The National tribune., 1890-04-24

deadly, keen stilct0 and its glitter, as twirled
il in my hand. gave me infinite satisfaction.
Then examined the flashing jewels before |
lightly covered them in silken scarf in pre-
pairing 10 leave the room. Was / not thought
ful? Here was bottle of chloroform, should
the chloral in the wine not do its work COM
pletely; there was . tiny slver-mountcd pistol,
and - long. thin. glittcring knife. could not
be cheated. One by one the night sounds died.
The roll of carriages and the tread of feet had
almost ceased. Tho great city slept while |
watched. 1t is in these still, dark hours before
dawn that the avcugerInust work.
" | waited pacing and down, eager, excited,
happy as young girl arraycd for her debutante
ball.
AT last i, was time. | would not spoil it by
impatience. They must now be fast locked IN
sleep. AT two o'clock | left my room, softly
trcading in knitted slippers. the train of my
gown carried lightly over my left arm. Softly
aS spirit | stole To the door of the room
where my love lay asleep. deity as a spirit
TUNED the knob opened the door, glided
within aud closed it, | had not forgotten to
render the lock of that door harmless.
Two hours later ] sat alone in the bridal
| chamber ] say alone. for two such rigid
slccpcTs as those on the bed are not good COM
pany.
"rhcy slept and watched. They were lying
/ apparently in the same position in which !
! found them, aud it was now the gray OF dawn.
! ] bad found them asleep, clasped in each others
arms; her head still rested ou his shoulder, his
/ lips nearly touched her hair, but their arms had
relaxed their loving tension. i was still im'
! patient; the full frHition Of my dream was not
I yet. How white the sleepcrs looked in the
/ CHASTITY dawn Carts face was like the pillow.
! and the delicate features oil his bride were
! drawn aad blue white, as II TRANSPORTED by pain.
/ How slow was the SUI in rising! looked ut
my watch; il WAS just Eve O'Clock. Thoro were
hours to wait. | got mp aud looked at the
knife. ! smiled. wiping IL carefully on the
white silk scarf which had covered It when
left my room. The sun rose,-a full blaze OF
| light flooded the room. UEh how ugly the
| slecpcrs were. / bad opened the shutters ~
| the first gray OF dawn; now closed them, and
! sat down TO wait in the darkcncd room. The
odor Of tic drug was lost in the fresh morning
air blowing freshly through tho room.
| Seven. eight o'clock; would they never comei
The rising. bell tnkled IN the hall. ! looked
at the sleepcrs; they showed signs OF awak.
cuing Nine; the break fast-bell sounded. Ny
lady aud her lord slept on. Now the minute,
dragged, but was patient. Half past nine, ten
| O'Clock. There was rap at tho door lit was
Mrs Maitland
Carl. she said gently. Carl, dear'
~ now stood up by the bed. facing the door
Children! she called, then Carl = ia 1
| voice sharp aud anxious.
Still silence.
&" 1t was delicious As had anticipated sh,
laid her hand on the door; IL Was fast locked
90 She repeated her cries, aud finally, as has
planned. alarmed the house, and presently th'
lock 1f the heavy carved door yielded 10 repeat
cd blows aud burst wide open.
There was one instant Of dumb, Mortified
surprise tic servants seemed paralyzed wher
they saw me standing by the bed, toying Will
the slender dagger, smiling scornfuliy int
their faces
80 Louise Louise 4 shrieked Mrs. Maitland
what does this mean1 Who is sick VIVA
has happencd2'
Someone had flung open the shutters ant
now. all eyes directed toward the, saw the re,
blood stains on my white gown, aud tbel
sprHg instinclively toward the bed.
4" stand back = | cried. and / thrust th
dagger threatenngly toward them. Belor
you wake your beloved Carl and his beautlu
bride let mo tell you little story
This was 10 Mrs. Maitland, the wicke
woman, who stood frozen with h0rTor-stoo
like pallid ghost, and heard the tale / had L
tell.
Then and there standing in my blood
stained gown between her and my victims.
told them all. / repeated my wrongs. ! rcto
lis faithcss love and her treachery 10 me-
confessed 10 my insanity, but ] made clear no,
they were responsible. Then | recounted m
three years Of patient planning, and gave ever
detail OF preparation for the final action; AM
then, heaping upon that dreadful woman al
the peDtup hatred Of my soul flung dow
the dagger, crossed over from the bed, and toll
her with laugh Of derision to wake her chi
drcu.
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