The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-04
by Augusta Prescott.

time In little amusement which I have
very rigidly kept secret from my friends.
l havo basn writing stories. During
these periods when my wife and ! were
estraTged and neither OF us would humble
ourselves crctygb 10 maze h ;irst ap-
lioach, 1 have withdrawn from honle, and.
taxing Np my quarters In n hotel, have
amused myself evenings writing fiction.
This has been my pastime. rs other men
drive horses or seek the billiard table. My
stoites have been I'M print and doubles
you, Mr.. Martinez. have read many of them
under an assumed name. My wife know
* my little pastiiue and riiiculei It..
When l wrote 81 home could only do
II In the still hours of the niSht when
she was aslgep. i.
Last "Wednesday morning at the break
fast table my wife, who had been ex-
trayagant OF late. brought up che subject
OF a residence uptown. she wanted TO be
opposite Central park aud 70 ride with
the swells of Fifth avenue. / opposed her
AID she retorted sharply.
:" You VIII regret this,'I said, as I
rose from the table. YOU may regret
II sooner than you think. BY Goi,'
cried, rs tho memory OF the things Fho
had said swept over me anew. 4 wish
could no away ana never see your
face again.
s"of course | was sorry far the words
MS COON as | had sad them. and during
the day l squared matters with my con-
science by sending a basket of flowers
to her l even notified real estate man
ager that j was In the market for an IN
town residence
IL was detained that night at my Of
flee and when ] reached home the
church clock Opposite was toIling the
hour Of II. I went softly in at the front
door, and knowing that MY wife would be
asleep at thnt hour walked through the
long hall to little study situated at the
rear end OF the hall Here stood small
writing desk and here l knew | could be
alone for an hour to quiet my mind from
The business events OF che day and 70 in
dulee In my favorite recreation OF story
writing.
"a plot had come IN nay mind as I
came UP town in the cars and re-
solved to wrte 1t while 1t was fresh. \
flattering letter from publisher who had
accepted my latest story made me nesolve
TO supply him with another as soon as
possible.
This time my wife shall know OF my
work and be proud OF 1t. / will enter
society and court the litterati. while she
enjoys herself with the butterflies, said
10 myself, smiling as | dipped my pen ia
the Ink,
The plot of my story was singu-
lat one. IL was the Murder OF Wife,
w It'll accuracy ! went mo each start
ling detail, and as | wrote down the
bloolthirsty words | saw that the anger
Tor my wife was melting away. evan ai
the neauty OF the story grew underneath
my fingers When l had finished l saw
that had achieved what would be the
greatest work OF my HE. AIN that. hoaors
would come 10 me from the public who
world read my story.
When i laid aoNn my per, sighed
a sigh OF relief.
~ could not do that again for a
thousand dollars said aloud NO.
/ repeated. as | walked through the hall,
still intent With tho Mot. no, / could not
tio that again for Ten thousands dollars
Did You speak. sir?' inquired a
woruan's VOICE.
WHO is that? I asked.
ait is ELLEN. the cook. heard
somebody walking around sir, and / came
to see who it was.'
IAN right, Ellen said, 1T is l. Go
back to bed And Ellen who sleeps In
the basement, went back down The baso-
mont stairs.
( Bounding up the staircase ] threw open
the door OF my wfe's room and stepped
inside. moment later | WIS pulling the
bell frautically and shouting for help.
'Tlsero upon tre edge OF the bed lay
my wife, with the blood dripping from
her head AMI heart. She was uneov-
Her cntntenance was fearfully distorted.
she had been crGely murdered stabbed
In the head and heart. stabbed 10 death
by the hand OF midnight assassin!
In moment tho room was filled with
frightened servants aud | WAS sending
them in every direction for physicians. DO
liccmon neighbors
1 But there was nothing to be done She
! was dead That much W all saw at a
glance. Her head wasreiashed almost he
yond recognition. and the hand that had
done II was desperate one.