Smyrna times., 1893-08-23

blanched to ghastly whiteness. Sh,
hesitated a moment; then, goint
straight to Mrs. Clifton, put both arms
around her, and mother and wife wept
over their dead together"
THE bearers withdrew, for grief is 8
sacred thing. As they passed from the
room Cello Clifton darted over the
threshold and flung herself upon the
body of her brother. She kissed the
cold, beautiful face over and over
again, and drew the lifeless head to
her bosom. Lola left her undisturbed
for space; then she stepped toward her
with yearning cry:
"'CelO, give him to me Let me come
to him =
"But Cello elapsed the dead head
closer, and answered, sternly:
"'Never again He is mine now, as
he was before you came between us.
You shall not touch him =
80 Daughter murmured Mrs. Cliff
ton, laying one shaking hand on her
daughters shoulder, she is his wife.
Give place; it is her right
"CelO's dark eyes looked straight
into Lola's, as she replied, defiantly:
She shall not touch him Living,
she stole him from me; dead, 1 claim
him again
"The poor little bride gasped at the
cruel words; then flung herself upon
her husbands breast and hung there in
spite of CelO's efforts to shake her off.
60 Loosen your hold or II will kill
you = the half-insane girl hssed.
"But Lola gave no heed to ought
save the still figure on whose pulseless
breast she lay"
"Celo's fury reached its height. AL
ways colOrless. her face took on an
ashen hue; her black eyes blazed;
snatching knife from the table, where
1t chanced to be, she plunged it into
Lola's breast. Not once, but twice the
blade descended, and then the horror
stricken mother, with a scream that
aroused the house, caught her arm, and
Cello came two her senses. At her feet,
with her dark head resting on her hus.
bands bosom, her frail hands clasping
his neck, and her sweet face upturned,
lay her brothers. wife. Not a groan
had Lola uttered, but as the remorsful
Cello fell upon her knees beside her
victim, the soft brown eyes unclosed,
and the dying lips whispered:
My blood is upon your soulr
Then the lips closed forever. When
the servants, aroused by that last wild
shrek, burst into the room, husband
and wife lay dead side by side, and
near them Mrs. Clifton and Cello, both
unconcious. Mrs. Clifton never re-
coverd from the shock, but died a few
weeks afterward. Cello was a total
wreck. She wandered from room to
room in her elegant home murmuring
to herself her sisters last words"
Friends placed her in my care. She
is not dangerous, and is allowed per-
feet freedom; hut to every question or
remark addressed to her she has but
one answer. Here she comes; now
mark her"
As he spoke the beautiful maniac ap-
preached US, and stood silent, with
clasped hands, while he said:
II have been telling this lady your
story, Miss Clifton"
Looking tixedly at him she slowly
repeated, My blood is upon your
soul !" and, turning, disappeared
among the trees"
l left the asylum, but that beautiful,
stony face followed me to my home
and visited me in dreams that night.
am not an impressiOnable person, but
l confess that the story had heard
from DR.. Hudson affected me strangely
and occupied my thoughts for days.
In committing it to writing 1 have but
one object. If l convince but one
young person of the necessity of keep
ing firm cOutrol over his or her tenn
per, this little story will not have been
written in vain.