Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-08-29
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MYSTERIOUS STORY.

oU dressed man, whose lace ne never re-
.,.rbered 10 have seen before, but who stop,
.oJ him. and inquired of him TO what trade
70 belonged. On being answered that he was
r,son. the man said, that if he would wall
m certain niche which would be shown TO
i'm he should receive as his reward fifty louis
rors. The stranger added, that he must sub
mil 50 Ave his eyes covered, and to C carri-
"A IN that state for a considerable distance -
ro,Ilthls the mason readily consented, partly
4 INN curiosity, and partly from the greatness
i ortbe reward offered to him for so Inconsistent
\ No work. The stranger Immediately pla-
4 eel bandagc over his eyes, and having led
him BY the hand for few PAGES, they came to
/ he soot where a carriage waited for them,
i Dto which thew both got. aud il drove rapidly
az They soon got out of Paris at least so the
i mason conicctured, from the noise of the
4 wheels going over the stones having ceased. -
After having proceeded thus for about two
hours, the rafting Of the stones returned, and
,hev seemed to the mason TO have entered an
o,hcrtown; shortly after which they stopped,
4 and the mason was taken out of the carriage,
i and led through several passages, and up
flight of stars, till they came to aplace where
he heard the sound Of voices.
Here his eyes were uncovered, and he
found himself in large room, the walls, roof
and floor of which were entirely hung with
black cloth, excepting a niche on one side,
which was left open. BY the side of it were
placed considerable quantity of stones and
mortar, together with all the tools necessary
for the work upon which the mason wa to be
employed
There were also several men IN the room,
whose faces were covered with masks. One
i Of these came up to the mason, and addressing
himself 10 him, said, "FIere are the fifty
LOUIS d'Ors which were promised you and
there is only one condition TO be exacted from
YOU, which is, tina; you must never mention
to any person what you may see or hear in
tins lace" This the mason promised and
atthls instant anotherman. who was also mask
ed, entered the room, and demanded if all
Na> ready. Upon being answered in the af-
nrmatlvc, he went out, and returned again in
'lew minutes with two other men, both mask
y c., and one Of whom, from the whiteness of
ms haIr' the mason supposed 10 be an old
These three dragged in with them a very
onIuiuI Young woman with her hair dishe-
yelled, and her whole appearance betokeang
great disorder. They pushed her with great
violence into the niche, into which they at
y"g'n succeeded in forcing her, notwiths:au-
%DS her struggles and resistance. During
rH ume she never ceased alternately uttering
~eAOIui screams, and cries for mercy in the
GOS' pl'eous manner. Once she got loose
'O" ner prosecutors, and Immediately pros
''eu herself at the feet of the old man, and
embracing his knees, besought him to kill
"er "a, al once, and not to let her suffer cruel
lpT lingering death but all in vain.
wen The three men had at last forced her
..O inc niche, they held her there, andcom-
'dlded The mason to commence his work,
and wall herup.
Opon witnessing this dreadful scene, the
~i i Tell on his knees, & entreated to be per-
,,.eu 10 depart, without being accessory to
y CTS act OF cruelty. The men however told
I 1.u Wo, Tins was impossible. They mensced
r.a,' u ne refused to perform his promise,
''I instant death whereas, on the other
'lul' II he complied, they sid he should re-
we an additional fifty iouis-a'ors when he
.'5 completed his work. THIS united threat
IN promise had such an effect upon the ma
VII uial he instantly did as he was command
Ian ~ and at last actually walled up the poor
S >s'''n' so as TO render her escape impossible.
va. .&y was then left toperish by slow degrees,
T VIZ, light, or sustenance.
., when the mason had flushed, he received
NC .o'ty additional louis-d'ors; his eyes were
San covered; he was led through various pas
yes as on his arrival; and finally put into the
Wage which drove off rapidly as before.
n"en ne was again taken out Of it, his eyes
gre uncovered, and he found himself stand
= on the exact spot in Paris where he had
, -, met the stranger. The same man now
=. ,pU "a beside him, and addressing him, desir-
~, - nun not to stir from the place where he
y. s., was Tor five minutes, after which he was
: nOerty to return home; adding. that he was
10y, Eau man If he moved before the time pre-
.s'Ioeu' he then left him; and the mason
,,., waited the five minutes, proceeded
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