Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-09-23
MYSTERIOUS STORY.

nc hCliNidt stated llll ne nad IL lIotA
Marshal Junot Duke of Abrantes, who
was governor Of Paris at the time it hap.
pened, and must, therefore, necessarily
have been well acquainted with all the cir
cuns!ances attending it,
In tho year 1905, as a poor mason was
returning one evening from MS daily Ia
bonrs, he was met in an obscure street I'm
Paris by well dressed man whose face
he did not remember TO have seen before
but who stopped him, and inquired OF
him his trade. On his making answer
that he was q mason, the man said that
If he would wall up certain niche. which
should be shown to him, he should receNc
as his reward fifty loutS-d'orS. The stral.
ger added, that he must submit 10 have his
ewes covered 81 to be carried in that state
for considerable distance. To all this
the mason readily consented, partly from
curiosity aud partly from the greatness OF
the reward offered TO him for so inconsder
able a work. The stranger Immediately
placed a bandago over his eyes, and ha
WAC lei han by the hand for few PAGES.
they came to the spot where carriage
waited for them, into which they both got,
and it drove rapidly of. They soon got
out of Paris;-at least so the mason coniec
tured, from the noise Of the wheels going
over stones having ceased. After having
proceeded thus for about two hours, the rat
Ting Of the stones returned, and they seem
ed to the mason to have entered another
town; shortly after which they stopped,
and the mason was taken from the carriage
and led through several passages, and up
Il flight Of stairs, TIL they came to place
where he heard the sound Of voices.
Here his eyes were uncovered, and he
found himself in a large room, the walls,
roof, aud floor of which were entirely
hung with black cloth, excepting niche on
one side; which was left open. BY the side
of It were placed a considerable quantity
of stones and mortar, together with all the
tools necessary for the work upon which
the mason was to be employed.
There were also several men IN the room,
whose faces were covered with masks.
One Of these came up to the mason, and
addressing himselfto him said Here are
the SO louis-d'ors which were promised
YOU: ard there is only one condition 10 be
cxactcd from YOU, which is that you must
never mention Co any person what YOU may
see or hear ia this place. This the
mason promised; at that Instant another
man, who was also masked, entered thc
room and demanded 81 all was ready.
Upon being answered in the affirmative.
be went out, and returned aga.an few
minutes with two other mon, both masked.
and one Of whom, from thc Wilderness OF
hiss hair, the mason supposed to be IA old
man.
These three dragged in with them a
very beautiful, young woman, with her HAIR
dIshovc.led, and her whole appearance be-
tokoning great disorder They pushed
her with great violence towards the niche,
Into winch they at length succeeded in for
chg her, Notwithstanding her struggling
and resistance. During this time she new
er ceased alternately u,tcring dreadful
scc5ms and crying for mercy in the most
pilcou, manner. Once she got loose
from her prosecutors, and Immediately
Frustrated herself at the feet Of the old
mau. embracing his kuccs, bcsough; bin
o. Kill her at once, and not let her suffer a
cruel and lingering del To; but all IN vain
When tbo three mcn had at last forced
Der into tic uichc,. they held her there,
and commanded the mason 70 commence
his work, aad wal! her up.
Upon Witnessing this dreadful scene,
tho mason fell upon his knees, and entreat-
ed to be permitted TO depart, without being
necessary 90 this act ofcruelty.-Ihe men
however told him It was impossible
They monaced him with instant death he
refused to Per.oIm his promise; whereas,
on the other hand, ifhe complied they
said he should receive an additional fifty
louis d'ors when he had completed bis
work.
This united threat and promise had such
an effect upon the mason, that he instant
ly dad as BIO was commanded, and al las
actually walled the poor victim, as to rem
der her escape impossible She Wa
then left 10 perish by slow degrees, with
out light, ar, or sustenance.
When TIC mason had finished, he rocic
we'd the Fifty additional louis-d 'ors; bis eye.
we're again covered; he was led through
various passages as on his arrival; anc
finally put INTO the carriage, which drove
ofTap.diy as before. W en ne vas take,
again o1l OF #, lds eyes were uncovered
aud he found himself staadiag on the OK
act spot IN Paris where lie had first me
the str niger. The same man now stool
beside hun, and addressing him, desire
him not to stir from the placed then was fl
| five minutes, after which he was Of hbcHl