Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1840-12-12
From the New York Mirror.
FEMALE COURAGE!

ent in thR French metropolis. Madame
AubreYIlves in solitary chateau not far
from the town Of of -----. The family |
consists only of nj. Aubrey, his wife, a
child about year old, and one maid SER
want. In the little town, every light is out
by 10 o'clock, and of course the most per-
feet solitude reigns at THAT hour in their
house, which lies off the road, and is com
pleteIy hidden by trees. One night last
winter, Madame Aubrey was sitting alone
reading. Her husband had left her in the
morning to visit friend some six or eight
miles of, and as he expected to bring home
a considerable sum Of money he had taken
the usual precauion of armug himself
with pair of pistols. AT about 6 O'Clock
the lady went up to her room TO put The
child in bed. Her apartment was large
room on Ihe first floor, filled up on one side
by an old fashioned chimney, and on the
other by deep and spacious alcove, near
which, stood her infants cradle. The
night was a gloomy one, cold and dark,
and every now and then dash OF rain
beat against the gothic windows. The
trees in the garden bowed to the lnd,their
branches came sweeping against the case
Iment; in short, it was night in which the
solitude Of the mansion was more complete
and melancholy than usual. Madame
Aubrey sat down on a low chair near the
fire, which, by its sudden flashes, cast an
uncertain light over the apartment, throw
ing its antique carvings and mouldngs by
turns into brighter relief or deeper shade.
She had her child on her lap, aud had just
finished preparing it Cor The cradle. she
cast her ewes towards the aIcove to see II
the cradle was ready to receive lis little
occupant, whose eyes were already closed.
Just then the fire flashed up brightly, and
threw a strong light on The alcove, by
which the lady discovered pair Of feet
cased in heavy nailed shoes, peeplng GU
under the curtain in front of the bed. a
thought passed through her mind in al
instant. The person hidden there was
thief, perhaps an assassin, that was clear
She had no protection, no aid at hand
Her husband was not to return till eight
D at soonest, and it was now only halt pas
t six. What was to be done? She did no
: utter a single cry, nor even start from he
seat. The servan: glrl probably woul
not have had such presents of mind. In
9 robber probably meant to remain quIt
d where he was till midnight; and then selz
e tho t.aonny her husband was 10 bring vii
If him, But if he should find he was dts
II covered, and that there was no one IN tn
c house but two women, he would not TAIL I
d leave bis hiding place, and secure the'
Il silence bv numbering them. Besides
II might not the girl be the robbers accom-
c pice? Several slight causes OF snsp'cio
occurred TO her at once and all these reflex
tons passed through her mind 10 less tim
ri than we take TO write them. She declde
a st once what she was TO do, which was
10 send the girl out of the room
If "You know that dish my husband likes
lie said she, without betraying her alarm |
l. the least change in the tone OF her volc
~ ought TO have remembered to have
~ il ready for his supper; go down stairs Al
" see about it at oCce."
ne "Docs madame require my help here
no she generally does"
M mo, no, ITill attend to every thl
I'm myself. know my husband would
las las d.spIeased il he was to come home alter
H. ride, in such bad weather. and not II
"o supper reody,"
After some delays which increased in
" Iady's mind that suspicion she was tore
Ia TO conceal, the Girl left the room. i
We noise of her steps on the stairs died aw
w. y. gradually, and Madame Aubrey was
~ alone with her child, with those feet, t
a molionless at their post, still pcePlng !,
Po under The curtain, She kept by the 4
=: with her child on her lap, continuing 10
~ ~ ress il and sung to ltalmost mechanical
''u The child cried, il wanted to be put 10
~ !. but its cradle was near the aleoYG--n
" those dreadful feet--how could she
naS courage 10 90 near them! Al last she m
;n a violent effort. "Come, my ch''d'"
l'n- she. and GOT up, Hardly able to 81
49, 20. erect, she walked towards the a'cove, Ct
''s 10 the robber. She put the child 10
ny cradle, singing it to sleep as usual.
ipe- o'"N'e' ''77
IL We may imagine how much iuct'na
the she had to sing. When the child ieIl asl
aps, she left il and resumed her seat al the
urai She did not dare to leave the roomJt We
ours arouse the suspicious o.! the robber, mn
# of The Girl probably his accomplice. Bes
n is she could not bear tho thought OF iea'
res. her child. even if it was TO purchase
ave own safety. The clock pointed to ss'
E is An hour yet, a whole hour, before her
. fe. band would come. Her eyes were hXe
enc those Eeet%hich threatened her with q
at any moment with fascination
Ioonns, s;lance reiqned in the room.