Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-10-25
THE MYSTERY.

In IN out o. the way place on d
street Is an old building whose ruined GA
blos and quaint architecture toll of q period |
long gone by. Tho columns thnt sustain
the old galleries nro stained with Hgc. aud !
the wild crceners In many u curious Irvine
have crept around its arches and shadow
half the roof In the center Of the Rugged
courtyard IL n fountain, or, rather, the
remains Of ono, for Tho waters have long
ceased to play and the narbio urn IS dry,
but the orange trees arc fresh and green
and their scented blossoms I'll the air with
perfume
Like most old houses II has history,
and, like age usually has, It Inns been
sometimes bright with sunshine and then
sad with toars. knew 1t first few years
since, but the circumstances that caused
II to attract my attention led mo to learn
its legend.
IL was then occupied by an old man and
his wife They had lived alone for years
They were not childess but people suid
that trouble had coma upon the fuiuily,
and their younR daughter had been driven
out from tho shelter OF the old rooftrec.
BE TINT as Il may, they had lived alone,
their rooms sometimes rented uUt ia lodp.
ers, and In tho summer excluded from all
intrusion
But at the time to which rcfcr Indy
lodger with little girl bed como to them
in the spring and secured an apartment.
Her life was far more retired than theirs,
and at worry rare intervals was the lady
seen by either tho old NAH or his vito,
She went out daily, however, thicBly
yoiled, and, remaining several hours, re-
turned generally in tears, us her subbings
would tell to the old people, who could
a. MI Oh 81 Ihfa
life won't ON for weeks, and spring at last
mcllowed into summer.
But one day change was noted In tho
iodger'B cCadlct. From sadness she passed
to the cxtromc OF light heartodnoss and
Joy. Tho eSGAerance of her spirits found
vent in song and the old rooms so long
silent to the sound Of pleasure md delight,
grow vocal with her melody.
That evening sho had visitor He
came thoroughly disguised, and none In
the house save the ludy was permitted 80
SEQ his face. How long ho stnid tho old
people could not toll, but late in the Z Int
the Screams Of the lndy's child--the little
girl-iiwnkened thom. Proceeding 10 tho
apartment of their guest, they found tho
door locked upon the inside. Fonring
that some evil had hcfallon tho little ono
or its mother the door WAS finally forced,
and spectacle OF horror was presented
which well might chill the aged hearts
that looked upon it.
Tho lady lgy dead on the floor.
Her thrOat was literally cut from ear 20
ear, and the blood, forming wide pool
around her head, stained her white dress
and yellow hair, which lay duhbled in tho
gore. There was no knife or weapon In
the room with which the deed could have
been done. The child could only tell that
chm bo1 IN glppt Iautiurt bar ,at l,nr
and papa talking, and that she awakened
to find hu' parent dead.
The glitter and glare Of the gaslight
added horror to the spectacle.
"Who is YOUR pnpn, childS" ! inquired,
for already suspected that this namoless
visitor was the homicide.
He came last night" she said.
"Whnt Is his manor" 81
"Papa, sir'
She knew no other.
And this was all we could learn, but in
preparing the body for the grave star
Ting discovery was made.
The strange lady was the hanished
daughter There could be no mistake.
The whnderer, exiled so long, had indeed
porished beneath the roof where she was
born. OF course this augmented the ox
element, already ut fever heat. People
talked Of the strange occurrence and shook
their heads mysterously.
What could 1t meanf
Many even suspected TINT the story OF
the strange visitor was untrue und that
maybe the old innn had taken his child rs
life.
The strangenosa of tho affair perplcxed
every one. Who the murderer was could
not even be conjectured. There was not
the shadow of Glow loft to trace him.
Days and weeks went by in fruitless
search, and the circumstances finnlly faded
out OF the public mind. Al last more
than year was gone, when ono day | was
sent for 10 90 TO the Charity hospital Il
see u dying man.
Are you ----y' ho inquired as l en-
terd the room.
~ am. "
lyon woru the detective who was in
trusted with the case of tho murdered lad!
In ---- street,
''Yes "
you have found no clcw9"
'Not the shadow Of one"
"Your search will end here, then, Tor
am the mHnl'
To my start Of Hstonishment he wavet
his hand and continued;
DO not speak. have but little strength
left, md life is waning fast Tho woman
was my wife. | first led her astray an,
then abandoned her Years after we met
ind married her. She had a marriag
certificate. had ngain loft her, and bu
for the proof Of this marriage with her
could have formed wealthy alliance. !
was to get this certificate that went {
sec her thut night. could not however
persuade her TO give II 10 me. She woul
not tell mo even where 1t was Mnddone
Utmost to frenzy, struck her down ut m
foot, md, prompted by insanity, beliey
l killed her.
This was al. The man looked as II h
would say more but his speech iailud hin
and hu died,
This was MI ever knew. -Exohangc
MISS PARGOA'S ADVICE.