The Forrest City times., 1891-03-06
bade me read it. The words wep
FOR BELLA ORME Wife of Edwin Hunt.
TO be given to her after my death.n


 Wife of Edwin Huut
 TO be given to her after my death"
 "When l am gone. open it." sh, said. ''The contents belong to you
 "More of your great Kindness, know" said l. But think you vii outlive me, Esther Winthrop, unlcsi people never die of broken hearts"
 You forget that my heart was broken before yours was," sht answered, with a strange laugh Besides you are ten years younger than I, and more robust"
 That night l lay thinking of what she had said, so that could not sleeF nor rest. l began at last to believe that they were all right about Edwin and l wrong. had heard her say 8 word or two which made me fear that she knew something of this Spanish girl of whom they spoke, and l re solved to question her
 But the next day passed without my having the courage to speak as desired ,.'and only when night came did l nerve myself to go to her room, thinking that in the silence and dark ness could better hear what 1 might have to bear.
 l crept in softly after thought she had retired, but she was mot there lay down on a low lounge, before which a screen of golden silk had been placed, and without intending to do SO fell asleep.
 The closing of the door awakened me. Esther had entered and was lighting a lamp. It illuminated the spot where she stood, near her bed but left the corner where 1 lay in darkness.
 l could see her, therefore, but she conld not see me. And as 1 watched her face a terror possessed me that kept me dumb and motionless.
 Her pale, withered, stern-lookine face has changed to the countenance ofan infuriated demon her eyes bi,sa.l with chilly light She had taken from her watch chain a curious key, which she always wore there, and un- locked the ebony box which she had spoken of so singularly. Now she was bending over 1t, looking at something that lay there.
 "Good-night," she said. "I wonder what Bella will say when she first sees you2 Win she scream and faint? Will she die?"
 "Oh, little rocked you of your fate, traitor, when you tilted mo for her fair face. punished you long ago. l lpunish her every day. l see her mis- cry daily Oh, if I could but see her when she first lifts the lid of this box and looks at you! An. traitor, trai- tor but then shall be dead
 What was sine speaking to? What did she stare at with those dreadful eyes2 That she was my enemy now saw clearly enough, and must leave her house at once; but first l must see what she had there Some portrait of my husband, no doubt; proof, per haps, that he was false to both ot Us. Oh, must see what 1t was. Softly erept forward. the velvet carpet smothering the sound ofmy footsteps. l came close behind her, and peeped over her shoulder, and saw-the box open, lined with white satin, like q coffin, and on the pillow a severed head, so that eiaee seemed like that of one asleep-the head and face of my husband, Edwin Hunt, and as I saw It l knew that she had slain him.
 "Murdress!" l shrieked, and seized her arm. She turned and clutched me by the throat, and held me so,
 '1.ookl7 she said Look, pitiful, pretty face. look You thought that you had stolen him, and all the while he was mine, mine, mine! l swore he should never kiss you on your bridal night. wiled him to me by note, telling him of q gift wished to send you. l offered him poisoned wine, He drank it to my health. For the rest--money will buy men to do any thing.
 You sec him, you see him lying there. l least my eyes upon you, When 1 have enjoyed myself enough, you, too, shall die, serpent that l cherished that you might turn and sting me,
 But my screams had aroused the house. There Were steps on the stairs The door was burst open,
 When l had recovered from tn hswoon into which fell, they told me that she was dead; a vialin her bosom had saved her from the gallows. But as for me l still live, awaiting anxiously the re- lease that Heaven gives one day to all who sorrow and are heavy-laden- Mary Kyle Dallas, in the Story Tell CT.