The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-02-04
a Wicked Womap.
CHAPTER I.
A Mysterious Tragedy.

A Mysterious Tragedy.
A dead man! A CHASTITY spectacle
huddled upon the gayly carpeted floor
of room at fashionable hotel in a
certain large city. Dead! Yes, there
was no doubt, for the body was quite
cold and fast growing rigid.
On table beside the chair in which
the man had evidently been sitting,
stood tiny wineglass and vial la
beled laudanum; the glass showed
traces Of the poison and the man had
died from its effects.
He was stranger to the house; had
called the evening before and secured a
room, retiring to 1t Immediately, having
first requested to be called in the
morning in time for the six o'clock
Western train. But when the hour ar
rived for him to be aroused, and the
servant went to awaken him, he did
not respond to the summons. Hour
after hour passed, and still the
stranger failed to make his appear
ance; and finally the proprietor Of the
house, alarmed at the strange silence
within the room. burst open the door
of the chamber, revealing it's CHASTITY
occupant
The affair was enshrouded in mys-
terry. The door of the room was
locked on the inside; there was but
one window, opening out upon small
| balcony, and this window, though
closed, was not fastened; but the room
was in the third story. and could not
be reached from without except by
the aid Of long ladder. and certain
exposure would follow such an at
tempt.
They crowded about the doorway
OF that chamber of death-the terrified
servants and guests Of the hotel; while
inside two police officers guarded the
body, awaiting the arrival Of coroner
At last Coroner Jackson and DR.. Dud-
ley were announced. An investigation
revealed the truth Of the statement al
ready made-that the deceased died
from the effects of an overdose Of laud-
anum."
II wonder who she Isl" observed the
doctor. a grave, cynical looking man.
as he stood beside the body, discussing
the strange affair.
Coroner Jackson looked surprised.
II don't understand you, DOCTOR"
he returned.
The physician smiled sardonically
his dark, rugged face growing sterner
"Of course there's a woman at the
bottom of this tragedy" he explained
Since I have practiced medicine,
have had plenty Of experience, but
have never come across an affair OF
this sort-for It's suicide, Of course;
that's plain to be seen-but there wae
always woman in the case! A
daughter Of Eve at the bottom Of the
mystery, as, indeed, they are con-
cerned in most OF our troubles"
Coroner Jackson shrugged his shout.
ders.
well, perhaps so, DOCTOR" he ven
tured; but"
Gentlemen"
There was the rustling Of silker
drapery in the corridor without, the
odor Of frangipanni, and DR.. Dudley
started forward, as lady stepped owe,
the threshold
A slight, graceful figure, in trail.
ing robe Of gray silk, with broad.
| brimmed hat, and long. sweeping gray
| plumes. A woman beautiful as 6
dream! The childish little face as fail
| as the daintiest lily, with a faint pink
on the dimpled cheeks; a mouth like
a scarlet pomegranate blossom, white
teeth, and dimpled chin; eyes large
| lustrous, like black velvet, yelled BY
| long, sweeping dark lashes; while
strange contrast!-her hair was the
color Of gold, and waved over a low
| broad brow.
DR.. Dudley removed his hat, bowins
courteously; but as his eyes fell full
upon the face of the lady he started al
with an electric shock, and a dull rec
flush stained his dark face for an In
slant.
Where have l met herr" he NUT
| tered to himself. "By Jove! | know
There's no mistaking that face amont
thousand"
| But the lady-quite unconscious O
his close crutiny-advanced to tn,
center of the room near where tn,
dead man lay, paused irresolutely, ant
| nud oh
turn her eyes in the direction Of tn,
corpse upon the floor.
"Sir!"
The low, sweet, vibrant tone stirret
the heart Of every man present.
Il have ventured here because l.
have just arrived in the city, and a.
soon as reached this hotel was in
formed Of the-this awful affair, ant
P'-her eyes searched the room, will
a nervous hunted look in their lustrou
depths, resting at last upon the white
| upturned face Of the dead man.
She darted forward with a low or,
Of horror.
ut Isl" she walled. "Oh, Barton
Barton! my husband"
| She fell upon her knees and pillowe,
the dead mans head upon her breast
sobbing, moaning, wailing
rs he really dead? Is there n,
hope?" she cried. wildly, glancing in
to the faces of the men who stood nea
In respectful silence. Il must see
physician"
DR.. Dudley came nearer.
Il am a physician. madam" he OBJ
served. "Dr. Morris Dudley. Of thi
city. l have made an examination
and-I regret exceedingly-but-h i
quite dead-an overdose of laudanun
madam"
"Oh, Heaven!" she groaned,
feared this! l have warned him re
peatedly, but be would not desist