The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-19

near herr ana she began 10 LFemnle WIZ
the terror OF poor, weak woman when
she had spoken 10 him five or six times
I'm succession without getting any answer.
What was the matter with him WHAT
When she had sat thus two or three
hours opposite him she felt that she was
beginning to 90 out OF her mind. She was
ready 10 run away and escape into the
woods to avoid this dumb boy. this eternal
tete-a-tete and a vague feeling of danger
which she was aware OF but could not de-
fine She often cried when alone What
was the matter with him. II she gave any
evidence Of a wish he would execute a. inn
mediately without a murmur. If she
wanted anything from the town ne would
hurry there afoot and get b Tor her She
had no reason to complain of him yet.
Another year passed ana u seemed 70
her that there had come about another
change in the being of mysterious young
man. She perceived II, guessed it. felt II.
HOWE That does not matter. She was
convinced that she was not deceived, Yet
she could not to save her life define IN
what particular the boys thoughts had
changed. II seemed % her tnat ne Vac
then had suddenly made resolution. This
idea came to her one evening as they sat
opposite each other IN the chimney corner
and she caught him looking at her with
a fixed stare which had no recognition
I'm il.
Since then he had begun TO contemplate
her at every opportunity, and she telt
inclined to hide herself IN order 10 avoid
During entire evenings he sat and stared
at her and only turned away when she
said at length, exhausted:
I'D not stare at me like that, my
childr'
Then he lowered his head. But as soon
as she turned her back she felt his eye on
her again. Wherever she went his look
followed her.
Sometimes when walking in her little
garden she suddenly discovered him
crouching down behind the bushes as ii
he were in ambuscade. At other times,
when she was in the kitchen preparing
vegetables for dinner, she saw him watch
ing her secEetly with suspicion IN his eyes.
In vain she Ssked him
What Is the. matter with you, mon
petit. ! hardly kh6w you now you have
completely changed IN, the last three years.
Tell he what is 1t you are always think
ing about2"
He always answered in a weary and calm
voice: But there Is nothing wrong with
me, auntiel"
And when she insisted:
obi my child. answer me, answer me
when L speak to you. III you knew what
pain you give me you would always an
swer me and would not look at me as
you do. Are you In trouble? If so, tell me
and / Will console you"
He would move away yearly and say
IN low voice: But ! assure you there Is
nothing the matter with me-"
lie had not grown very mush and
sun looked like child, although his tea-
lures were those OF a man. Yet they
We're rough and somehow gave the inn
preston Of being unfinished.
They seemed incomplete. The boy was
mystery; a reserved silent being i'm
penetrable. There seemed always to be
some mental work going on in his brain,
active and dangerous, even
Mile. Source noticed all this, and could
hardly sleep for anxiety.
Horrible fears assaied her: terrible
Nightmares. She locked herself in her
by a nameless terror. OF what was she
afraid? She knew nothing. She was
afraid of everything; Of the night, of the
walls and of the shadows cast by the
moonlight-above all she was afraid Of
him.
Why? What had she to fear? Did she
but know! She could not live long like
this. She was sure that some trouble
One morning she went away in secret
to the town to see her cousins. She told
them the thing in trembling voice. The
two women thought she was going crazy
and tried to reassure her. She said:
IF you only knew how he looks at me
from morning to evening Ills eyes never
help to call in the neighbors, l am so
| frightened. But what could / say 10
them? He does nothing but look at me-"
The two cousins aske8s
rs he ever rough with you? Does he
answer you rudely2'
mo, never" she replied; "he does ev-
erything / want, and he works well. But
he seems to have something in his head,
and l do not want to stay any longer
alone with him like this In the country"
Her cousins told her that they were
very much pertuFbed, astonished, but did
not quite understand her They coun-
seled her to subdue her fears, and adj
vised her to come and live in the town,
/ hoping thereby to make their prospects
surer. They even promised to help her
sell her house and buy another near
their town.
Mile. Source returned to her home. But
her mind was so affected that she trem-
bled at the slightest sound and her hands
shook at the least emotion.
Twice again she went to see her cous-
ms, determined 70 remain no longer I'm her
lonely house. At length she discovered
in the suburbs little cottage, which she
The signing of the contract took place
on Tuesday morning, and Mile. Source
employed the remainder of the day max
ing her arrangements for moving.
At o'clock at night she took the
coach that passed within a quarter or
mile of her house and made the driver
AS the man whipped up hts horses TO go
on he shouted to her as she disappeared in
the darkness:
Good night, Mile Source, good night"
She replied, as the man drove off:
Good night, Pere Joseph"
Next day the postman at o'clock in the
morning noticed not far from the little
cross path near the high road q big splash
of blood still fresh. He said 10 himself:
Hal some drunkard went home last night
with a bleeding nose" But few feet fur
with blood on it. He picked ii up. The lin
en- was fine, and the surprised postman
went nearer TO the ditch, thinking he saw
O strengthening object in it.
Mile. Source was lying on the grass at
the bottom Of the ditch with her throat
gashed from ear TO ear.
An hour later the gendarmes were MAX
ing Investigations round the body.
The two cousins were called, and they
told all they knew Of the old spinster's fear
and apprehensions.
The orphan was arrested. Since the death
of her who had adopted him he had cried
from morning till night. He was plung
ed, so far as appearance went, in the most
violent grief He proved that he had spent
the night until II O'Clock In a cafe Ten
persons had seen him there and had waited
until he came home. The driver of the
coach testified that he had let the muir
dered woman down between and $3.50
o'clock in the evening.
The crime could only have been commit
ted between the time she left the high
road and reached the house, at the latest
at 10 o'clock.
The boy was acquitted A will made
with a notary at Rennes left him all the
money and property.
The country people avoided and suspect
ed him and the house of the murdered
woman was regarded as haunted
But he himself behaved so naturally and