, no described the
grief OF the unknown sorrow stricken ones
who might be left to mourn their loss.
Suddenly he stopped, and the abruptness
made me look up; his eyes were fixed on
the prisoner 's--then he said, hurriedly:
1--WE are ignorant Of much that surrounds
the history OF this awful crime all that
we have 10 connect us with the victim lie
here" He threw open the large door and
disclosed the bathroom, whose concrete
floor sloped upward from the entrance ON
account OF the. occasional Overlooking Of
the spring; on 1t lay hat and cloak, be-
longing TO the murdered woman, and the
much talked OF Paris flowers scattered
about just as they had been left.
MIR. Holdfast stopped and picked up a
large pink flower. The fixed eyes of the
prisoner followed his, then she rose and
went slowly toward him--we followed nc
cording to his direction. Was shc-wcre
we going 10 examine infinitely the dreary
horrors Of the place, enhanced by the
mockcry OF those tawdry ilowersf The
door had been closed upon us and the room
was almost dark; what light there was
struggled in through the rough Venetian
shutters. We stood, huddled together,
about the door, the accused woman stand
ing alone in the middle Of the room. A
beam Of light struck something glittcring
on the floor. could hardly reprcss my
inclination 10 call for the shutters TO be
opened-the twilight was almost painful
yet felt that Mr.. lloldfast would not have
permitted anything, unless he had some
design in choosing II 10 be So
The tall figure in the center bent down
and picked up the shining something and
raised 1t high above her head II was long
knife of peculiar construction. At last the
silence was broken, and she was about 10
speak-but mol the sounds that came were
more like means than articulnte words; the
sounds grew louder, they rose and fell like
an Indian chant, while she whlrlcd the
long knife slowly round and round her
head Two or three Of those nearest her
rushed 10 the door; the sudden light re-
vealcd Mr.. slater, the draper, whose curl
osity was rs great rs his cowardice, sus-
pended, like Mohammcd's coffin, between
earth and heaven, his body and legs safe
outside, and his head still stuck In round
the door.
could not have moved II had wished
II; that whirling blade fascinated me, yet
the sight OF Mr.. Slater made me laugh.
But the voice was rising louder now. !
could hear, or thought heard, the1e words;
''The east wind blows II brings a word:
Awake, my blood. bcdahbled sword.
The words spark that lights lame,
Was kindlcd Ut n noble name
Which coward Death, from Rumor heard,
Then, wake aud rise, Aycnging sword"
At the last line her voice rose 10 q wild
scream, and she ran in a frenzy toward the
bath. Just ut this moment the door was
opened from the outside, and an old man
with streaming gray hair rushed In. Mr..
| lloldfast went 10 meet him, and laid his
hand ON his arm. The old man shook
him off.
"My daughter where IL she7 Who
darcs accuse her Of hidcous crime?"
"Hersclf," answered the clergyman"
"and yet not herself"
lie took the old man gently aside and
| endeayorcd 10 calm him and tell him what
had passed.
The old man turned his head, and when
the clergyman had finished speaking he
came forward TO US, with gesture full OF
| dignity.
"My iricnds-this gentleman, 10 save
| my daughter from q shameful death, has
proved her-mad. The frenzy could only
he reproduced by restoring tho outward
circumstances Of the first, tho fatal one. l
thank him for the attempt. ! thank you
| for your presence here. Had there not
been the semblancc OF trial 10 set her
suspicious nj rest, u might have failed.
Yet think OF the awful fate reserved for
one who during long intervals IL ~ con.
scious OF her condition as yourselves"
lie was hardly able 10 go ON, but turned
10 Mr.. Holdfast.
"You meant II for the bcst--the best, no
doubt, but was not any death better than
such fateg"
Mature Ii kinder than We, In our igno-
rance, can be" he replied; 'she has fin
ishcd the work she bcgn-your daugh.
ter's DEATH
We learned aiterward that the poor girl
had gone mad from the shock Of hearing
Of the death Of the man 10 whom she was
shortly 10 have been married. lie had
been murdered by dccoits In Burmah, and
his last letter 10 her, which she never
could 10 induced 10 part with Tor mo-
mcnt, had been much occupied In dcscrib.
ing the luxuriant growth OF tropical flow.
ers which surrounded their future homo
out there. After the terrible nows she
remained for week without noticing any
one, scarcely tasting food; then they
missed her.
Some strange connection must have
haunted her at the sight Of the gaudy
o ,er Of the poor pack woman. whom 4
WINS aiterward remembered she had been
seen 10 have followed all the previous day.
Mr.. IIoldiast's interest had 6rst been
aroused by the lady's likeness 20 relation
OF his own who had died insane Thcidca
occurred 10 him ~ possible solution Of q
strange case. and he tried the experiment
at the express wish OF tho prison authori'
ties.
"My aunt says at really IL comfort
20 know there were two policemen and :
doctor In that hateful dark bathroom
I'm sure wonder that You didn't all die
~ fright" And she draws a little red
wofsted shawl round her aud ehiVeri Ia