El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-20
A MYSTERY
BY Hugo volgast.

II VERY night we met secretly when
She came from the factory To-
night also I was waiting for heI
in the usual place. before going to the
mona stery where I had promised 10
take supper with frster Antonio.
At last she came. laid my arms
around her waist and kissed her red
lips Good God, how I loved her.
"Oh, caro- moi" she whispered, i am
so afraid We shall be found out 1 am
no bride for you-I am only a poor
plain girl
You are the lOveliest and most beau
tiful girl in the world" 1 interrupted
her passionately You need not fear.
You are mine-miue forever
They are suspecting US down az
Lastia," she declared Somebody must
have seen US together. Last night
when ] passed by the smithy Lippo
called me and asked me who was the
young signOr I met every night
3 What do 1 care about Llpp0E eA-
claimed TT was he who killed Car
melo, because Re had taken Comma
from him, but who afterwards bought
himself free from punishment
But don't forget, he once said ne
loved me He is our enemy she Wnls-
pered.
kissed her lips and took her into
my arms. Nothing in the world should
separate us.
The old church bell reminded me it
"a q
God be with YOU, darling, I said.
And with you. too" she replieo
softly.
I pressed my lips against the small
crucifix I had given her and which was
hanging in a chain around her neck
Tt was an antique relic I had bought
in Rome and in the back was medal
lion containing the hair OF some SAINT
AS sat at the table in the convent
my thoughts continually went back TO
the lovely young girl who had won my
heart
Happy as a bird, arose early next
morning to try to see a glimpse OF Lau-
rette before she went to her work As
slowly walked down the road, L met
Anita, one of cur maids, who had been
out walking. She did not greet me as
usual, with her pretty smile, but cried
eXcitedly:
rs it not terrible, signor? Of course
you have heard about 1t
OF Laurette. the prettiest girl Of
HAS anything happened to herr I
gasped.
'.Then you have not heard it. signori
Ny uncle found her last night under
the olive trees near san Jacopo. she
was dead. A knife had pierced her
heart"
"Deadw I cried.
Yes murdered! 1t was revenge or
Jealousy, Of course. Lippo the smithy
was her sweetheart"
~ on lie" / Kissed
No. signor, it is true. The whole
village knew it."
1 did not wait to hear the rest but
ran down the road and reached the lit
tie house where Laurette LIVED with her
aunt
There 1 saw my beloved again. Neya7
shall + forget her white. cold face, Re
scared expression in her open eyes, tde
pale lips ] had kissed only few hours
before.
While 1 stood staring at her in name
less sorrow I suddenly saw that the lit
tie crucifix I had given her was gone
lost or stolen.
Anita had said that Lippo loved her.
Was he the murderer
When I came home, I heard that the
police had already questioned him, but
he had been set free Immediately, hav-
ing been able to prove perfect a1bi.
The sun of my life had set All my
happiness had gone. MY only aim in
life was to find her assassin, but one
day passed after the other and the
mystery remained uusOlved.
When my father saw my despair he
sent me away from home and for 10
years I drifted aimlessly about all
over the world. I could not forget Lau-
rette- 1 spent much money and time
to clear up the mystery Of Laurette's
death I hired the most famous de-
tectives, but all in vain.
As far as known, nobody had disap-
peared from the country Immediately
after the tragedy and the police con-
Guided that the murder must have been
committed by some jealous stranger or /
by Il thief who had been tempted by the
costly crucifix.
I remained true to my love and never
married, not even when the death of my
father left me alone in the world
alone as far as only as relatives were /
for I had many friends
Among the most intimate Of these
was baron Jules LOumont rich French 1
banker. He was a tall, handsome gen !
tleman in the fifties with charming I
manners. but those who knew him
best said that he knew neither charity I
nor conscience
One year he asked me to spend /
Christmas with him on his estate. /
accepted his invitation gladly and /
spent some pleasant weeks with him
and a number of his friends.
The last day before the departure Of J
most Of his guests. some of the youns