The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-09


when he looked al her, there was al
the bottom of his eyes lurking sus-
picion. which, however, never came 10
the surface
She was 4 little more cool. little
less loving toward him. She Was 700
light hearted TO have fallen deeply
IN love with him after their brlei ac-
quaintanCe. She had loved only Inc
artist, not the man. She had been T
dazzled only by the free. careless lie
he had made her get glimpse OF.
She was no born artist and ala not /
think the morals of these people were
very strict She had always looked .
upon life as string of pleasures and /
she did not want TO change this view. I
She began TO look al her husband as
Dig, good natured creature whom !
she might deceive without any iisk as
long As he was as much in love with
her as he WAS Then little girl was
born To them. but even this did not /
bring the change he had hoped Tor.
Still Capt. Marco said nothing. lie !
only looked for proofs and found them. !
definite and conclusive, IL was .
young lieutenant who knew nothing
OF life, but whose handsome appear /
ance was his only charm. II was for |
deprived OF his happiness. which he !
had SO firmly hoped was To last all
his life
AS silently he watched her love ar /
fair as II developed. The other artists
began To whisper III the halls aud To
smile at the big. handsome marksman.
1t was the old, old story. Everyone
could see what was going on except
the husband Marcella and her lieu
tenant kept on and people began TO
| believe that Capt. Marco was abso-
lutely blind, but he followed their ev- |
cry movement. their every glance.
Sorrow and indignation were strug-
CLING within him. but all his thoughts
were OF her. who could be heartless
enough TO be unfaithful. The boy,
who was her accomplice, was abso-
/ lutely Indifferent to him. He did not
hate him, for TO him circus was like
hunting ground, but she should not
lower herself and become the equal OF
the ballet girls.
Tonight there was the usual show.
Marcella and Capt. Marco appeared.
| She wore an elegant hunting costume;
green uniform coat with silver trim
mings. light gray tights and high rid
| ing boots. large hat with feathers and
glittering diamond pin. Never had
she looked more beautiful than to-
night when she took of her hat and
| fastened the little glass ball in her
golden hair The music stopped play
ing and IL was absolutely quiet In the
circus Capt Marco raised his gun.
Marcella stood motionless. A story
click was heard; IL was the gun that
missed fire. The captain lowered the
/ ftnh 4 hn
same time he watched Marcella and
saw her make sign towards the box
es and smile.
Capt. Marco again raised the gun.
Marcella blushed TO the roots OF her
hair, then her cheeks turned ghastly
pale He was not aiming but she felt
Is eyes rest on her with an expression
she had never seen before. She tried
10 return his look but could not; she
felt like crying out, but her throat was
parched, she wanted TO run away, but
her feet seemed nailed. She was like
bird hypnotized by the glance OF
the serpent.
The audience grew restless and
uneasy. Why did II take SO long?
Why didn't he shoot? Now the report
rang out. The beautiful girl dropped
TO the floor without sound. Capt.
Marco threw away his gun and threw
himself across the lifeless body, star
ing into the lovely pale face. The
girls eyes were closed and In the mid
die Of the forehead was small hole
through which came single drop OF
blood He bent down and kissed away
the blood: then he remained motion
less while the audience shouted, and |
the artists ran to and fro In confu-
sion Then the gensdarmes came and
took him away and he made no re-
sstance.
The trial lasted little over four
months and the jury acquitted him al
most without deliberation. He retired,
n lonesome man, 10 the mountains OF
Switzerland where he had hoped To
pass the remainder of his life In hap |
piness with wife and gun. Both illu- !
sions had burst During the first days
Of their love she had said TO him !
with tinge of jealousy in her voice: |
Your gun is your mistress" |
Now he had buried at the same time |
wife and mistress.
Capt. Marco had fred his last shot !
the night he made his mistress muir
der his wife.