The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1894-03-24
fierce with pain, as Luretta whispered

fierce with pain, as Luretta whispered
through her pallid lips;
"Iusband and friend, We have done
your worst. | leave You now, but
shall return, after an interval OF
years and upon this date, to clam my
rlghtful vengeance
Then. as she breathed her last, my
Elisabeth, guided by the shots, came
running through the grove and knelt
beside the PROSTATE body. GREATNESS
She tore the soft. white shawl from OF
Lunctta's shoulders. and although the
rich blood trickled to the ground not
one red spot was found upon it.
Verify. it seemed as if the blood OF
the reckless girl was powcrless to
Smirch the garments of her gentle
sister. but the pure white silk seemed
ghaStIicr after that. as if the very
ghost OF the murdered woman had
taken It's abode within it,
My Wjfe'S apprchenSiyc words re
called the scene until in my ever
~upcrstitious mind really seemed to
live again the horror Of that fatal
evening and all the incidents. so dark
and sad, passed plainly in nay mental
vision.
The lover vanjshcd-I was left to
bear the burden e. the crime our
united hands oomujttrd But when
calm Thought as Lass returned, laid
the murdered cir. away and friends
and strangers accepted my explana-
ton
Months rolled by ast was free, for
the other persisted m some gypsy
brawl and after one short year had
flown, my sweetheart, Elisabeth. and
| were wed with the cloud of horror
! lowering about our path, and,
strangely enough. to both our souls
the clQ' 4 took on the curious shape
of dainty. snow-whit". silken shawl,
with blood stains lowering all about,
but not spot upon it.
And thus, for nine long years, we
lived, with the cloud growing DINNER
and DINNER, until to-day, when my
reckless errand Jared the wall and
caused the shimmering shroud to fall
50 unexpectedly about me. | had
never cSred to destroy it, neither had
my wife - probably as much for the
reason that we did not care to handle
1t as any other.
And now. as the twilight grew
deeper and darker, we sat hand in
hand, before the fire, and. ignoring
other light, talked low and earnestly
Of that dreadful night so many years
ago.
"LuEetta was very beautiful" my
wife sighed sadly as she stroked my
hand. and how she must have
loved" she muymured half uncon-
sciously. q
Through love for him she lost her
life" | answered plunged in bitter
thought. "But how came she to wear
your shawl on that night of all otlrsrs, 81
| asked with sudden dread.
My darling paled and trembled as
she answered low. 1T was my wish
She longed forair, and never dream
ing what her purpose was | wrapped
her in my Swaziland sent her to her
death"
Again her pale face pressed my arm
and tears rolled from the gentle eyes,
but while kissed the tears away my
own heart trembled with it's weight
of woe, and painful thoughts op,
pressed me. a
And then the dreaded presen ce
came-the omen was fulfilled in sub
| stance: a
Some one stood knocking at the
outer door, and going thence l found
a child-a boy with wide-strained,
dusky eyes, standing alone within the
porch and begging for admittance.
He entered gladly at my wish, and,
seeing Elisabeth, dotted his cap and
laid two papers in her hand.
And now the mystery was all ex-
planned: The poor, dead girl had
beena wife, and this-her son-had
come to us to yindicate her honor.
The gypsy father stole his child from
out it's mothers very arms, and al
these secret meetings between the
two had been the vain attempt on poor
Lunetta..s side to once more clasp hel
darling.
For years the boy had followed Clip
sy friends, but learning our abode had
stolen away and brought to us his only
dowry.
Then when the truth was understood
and Lunetta's boy installed for aye
within our hearts and homes, I locked
into my Elsabeth's eye and seeing there
mirror Of my thoughts stepped fear
lessly and dragged the shawl down
from its bent and rusty nail.
Then, tossing it upon the fire, ]
stood with one arm round the boy
and held sweet Elsabeth's hand il
mine until it shrivelled in the blaze
and as it burnt both she and I coult
| ,o+ bol,, Nh; ly;oo. how, LA 81 Ill