Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-10-27
A FAMILY SKELETON.

Thore II an old brick mansion on Es-
p,nnde street, Now Orleans, that stands
little way back from the banquet, and from
Its quaint construction arrests the atten-
ton of the passerby. 1t was built over
century ago, and hns strange history yet
fresh In the memory OF many. 1t is con-
ncctod with nm event somewhat remark
hblo in my experience 1t was then the
residence a. n Spanish family of great
wealth and distinguished social position.
Mr.. l. and myself wuro strangers to them
personally, although we were familiar with |
thoir reputation In tho community. One |
night we were surprised by visit from |
Antoine Pallotta, the then head Of tho fam
ily which consisted of u nephew and !
daughter. Rumur had 1t that tho wife |
was vet living; but II so, 1t was In such |
retirement that even her name was mover |
mentioned TO strangers.
On Introducing himself to us Mr.. Pal
lotta stated that he might possibly need
our services in mutter-terminntc how
1t would--wbich must be kept soorct until
niter his death. This injunction we were /
OF course willing to observe and so stated. !
He then disclosed TO us the fact that he
had recently missed from his safe some
Jewels of great value and that the circun-
stance Of their disappearance left no doubt
his nephew or his daughter. The profound
agitation with which this disclosure was
made left no doubt In our minds of tho
grief 1t cost rim to make it.
al would not, " no snld, "put this INIT
ter in your hands but TINT am bound by
solemn obligation Of honor to transmit
them to the representative OF my house
when die. 1t mny be that my child has
them, or my nephew, urged by debts
which young men sometimes contract, has
taken them to pledge to enable him to
raise money. In either event they Will
hnyc TO be recovered since | cannot eyade
the vow | am under. You perceive now
why am compelled to require OF you "a
pledge Of secrecy"
With this the interview terminated, and
we set ourselves to work upon the ease.
Toprosecuto our inquiries more effectually
1t was necessary for inc to visit the house.
This did as guest from u distant state.
A more beautiful creature thOn Mnrle
Pnllotta had never seen She seemed in
deed, child OF the tropics, radiant as
gem OF the orient, star eyed as the Egyp-
tian queen. Long black hair, soft and
silky, fell to her waist, while her slender,
exqnisitely proportionod figure would have
been sculptor's ideal, graceful and
witching In her young girlhood and so
innocent that It seemed impossible to as
sociate with II creature So lovely nm idea
OF crime Tho nephew was n tall, fine
looking man. with the dark tint of the
Spaninrd In his complexion and the fro
OF his passionate race in his eyes,
KIN It once that the old mans theory
was wrong .-"svor suspicious the cir
cumstances, these young people were
gultloss. Still kept my own counsel and
accepted the inequalities 1 had come ap-
parently to enjoy.
My room was on tho second floor, ele-
gantly and sumptiously appointed. After
retiring sat before the fire enjoying n
Havana and rejecting on the case 1t
must have been near midnight when my
revcrie was disturbed by scream so pierre
ing that my blood curdled Mt the fearful
sound. 1t was succeeded by sound OF
mnniac laughter. Tho singular cadence
echoed along the ynulted passages with a
weird utterance that seemed to the fancy
ghostly and chilling, as the wind in a
charmed house.
l could not account for 1t. Struck SPELL
bound, l could only listen for Its repeti.
tion, but II came no more. will confess
nameless dread rs l hastily undressed
and sought forgetfulness in sleep. But
my nerves were excited, and sumber had
utterly forsaken me. AT last L dropped
TO slccp-a troubled, uncertain kind of re-
pose that wearied instead of rested mind
ind body. awoke from this with a start.
An Icy hand was on my forehead. The
weird cadence of that horrible laugh wns
In my ears. 1 sprnng upright In bed and
before me in the dlmly lighted room was
creature so distorted In appearance, so
misshapen and deforned, that my first i'm.
preston was that was In tho presence OF
tho supernatural
Before had time TO think, however, 1t
fed. l sprnng from the bed and followed
hastily. Far up tho flight OF stairs / heard
the pattor Of fleeing feet. Determined to
see who my visitor was, followed quickly.
Up into tho highest story and back along
u gallery the creature fled. could see it
run distinctly--a mnniAc woman. She
stood In the conter Of brilliantly lighted
room formed like cell. She was laugh
ing and reckoning me on. At the thresh-
old of the door lay u servant, felled by
some heavy instrument, and still insep ST.
BILE. All was plain to me now.
Tho strange creature was u maniac con-
fined In the house In escaping she had
nearly murdered her keeper. 1t was neces.
Bary to secure her, and for this purpose,
before alarming the family, advanced to
where she stood In doing so my eye fell
upon cnsket concealed In the bosom OF
her dress. 1 gave tho alarm, ind in n
moment almost the room was filled with
frightened servants. Shortly after the
father and daughter came in. They both
were greatly nsitated and evidently great
ly surprised, detailed to thom as hastily
as could tho circumstances thnt brought
me there, and taking the cnsket in my
hand | asked Mr.. Pnllutta what 1t was.
1.-The jewelsl The iewcls" he ex,
CLAIMED and Erasped 1t eagerly. The
woman was his wife For long years SHIT
had been a maniac, Before her reason dc
serted her and hor mind became a ruin sh,
knew whore the jewels were kept and haC
frequently worn them. Inspired by somt
strange freak, she had sought them, with
the result as stated.
OF course all suspicion was now put n
rest. was cnjoined TO keep another SO
cret. u cnn do no harm to publish 1t now
for both hU who cnjoined and she abou
whom It was made are dust Anothe
elmo protruets the life of the beautiful
girl and the brave youth. No eye say
those of a stranger will poruso these lines
u is u memory only TO us who mingled il
Ahe scGnG.-New York News,
STORING CELERY.