The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13

stin hours of the night when she was
asleep
Last Wednesday morning at The, break
fast table my wife, who had been extrava-
CANT OF late, brought up the subject OF a
residence uptown. She wanted to be OPP
posite Central Park, and to ride with the
swells Of Fifth avenue. / opposed her,
and she retorted sharply.
" You win regret this ] said as I rose
from the table. You may regret II sooner
than you think. BY God l cried as the
memory of the things she had said swept
over me anew, I wish / could go away
and never see your face again
"Of course, / was sorry for the words
as soon as / had said them, and during
the day l squared matters with my con-
science by sending a basket OF flowers
to her. even notified real estate man
ager that | was In the market for an Up
town residence
II was detained that night at my Office,
and when I reached home the church clock
opposite was tolling the hour OF II. went
softly In at the front door, and knowing
that my wife would be asleep at that
hour, walked through the long hall to
a little study situated at the rear end Of
che han. Here stood a small writing desk.
and here / knew / could be alone for On
hour to quiet my mind from the bu slncss
events of the day and to indulge In my
faVorite recreation of story writing.
"a plot had come In my mind as l came
up town in the cars, and I resolved 70
write it while it was fresh. A fiattering
letter from publisher who had accepted
my latest story made me resolve to sup
ply him with another as soon as possible
"'This time my wife shall know of my
work and be proud of II. / will enter So
ciety and court the litterati. while she
enjoys herself with the butterflies said
20 myself. smiling, as ! dipped my pen in
the ink.
1.-THE plot Of my story was a singular
one. II was the Murder of a Wife
with accuracy / went into each start
ling detail, and, as ! wrote down the
bloodthirsty words / saw that my anger
for my wifewas melting away, even as the
beauty of the story grew underneath my
fingers When / had finished / saw that
l had achieved what would be the great
est work of my life, and that honors would
come to me from the public who would
read my story.
when laid down my pen, sighed a
sigh Of relief.
IT could not do that again for thous-
and dollars / said aloud. NO repeated,
as walked through the hall, still intent
with the plot, mo. / could not do that
again for ten thousand dollars
T" Did you speak. sir? inquired a wo-
mans voice.
"'Who IS that? I asked.
aft is I--Ellen, the cook. heard
somebody walking around, sir, and came
| TO see who il was
"'All right. Elem / said, 1T Is I. Go
back TO bed And Ellen, who sleeps In
| the basement, went back down the base
| ment stairs.
"Bounding.up the staircase / threw open
| the door of my wifes room and stepped
inside. A moment later, l was pulling the
| bell frantically and shouting for help.
'eThere upon the edge OF the bed Jay
nv wife. with the blood dripping from her
| Mead ana heart She was uncovered, with
one arm hanging 10 the floor. Her coup-
| tenance was fearfuily distorted. She had
| heen cruelty murdered-stabbed In the head
and heart. Stabbed to death by the hand
| of a midnight assassin.
| On a moment the room was filled with
| frightened servants, and was sending
| them In every directlon--for physicians
| police and neighbors.
"But there was nothing 10 be done. She
was dead That much we all saw at q
glance. Her head was slashed almost be-
yond recognition, and the hand that hat
! done Il was a desperate one.