The state herald., 1899-01-06

Ing their after-dinpcr maps In their
various chambers. secret and stormy
scene took place between Madeline
ard Paul.
What 1t was about no one but them.
selves and God knew; but when Mad
cline came from Paul's presence her
face was pale as q specter's-her man
ner strange and wild; as for Mr..
Marsh. he shuddered as her long black
dress touched him as she passed. With
tottering steps. up to her chamber.
That night. at II o'clock, the in
mates Of Blackwood house lay In deep
slumber.
Mr.. Paul Marsh. since his aunt's
death, has slept in her chamber; 1t
was large. airy room, and he liked
its location. and so he sleeps there to-
night.
The day has been gloomy one. but
the clouds disperse at 10 o'clock, and
the moon shines forth. The old ladys
chamber. as we have said. is large ana
roomy. with walls panelcd half way
to the ceiling. which Is green and old
fashioned. There are two large win
dows there. both looking out on the
great garden: the floor is neatly car
peted; ancient oak furniture Is In the
room. and on the great high bed near
the wall Paul Marsh lies sleeping,
while, near his bedside, and near the
wood-paneled wall is small table.
on which stands wine glass Of water
to drink through the night.
Paul Marsh, lying asleep, has had
dreams, 1t seems. for he begins to toss
on his bed for some time, while the
moonlight, issuing through the open
easement. falls on the paneled wall
directly over the table. The entire
house is still as graveyard at mid
night.
In the midst of this dead silence
Paul Marsh awakens and his eyes fall
on the table near his bed. and then to
the moonlight above 1t. and, looking,
he sees small. square hole in the
paneling directly over his table, and
a small hand-a lady's, undoubtedly,
on the fingers of which bright rings
glitter-passes through this strange
opening and drops something out of a
tiny vial into Mr.. Marsh's water glass,
Paul Marsh beholds this strange pro-
ceeding and. leaping like tiger out of
his bed. he grasps the mysterious hand
and some one in the next room
screams. Mr.. Marsh jumps fercely on
the floor and awakens the house: and.
taking suspender, he ties the hand
to bookcase near the secret opening.
The inmates of the house came to his
room door and, opening It, he points
to the white lady's hand and cries out:
Burst open the door of the next
room and you will behold a murder
ess."
There is no cause to burst It open;
It is not locked. The excited guests,
going in. see Madeline Blackwood
glaring at them. Paul Marsh cuts the
suspender and goes into the room
where the guests are, and Just in time
TO stop the fleeing girl and cry in her
ear:
Madeline Blackwood murderess.
You shall not escape,"
"Oh, that could strike you dead,"
is the greeting OF the old spInster's
heiress.
MY friends speaks Mr.. Marsh,
that girl murdered her aunt by pois-
on. and attempted my life a moment
ago by the same means"
81 did," almost shrieked the
wretched girl. Il don't deny It! It
would be useless now. Why didn't my
aunt die after she made that will.
which made me heiress to all? No.
she must live and make me long for
that wealth. In the dead OF night |
red-her-dropped through that
secret opening subtle poison into her
water glass. No one suspected, no one
but you-accursed deyil." meaning
Paul Marsh. You came to me today
charged me with my aunts murder!
My guilt and terror betrayed me. You
threatened exposure tomorrow. I
would kill you tonight | sought to
poison you as | poisoned her!"
Horror. CONSERVATION and terror
we're on everybody's face as the mis-
cradle girl fell TO the floor. bleeding
at the mouth and faintIng.
She died that night. friendless and
alone. with no one around her death
bed to console her in her last mo-
ments-no one but the imaginary
specter OF the kind old soul she had
murdered In return for all she had
done In being mother to the ungrate-
ful girl So locked up In her lonely
room awaiting the dawn OF day to be
taken to prison-Madellne Blackxood
dlcd-dicd In agony and terror: and 80
went Into the dread presence OF her
maker. with an unrepented crime on