the execution

there's a murder & an execution in this one.

a beautiful woman was suspected in the murder of her lover. distraught, her friend came forward & confessed to the crime: “i shot him.” but the victim had not been shot but poisoned, so he was dismissed as the killer. but his false confession did prompt some turns in the case.

the detectives said, “there’s only one explanation for him coming forward like that: he thinks she did it.” they interrogated the friend, who after much questioning admitted that the beautiful woman had sometimes complained to him about her lover. thus the detectives found a motive to match with her means and opportunity, and though she always maintained her innocence, she was found guilty.

the beautiful woman said, “there’s only one explanation for him coming forward like that: he loves me.” with his love for her acknowledged between them for the first time, & her gratitude for his failed attempt to save her, he visited her in prison every day until her execution, & she squeezed his hand when she was led away.

and so the private relationship problems between the beautiful woman & her lover, & the private love of the friend for the beautiful woman, were made public before the audience, & the final image of the beautiful woman was that last moment of her gratitude. the friend’s plan was perfectly executed.