The morning call., 1890-12-02
A STRANGE CASE.

Han 1870 young man, Berne Gdersleeve,
fI2 was found murdered in his bed at sec
II ond-class hotel. The announcement in
the papers brought to the scene Rose Hope
his intended wife, and her father. The girl
did not weep, but she begged from the de.
tecives the piece of stiletto still imbedded
in the body. with this Twill some day find
theassassin," she said as she left tie room
An artist some years ago in Florence at
tanned wonderful success as painter of
weir and grotesQue subjects, like Weirtz of
Brussels.
He stood one day contemplating his last
work-a murdered man on couch, another
figure poised with upliited dagger. Sud
denly he shuddered as hard was reached
toward him, bearing piece Of broken
stiletto.
Your painting proves your guilt" said
Rose Hope, who was one of the group of
visitors who had entered.
" did murder Berne Glider sleeve,"-not
q tremor, in his voice. Ever since that
fatal night his countenance as it looked di-
rectly had struck the blow which deprived
him of lii e, without so much as gasp on
his part, has been before my vision during
my waking hours almost necessarily. Years
since l came 70 Europe to rid myself of it,
L
America; il returned with me.
A second time ! came to Italy; It was
my inseparable compa MON. Its presence
has dominated my existence from the time
when the crime was committed; has held
such absolute control over me that ! have
been poWerlesS to resist the impulse to con-
vey its expression to the canvas. Hence
the paintings you see in this room, especially
the one pcrtraying that scene TO which, save
God, ] was the only witness. Latteriy l
Lave been impressed that the time was near
at hand when my work would convict me
and When / saw you at my door, few mo-
ments since | was certain it had arrived,
Tor IN yuu recognized the lady who that
| Sunday morning bewailed a murdered lover
'BeIne Giiderslceye was my dearest
| friend, and the weil-known intimacy averted
| from me any suspicion that was his assas-
| sin. In those days you were acquainted
| with me, but the CHASTITY phantom that has
| tormented my life has wrought such a
| change in my exterior appearance you
discern nothing in my countenance that will
| door-piate is net l.. You did know that L
| cherished fer you an absorbing passionate
| love; so, awaresthat you were affianced TO
| Berne, and that W lille he lived there would
be no possibility for ne to win your love,
! L never declared my affection. But l re-
| solved to remove The obstacle standing in
| the way Of my acquiring what so desired.
That night, rs was frequently the case,
| BerH6 asked me to stay with him, and |
| accepted the invitation. AT some time near
| u O'Clock l walked from sleep and the
| thought came to me. Now is my oppor-
tunity." l arose, lighted the gas, took from
my coat stiletto, which it was a freak of
| mine to carry, and, ere l fully realized
i what l was doing, struck the fatal blow
| Shudderingly looked for moment into
| the ia ce OF my murdered friend, then fled
| to my room in the same hotel, closely pur-
| sued by that indescrihable horror that fol-
| lows all criminals. Afterward for vari-
| Gus reasons-principally on account of my
| fear Of you when | learned your relentless
| purpose to bring the dastaTdly murderer to
| 1ustlce-my love for you renamed untold.
II well know deserve the severest pun
| ishment ever imposed for murder, and
| L should willingly eXpiate my crime on the
| gallows were 1t not that | have mother
| md sister who would suffer from the dis
| grace consequent upon my execution, rs |
write q them quite frequently, and my last
letter TO them was sent from Rome; nor
does any one i'll this city know my real
| name.
If from my long-continued absence and
| silence, my friends in America are led TO
| believe me dead, they VIII never learn of
my guilt, nor will they know the manner of
my taking off, May God have mercy on
| my soul"'
Something flashed in the air and the ar
| list fell dead at the feet of the woman
| whom he had so fatally loved, pierced TO
| the heart by an instrument III his own hand,
| like that fragment of which she held in
! her own frantic grasp.-Boston Globe.