San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-25

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Murdered MB God, this Is frighIml"
term was applicable, for though she
possessed charming face she could be
| called neither handsome nor beautiful.
Small, well chiseled features, rosy,
i pert little mouth, piercing black eyes,
| chestnut brown hair and clear COM
plexion with considerable color, these
were the salient points in her favor. In
stature she was petite. But it was her
manner more than her physical charms
that was her chief attraction. Viva
cious, impetuous, with powerful emo
tions, loving and hating with degree
of intensity foreign to the American
born, it was easy to detect that Alice
Marvel had French blood in her veins.
Her father had chosen his bride in
| Paris and continued his residence in
that city until Alice was 10. Then he
returned to America with his family,
which included Walter, who was two
years older than his sister, and immedi-
ately thereafter settled in Lee. Thus
Alice was now in her twenty fifth year
Startled from her meditations by the
abrupt entrance of her friend, Alice
stared at her moment in silence and
then suddenly exclaimed:
"Is he dead?"
is who dead?' asked Virginia,
amazed at the question.
Your uncle, Mr.. Lewis" replied
Alice, at which Virginia was so bewil-
| dered that she stood speechless. Know
ing that the fact of her uncle's death
had been so recently discovered and also
that Alice had not left her own room,
| Virginia was at loss to understand
| how she had become aware of the true
state of affairs. 1t occurred to her that
perhaps, after all, the maidservant had
informed Alice, but in that case it
should have been known also by Mrs.
Marvel, whereas that lady had acted in
a way which precluded the supposition
that the news had reached her ears.
Recovering somewhat from the first eff
fects of her surprise, she asked:
How did you know that he is dead?"
Alice started at this question, and
then, as though awakening from a
dream, replied:
II don't know what l have been
saying. i think was dreaming when
you came in and and-and l must
have continued aloud what was passing
through my mind "
Your dream, then, is wonderfully
near the Truth, for my uncle was found
dead this morning, and he has undoubt-
eddy been murdered.
Murdered! My God, this is fright
fulW With convulsive tremor, which
passed over her whole frame. Alice lay
back and buried her face in her pillow.
Virginia gazed at her, not knowing how
to construe her agitation. A moment
later Alice, with one bound, leaped
from the bed and, rushing up to Vir-
ginia, exclaimed excitedly:
"You say he was murdered. How do
you know it? Who can prove it? Did
any one see it? Who did it? Who did it,
say? Tell me-
Hush! Do you know what you are
saying? If any one heard you, it would
be suspected"-
what would be suspected? What is
suspected? Tell mel Unjust knOwl ]
will knowl p
| "Silencel Are you still in a dreamt
You must stop this wild language. Stop
il Sup it Instantly" Taking Alice by
tthe shoulders, she shook her, and by
her words and manner Virginia at
length sub6ued somewhat the intensity
ut her friends excitement. Then occur
rcd the inevitable reaction. Alice threw
herself OH the bed and abandoned her.
self 10 wild paroxysm of tears. Vir-
GINA endeavored to calm and soothe
her, but Tor a long time her attentions
only aggravated the hysterical sobbing.
After awhile, however, she became
more quiet, and Virginia sought an ex-
PLANTATION.
"Now, Alice" said she, "you must
tell me now you knew that my uncle is
dead"
"Hushi cannot tell you. / cannot.
cannot.
but you must. Evidently you know
something about this, and you must
tell me"
! 1T is impossible"
Can you not trust me? Come, Alice,
! you must be reasonable. We are vast
ing time that is most precious. Do you
, know who is or will DO suspected Of
this crime?"
: do you know? Then tell mer' said
Alice in feveTish anxiety.
, "Listen. There are two detectives
"Whatl Already" interrupted Alice
in a terrified voice. And you say they
/ suspect some oue?"
} "Alice, You, too, suspect some one.
} Who is it? If you and the detectives sus-
3 pect the same man, will help to shield
/ him. You know that -