Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-02

| crushed on the stones outside the convent
| Of Sac Joao Then there was no mystery.
| Every one knew that the officer from the
English ship had been on shore the night
| before. and had helped to hold the blanket
which should catch her when she jumped
| from the window. But this. the mystery of
the murder of Senior Sebastiao, was an
| other matter. There had been but one
| other SO tragic, and that was when the
Donna Amelia had died Of a sudden in the
| convent of La Conceicao, but that is not q
part Of this story and will be told at an
other time
| So the senior was dead Jose, the only
| man who had entrance to the house, other
| than the senior himself, had been locked
| in his dungeon at the foot of The stairs.
The Donna Eugenia was in her room sleep
| ing No other living soul had been seen
near the house upon the evening Of the
murder.
| be no doubt. Lying near him was found
| a sharp ak, such as the wreckeTs use when
| ship breaks on the rocks of Porto Pm.
| 1t was covered with blood. In his head was
a great wound which showed how the AK
had cleaved into his very brain.
Then came trial. 1t had been necessary
for the officials TO call Jose, DIT he had
told simply how he had been locked in the
closet early in the evening, and how, after
ward. he had heard even through the thick
walls, the loud words of the senior and the
Donna Eugenia. No; he could tell no more.
That was all.
He had passed the house at the regular
time. but he had heard nothing. Neither
had Carmen. the maid who had found the
| body of the senior in the morning. Clearly
nothing Was TO be learned from them.
The neighbors were called and examined.
They knew the Donna Eugenia, because
they had seen her in the balcony in The
days when the sun came glowing into the
Rua Sac Joao. She had said "bom dia,"
IerhaPS-no more than that, ever.
Sometimes they had seen her leave the
house. but always with Jose and Carmen,
the maid, and always hooded with the great
capote. Amil.o had known her, yes. He had
seen her go into the shops on days of the
feasts. when she would have sweetmeats
and perhaps an extra ribbon or two for
the gown which she wore sometimes to the
theater when the players came from Lis
bon, and made music in the little playhouse
down below the convent in the square.
That was ALL He had spoken to her when
she came into the street and then only to
say bonn dia!' Only once she had raised
her hood. NO. he could tell no more.
Then they called the Donna Eugenia.
When she came to the stand the correge-
dor questioned her as to when the Senior
Sebastiao had come home, and if there had
been quarrel.
Yes. there was a quarrel she said.
There was quarrel. He struck me with
his whip-so-" and the Donna Eugenia
flashed her hand from her dark cloak. AS
she did so, her great capote fell from her
head, and the long, blue cloak dropped to
white, against the darkness of the coming
evening:
And then, that was all. l asked him to
fetch the water from the jar in the gar
den"
But Jose? What do you know of him?"
asked the corregedor
Jose was locked in his closet"
He was locked in early in the EVENING""
Yes, the Senior Sebastiao locked him
in"
closet"
" One must believe that
"When?"
Surely it must have been after the
Senior Sebastiao had gone to the garden
hush fell over the dreary old court
room. The Donna Eugenia had not moved
since her cloak fell to the floor. The Cor
regedor Amilio gaZed squareIy into her
eyes. They fell before his look, and a
flush came under her olive skin.
And it has been said that the Senior Sc
bastiao struck you blows with whip. Is
that the truth?'
mot once. but many times did he beat
me thus. The scar across my cheek is from
such a blow
The Donna Eugenia turned to face the
light Across the brow and extending
downward toward her ear there a
livid mark, as of a wound. The spectators
shivered. Maria, mia! said one.
Then the corregedor continued.
And you have had Jose with you many
years a servant?"
Yes. He was the husband of my nurse
in Nichtheroy. He has been with my family
ever since 1 was born"
"You could trust him?''
II would trust him with my life"
'Yet how should one explain how he es-
capped from the closet after he had been
locked in by the Senior Sebastiao?"
Perhaps the Father Pedro may tell" said
the Donna Eugenia.
The Father Pedro was called to testify.
May it be possible to explain, asked
the corregedor, ''how the negro could es-
cape from the closet after he had been
locked in?''
THAT is not possible" said the priest
Yet i have heard it said by those who
knew the Marquis of Pombal that he had
told of how the Brazilian negroes are cum
ming, and know charms, and how they be-
witch that with which they come in con-
tact, SO that even things which have no life
may be made to do their bidding"
Should one think, then" continued the
Corregedor Amilo, that in this case such
was done.
THE good God knows said the priest.
1T is not possible for me to tell"
Other witnesses were examined but no
proof of guilt on the part of anyone was
found The negro went free. He staid in
the house of the Donna Eugenia and, with
Carmen. the maid. went with his mistress
when she walked abroad