The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1890-05-07
THE VAILED WOMAN.
A Mystery Which Was Solved in
an Unexpected Manner.

an unexpected Manner.
Who was she? I had heard of the
strange doings of a mysterious woman
who fitted like a shadow through the
.city's streets at nightfall, entering the
dwellings of the sick, voluntary
watcher by the shrouded forms of the
dead, dark-robed follower of funerals.
had heard Of her, and l confess that
the tales that were told me by my gar
rulous landlady were not greatly in her
favor.
There's lots of mystery about that
woman" said Mrs. Hodge as she poured
my coffee one morning, ''for they do say
that she sees sperrits, an is never so
much enjoyin' of herself as when she is
settin' up with corpse. An then that
long black vail she wears! They say it's
society O sperrits that nobody knows
nuthin' about, and they don't low her to
show her face, though don't bleve the
poor soul does any harm"
My curiosity was aroused, but
though piled my landlady with ques-
lions failed to elicit any more definite
information regarding this strange
woman than is contained in the fore
going paragraph.
But inwardly resolved to know more
about her when l became better &C
Quainted in the town. l was even bold
and curious enough to wish for meet
ing with her-a meeting that came
when least expected.
l had but recently arrived in the
town; / knew no one save my landlady
and the man who roomed with me, and
l saw the latter so seldom that l can
hardly say we were very we'll acquaint-
ed The little l saw of him, however,
convinced me that he was gambler.
He never confided his affairs to me, but
his habit Of spending his nights away
from home, his buoyant spirits when he
would enter the room one morning, and
the gloom which seemed to possess him
the next plainly betrayed his char
acter.
l remember that he knocked at the
door somewhat earlier than usual one
night. had been reading and was just
preparing to retire. Without word he
drew a chair near the fire, sat down, and,
looking steadfastly at the Goals in the
crate, seemed lost in meditation.
rudely broke his reverie with ques-
ton:
Ibid you ever see this mysterious
woman about whom there is so much
talk, who goes about in mourning and
wears q sad face the year round?' l
asked.
He frowned and seemed annoyed at
the question. YES he answered, "a
crazy bag that haunts the streets at
night. frightening little children and
furnishing old women theme for gOs-
sip over their teacups."
Then there is nothing remarkable
about her after all" said, in a tone of
inquiry.
II don't care to discuss her." he re-
piled. Il have other things to think
about just now. lost five hundred dol
lars tonight"
I'm the street?'
IL suppose so,' was his reply. st
amounts to the same thing. My cursed
luck was"
But the sentence was unfinished.
There was knock at the door-a quick.
excited rap might callit-and my COM
panion arose and opened it-opened it,
and the full, bright light from within
revealed to my astonished gaze the
black-robed form of woman. / leaned
forward to get a glimpse of her face,
but black vail hid it from view. But
! noticed the faco of the man who had
opened the door on this dreary figure.
1t was livid with rage. Great knotted
lines deformed his brow. and thought
heard muffied oath escape his lips,
Then the woman, stepping back into
the shadow and whispering hoarsely,
said: 81 thought you were alone. You
wanted to see me. For Gods sake,
come into the street,
He closed the door. and without ad-
dressing a word of explanation to me,
seized his hat and went out into the
night
could not have sat still in that room
after that if my life had depended on
it The mystery OF that meeting COM
pletely mastered me. and was de-
determined to fathom it.
Out into the dark l followed them.
my slippered feet making no sound
upon the stony street. On they went
strange, dark figures. darker than tho
night whose few feeble stars shone in
distinctly in gloomy sky. On they
went, and still followed. with step as
noiseless as that of fate. could faint
~ hear their voices in the distance, but
could distinguish no word that was said.
How far I followed them I know not
Once or twice saw the woman pause,
but the man motioned her ON, and she
continued at his side until . grove,
which served the city IS . park, lying
still and gloomy on the outskirts. was
reached and they entered and stood
under the shadow of the trees
l crouched behind hedge and list
ened.
''Once for ALL" said the man, twill
you leave this town and swear to follow
me no more?'
Il can not" said the woman, piteous-
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