Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-08-20
IN THE DARK.

my cane reached over the ledge. but
not far as could touch nothing. and q
feeling of dread came over me lest !
should loo my balance To my left was
tho wall. which arched ~ low above IA
10 compel me 20 sioop In walking. AZ
each step. the ovsrhanging masonry
seemed to t-come lower and lower, as II
pressing me into the unfaihomabls
abyss. Tho darkness momsntarily grew
more and more dense. oppressive. pal.
pable-it forced itself on all the SENSES
At once. There was damp. musty
smell In the air AMI the dust which had
bccn undisturbcd Tor years aroso In a
sitting cloud Numerous hats often
nappc,l their wings almost IN my face.
and their harsh, squeaking notes gave a
fitting voice to the gloom.
The associations surrounding the un.
canny place added 90 the horror % my
situation The building was in a 10
serted quarter % the City of Mexico. The
massive pilc hal for many years bocn
ahandoucd by all reputable persons and
pursuits It. labyrinthinc Interior was a
safc rufugc Tor horde of munlerUus
maaudcrs Many a brave officer of the
Law. whilc -carching for criminal. had
bccn stabl-cj io his death by hand -..
denly thrust from ono - the dark rc-
ccss.s
Only the week before prominent and
RESPECTED citizen had bccn murdered
within thcse dread precincts. Ilis bsau.
tiful daughter. Dolores. hal formed an
attachment for handsome and dashing
young proiligntc namel Manuel Lopez
llc vas the leader u band of frecboot-
crs Who made their headquarters In the
building The father took some deter.
mined steps and thought be- had broken
up the affair bat ono day a nmor
reached his ears that Dolores often met
her lover Ia that NJ famed retreat ono
night be- followed her. and. 90 his intense
grief. found that the nimor was true
lie awaited the meeting. and then rushed
at IopcS with the fury ~ a tiger. The
next instant the father fell with a fatal
knife thrust Ia his heart. Tho shrieks %
the afrght-,l girl brought several officers
Ia the sJ.ot where the body was found.
and the news 81 the dreadful tragedy
spread throughout the city. Tho funeral
took placcamid general lamentation. and
a large reward was offered for the apprc-
hension - the murderer.
A numl-.r - mounted officers secured
the ncighboring country. bat from the
Grsi | was convinced that Lopez had not
left his den From what could learn
of thc girl was also certain that she
had no, even yet entirely deserted her
lover.
Ny watch of seven days and nights
was now rewarded by the temperance
Of the girl In the building. and. notwith.
standing my fcars, cautiously followed
the msiling sound of the dress In the
darkness before mc. BY an occasional
glimmcr IL was evident that the girl had
a faint light Ia guide her steps. fortu'
naiely sho moved slowly. and was en-.
abled Ia follow closely by carefully feel.
ing my way with INV cane and out
stretchcl hand My feet were mutilcd.
bat was In constant dread lcst my
movements should b. heard. For some
distance the wall 20 my left was solid. but
at last | perceived that it had numerous
narrow rcccsse-. much deeper than !
could measure with my arm or cane.
This increased the horror Of my situa.
tion. for at each opening half expected
the murdcrous Spaniard 10 rush out and
hurl me into unknown depths below.
Suddenly | was check ked In my pursuit
by a startling incident. The girl stopped.
the glimmcring light entirely disap-
pared. and heard voice. low. but We
hemcnt with rapturous delight.
"DolOrcs, my darlingl ! knew you
would come To me, that your love would
show YOU that was not 10 blame. And
IL was not my fault. swear TO YOU. Ho
sprang at me like a Wild beast, and. no,
knowing what did, | drew my knife In
s.lf delonse-and killed him. acted on
the swift impulse of the moment. and
surely YOU 1aliloA hiaiu' hi's
II DO mo-, blame YOU. Manuel, the girl
said, slowly and with infinite sadness In
her tones. "but We must part forever. !
came tonight 10 bid you a last farewell. ;"
"Ah. do not say that, Lolitai" came
the mans voice. In desperate pleadingi
"sec, I could not act otherwise. For
your sake. 1 would never have harmed
him-yos, could even have fought for
him: bat he came upon me like the wind,
he gave tue no time for thought knew
only that one Of US must die. Consider.
how would IL have been had he lived
had he killed me, Could you have been
his child againi No; you had chosen
me. and but served your love when ]
preserved my life Think. dear one. you
were mine by fate's decree, and are you
the les mine that have taken the only
course against man who would have
killed mey'
ut cannot be. IL cannot be. Manuel"
moancl the girl. hopelcssly; my Ia
Tiers blool Is upon your hands and we
must part forever" )"
"Come. come. Dolores, 10 not too
hasty. You must take time TO think.
Come. Let me lead you TO n sat. Why
do you draw back from mei ! know
every foot OF the way here. and can find
my way A. easily In the dark as In the
light Besides. would IL DO 20 great .
harm N we should fall over this ledge
we, whose love IL greater than love OF
life ITSELF Il Is many feet TO the stone
door OF the court below. and have
heard II said that before falling half the
distance ones breath Il taken away and
death comes - peacefully as sleep TO .
babe. Come, Lolita, comei'
There was sound as n the girl were
being half lei. half dragged over the
stones. She uttered an entreating moan.
which thrilled me through and through
with horror. Little wonder that she was
frightened and unwilling TO follow her
lover; his pleading earnestness had
changed TO desperate. despairing tone.
felt that he was about to commit some
other dreadful deed. but I was power.
less TO interfere. The ledge along which
I had been feeling my way ended alb
uptly. and my cane failed TO touch q
further footing In any direction.
Suddenly the noise Of dragging. inter
mingled with moans FROM the girl,
osassd. and The nsxt instant from below