Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-27

us with tho 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 overfowing OF the spring
on il lay = hat and CLOAK, belonging to
the murdered woman, and the much
taIked-of Paris flowers, scattered about
lust as they had been left.
Mr.. 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
according TO his direction. Was She
were we going to examine infinitely the
dreary horrors OF the place 2-enhanced
bv the mockery OF those tawdry flowers.
The door had been closed upon us, and
the room was almost dark what light
there was struggled in through the rough
Venitisn shutters. We stood huddled
together about the door, the accused
woman standing alone in the middle OF
the room. A beam OF light struck some
thing Offering on the floor. ] could
hardly repress my inclination to call for
the shutters TO be opened-the twilight
was almost painful-vet / felt that Mr..
Holdfast would not have permitted any
thing unless he had some design in
choosing it to be so.
The tall figure in the centre bent down
and picked up the shining something
and raised it high above her head it was
long knife Of a peculiar construction.
At last the silence was broken, and she
was about to spesk-but no the sounds
that came were more like means than
articulate words the sounds grew louder,
they rose and fell like an Indian chant,
while she whirIed the long knife slowly
round and round her head. Two or three
of those nearest her rushed to the door
the sudden light revealed Mr.. Slater,
the draper, whose curiosity was as great
as his cowardice, suspended, like Mo
bammed's coffin, between earth and
Heaven, his body and legs safe outside,
and his head still stuck in round the
door
l could not have moved if / had
wished it; that whirling blade fascinated
me, yet the sight OF Mir. Slater made
me laugh.
But the voice was rising louder now.
/ could hear-or thought | heard-thesC
words:
1.-THE east wind blows, It brines a word;
AwaAel my blosd-eedabbled sword.
The words a spark that lights fame,
Was kindled ~ noble name
Which coward Doa;h from Rumor heard.
Then wake aud rise, Ayenging sword !"
At the last line her voice rose to wild
scream, and she ran in a frenzy toward
the bath. Just at this moment the door
was opened from the outside and an OLD
man with streaming gray hair rushed IN,
Mr.. Holdlast went 10 meet him and LAID
his hand on his arm. The old man shoos
him off.
"My daughter where is she? Who
dares accuse her Of hideous crime ?"
" Herself" answered the clergyman,
"and yet not herself."
He took the Old man gently aside and
underworld to calm him and tell HIM
what had passed.
The old man turned his head. and
when the clergyman had finished speak
ing he came forward to US, with gesture
full of dignity.
" Ny friends-this gentleman, to save
my daughter from a shameful death, ha'
proved her-mad. The frenzy could
only be reproduced by restoring the out
ward circumstances of the last, the fatal
one. | thank him for the attempt.
thank you for your presence here. Had
there not been the semblance Of a trial
to set her suspicious at rest 1t might
have failed. Yet think OF the awful
fate reserved for one who, during long
intervals, is as conscious OF her cOndl-
ton as yourselves
He was hardly able to go on, but turn
ed to Mr.. floldlast.
"Yon meant it for the bcst-tbe best
no doubt, but was not any death better
than-such fate?"
Mature is kinder than we, in our ig-
norance, can be-" he replied "she hos
finished the work she began-your
dauChter's death"
We learned Rfterward that the poor
girl had gone mad from the shock OF
hearing OF the death of the man to whom
she was shortly TO have been married.
Ha had been murdered by decoits in
Burmah, and his last letter to her,
which che never could be induced to
part with for O moment, had been much
occupied in describing the luxuriant
growth of tropical flowers which sur
rounded their future home ont there.
After the terrible news 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
flowers of the poor pack-woman, whom,
1t was afterward remembered. she had
been seen to have followed all the pre-
vious day.
Mr.. Holdfasts interest had first been
aroused 10y the lady's likeness to a rela-
ton Of his own who had died insane.
The idea occurred 10 him as a possible
solution of strange case, and he tried
the experiment at the express wish OF
the prison authorities.
My aunt Says: " 1t really is comfort
to know there we're two policemen and a
doctor in that hateful dark bathroom.
I'm sure wonder you didn't all die of
fright" And she draws little red
worsted shawl round her and shiyers IN a
way that reminds me strangely Of little
bird