The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-18

manner could put my crime beyond
the reach of chemist or physician.
Having some skill as an imitator of
handwriting, l prepared paper in
which Isadore, among other fanciful di-
rections in case of her death, asked me
to have her body cremated. had never
heard her express an opinion on the
subject, and supposed myself safe in
doing SO.
had often amused myself in leisure
hours with some study and practice of
taxidermy, and had a supply of poison
GUS material on hand; and so my guilty
train was laid.
did not do all this without assuring
myself that the beautiful object of my
guilty passion had no prior attachment
We were the best of friends, and she
rcposcd such confidence in me as a pure
minded woman may in married man of
honor who is devoted to his wife, as
profcsscd to be. knew her warm heart
would go out to me in sympathy when
l should be bcrcavcd, and felt secure of
the final result.
carried IL small white powder in my
vest pocket now, and an opportunity
came to use it. My wife was suffering
with Il headache when | came home
one evening, and her maid was bath
ing her head with cologne and brush
ing out her long hair. kissed her
with professed sympathy, even as an
other was betrayed with Il kiss.
The maid complained that tea was
not ready and the cook gone out.
> Let me make you some toast and Il
cup of tea,' 7 said. I'VE can wait for
our supper, but you need refreshmcnt."
The maid objected, and desired me
to take her place while she prepared
the food; but, boasting of my skill in
cookery, insisted, and went out to the
kitchen.
The cook came in as l entered. and
with her help soon had Isutlorc's sup
per neatly arranged upon IL tray. Two
minutes alone was all | desired; 1 had
more than that in passing through the
hall and up the stairs.
The maid was tlcvotcdly attached to
her mistress. She hated me, and often
her black, piercing eyes seemed look
ing through my very soul as they
blazed with her scorn and contempt
Still / endured her presence
lsadorc complimcnted me upon my
skill and promptncss, and ate and
drank with apparent relish; but us re-
placed her cup upon the tray l noticed
with alarm a thin settling of the
powder in the bottom of the cup. |
contrived to let it fall and break, and
picking up the fragments with an cx-
clamation upon my carclcssncss, 1 laid
them upon the tray and told the
maid TO throw them into the CRATE be-
low rs / dismissed her for the night.
saying that | would care for Isadorc.
She went out, reluctantly rs | i'm
agined, and no eye but mine watched
the effect of the potion. Not until she
had reached the last stages of it's opcr-
alton did l arouse the household and
summon physician.
think she knew what had done;
but her loyal lips, her breaking heart,
refused to accuse me. She died and
made no sign, and l, Frustrated with
81 Sf,-'''o.',,.e>l i'ssVi,~ tieeriI y.----
was touched, and loved her more than
l had done for many, many months; but
covered up my sin as cunningly as Il
lunatic cluGcs his keepers.
| asscntcd with fcigned reluctance to
the cremation of the body-upon the
discovery of the papers had prepared
and in all respects was model
mourncr: but l did not breathe freely