The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-04-29
80 sudden and mysterious, and unac-
countable to all.

Five weeks had elapsed since Miss
Blackwood's mysterious death.
The old lady's nephew and . few
other relatives and friends, male and
female, still remained in the old manor
house, for the spinster's heiress felt
lonely and so unhappy since her
aunt's demise, and so they remained
to please the poor girl, Paul Marsh.
the lady's nephew. included.
Five weeks after the old lady's
death, and on bleak afternoon, when
almost all Of the occupants were TAX
ing their after-dinner maps in their
various chambers, secret and stormy
scene took place between Madeline
and Paul.
What it was about no one but them
selves and God knew; but when Mad
cline came from Paul's presence her
face was pale as 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
lettering 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 a gloomy one, but
the clouds dispense at 10 o'clock, and
the moon shines forth. The old lady's
chamber, as we have said, Is large ana
roomy, with walls paneled 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, it 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 tc
the moonlight above it, and, looking
he sees small, square hole in the
paneling directly over his table, and
small hand-a lady's, undoubtedly
on the fingers Of which bright rings
! ENTERPRISES through this strange
opening and drops something out of {
tiny vial into Mr.. Marsh's water glass
Paul Marsh beholds this strange pro
ceeding and, leaping like tiger out O
and some one in the next room
screams. Mr.. Marsh jumps fiercely OF
the floor and awakens the house; and
taking suspender, he ties the hant
to a bookcase near the secret opening
| The inmates of the house came to hi.
room door and, opening it, he point!
to the white lady's hand and cries out
Burst open tie door of the ne4
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 Blackwoot
glazing at them. Paul Marsh cuts tn,
suspender and goes into the room
where the guests are. and just in tim
to stop the fleeing girl and cry in he
ear:
Madeline Blackwood = murderess
You shall not escaped"
ooh, that could strike you dead!
is the greeting of the old spinster'
heiress.
my friends" speaks Mr.. Marst
that girl murdered her aunt by pois
on, and attempted my life a momen
ago by the same means"
81 did," almost shrieked tn
wretched girl. II doD't deny 1t!
would be useless now! Why didn't m
aunt die after she made that viii
which made me heiress to all? M
she must live and make me long &c
that wealth! In the dead of night
ered-her-dropped through thu
secret opening subtle poison into he
water glass! No one suspected, no on
but you-accursed devil!" meanin
Paul Marsh. You came to me toda
charged me with my aunt's murder
My guilt and terror betrayed me. 70
threatened exposure tomorrow.
would kill you tonight! I sought
poison you as / poisoned her!"
Horror, CONSERVATION and terrt
were on everybody's face as the mi
cradle girl fell to the floor. bleedin
at the mouth and fainting.
She died that night, friendless an
alone, with no one around her dealt
bed to console her In her last mi
ments-no one but the imaginal
, specter of the kind old soul she hs
, murdered In return for all she ha
{ done in being a mother to the ungrst
full girl. So locked up In her lone
> room awaiting the dawn Of day to
taken to prison-Madeline Blackwo'
8 died-died in agony and terror; and
went into the dread presence OF b
: maker with en- unrepented crime