The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-13

tnan usuai. Madame Aubrey sat down on allow
chair near the fire, which, by its sudden flashes,
east an uncertainh hight over the apartment, thspw-
ing ITS antique carvings and moulding by tttns
into brighter relief or deeper shade. She Mad
her child on her lap, and had just finished prepa-
ring Il for the cradle. She cast her eyes towards
the acoveto see ifthe cradle was ready to receive
ITS little occupant, whose eyes were closed. Just
then the fire flashed up brightly, and threw a
strong light on the alcove, by which the lady dis
covered pair OBJECT, cased in heavy nailed shoes,
peeping out under the curtain in front of the bed.
A thousand thoughts passed through her mind
IN an instant. The person hidden there was a
thief, perhaps an assassin, that was clear. She
had no protection, no aid al hand. Her husband
was MOTTO return till eight, at soonest as il was
now only half past six. What was to be done2
She did not utter single cry, nor even startfrom
her seat. The servant girl probably would not
have had such presence of mind The robber
probably meant TO remain quiet where he was
till midnight, and then seize the money her hus-
band was to bring with him. But il he should
find he was discovered, and that there was no
one In the house but two women, he would not
fail toleave his hiding place, and secure thersi-
lence by numbering them. Besides, might not
the girl be the robbers accomplish Several
slight causes of suspicionpccurred to her at once
and all these reflections passed through her mind
in less time than we take to write them. She
decided at once what she would do, which was
to send the girl out of the room.
'sYou know that dish my husband likes,n said
she, without betraying her alarm by the least
change in the tone Of her voice, Il ought to have
remembered to have got it ready for his supper
go down stairs and see about il at once"
''Does madam require my help here as she
generally does2"
''No, no, win attend to every thing myself
know my husband would be displeased if he
was to come home after his ride, in such bad
weather, and not find supper ready"
After some delays which increased in the la
dy's mind that suspicion she was forced to con-
ceal, the girl left the room. The noise Of her
steps on the stairs died away gradually, and Ma
dame Aubrey was left alone with her child, with
those feet too, motionless at their post, still
peeping out under the curtain. She kept by the
fire, with her child on her lap, continuing TO ca
ress it, and sung TO il almost mechanically. The
child cried, it wanted to be put TO bed but its
cradle was near the alcove-near those dreadful
feet-how could she find courage to gonear them!
AT last she made violent effort. "Come, my
child" said she, and got up. Hardly able to stand
erect, she walked towards the alcoye, close to
the robber She put the child in the cradle, sing
ing it to sleep as usual.
We may imagine how much inciination .hc
had 10 sing. When the child fell asleep, she left
il and resumed her seat by the fire. She didnot
dare leave the room, il would arouse the suspi-
cions of the robber, and of the girl, probably his
accompce. Besides she conld not bear the
thought of leaving her child, even if it was to
purchase her own safety-The clock pointed 10
seven. An hour yet, whole hour before her
husband would come. Her eyes were fixed on
those feet which threatened her with death at
any moment with fascination. The deepests-
ence reigned in the room The infant slept qu
city. We do not know whe .her an Amazon IN
her place would have been bold enough to try
struggle with the robber. Madame Aubrey had
no arms ; besides, she had no claim to valor, but
only to that passive courage founded on refiec-
ton, which is rarer ofthe two. Every few min
utes she would hear noise in the garden. In
that noise, ray Of hope shown on her for mo
ment--it was her husband, it was her deliverer!
But no it was only the wind and rain, or the shut
tiers creaking. What an age every minute seem
ed to her. oh heavens, the feet moved! Does
the thief mean to leave his hiding place No.
1t was only slight, probably involuntary move
ment, to ease himself by changing his position
The clock strikes only once, it is the half hour
only-and the clock is too fast besides! How
much angush-how much silent prayer in these
trying minutes! She took up a book OF devotion
and tried to read, but her eyes would wander
from the page to fix upon those heavy shoes
All at once thought arose that chilled her very
heart. Suppose her husband should not come.
ne weather Is SlOTluy anu He Ddu ttldtIVeS III
the village he went to. Perhaps they have pur-
suaded him it was unsafe to travel at night, with
so large a sum of money about him; perhaps they
have forced him with friendly violence, to yield
to their invitations to wait till morning. II is
striking eight-and nobody comes The idea
we have alluded to, appears to be more and more
probable. After two hours OF such agony, the
unhappy lady whose courage had been kept by
the hope of final rescue, feels her strength and
4 4 L.. Il arf hal
window, and listens doubtfullv. This time she
is not mistaken.-The heavy outdoor creaks on
the hinges, and shuts with clamor; well known
st,p is heard on the stairs, and man enters-a
tall stout man. 1t is he, it is he AT that
moment, if he had been the worst OF husbands
he would have been perfection in his wlfe's eyes
He had only taken off his wet cloak and put
away his pistols, and delighted at seeing wha,
he most loves on earth, opens his arms to en-
brace his wife. She clasped him convulsively,
but in moment recovering her self-possession
put her fingers on her lips ard points to the two
feet under the curtain.
If M. Aubrey had wadted presence of mind
he would not have deserved to be the husband
of such woman. He made slight gesture to
show that he understood her, and said aloud
9. Excuse me, my dear, | left the money down
stairs, I'll be back in two minutes" Within
that time he returned, pistol in hand. He looks
at the printing, walks to the alcove, stoops, and
while the fore-fnger of the right hand is on the
trigger. with the other hand seizes one Of the
feet and cried in voice Of thunder, Surrender
or you're a dead mani" He drags by the feet
into the middle of the room a man Of most ill
favoured aspect crouching low TO avoid the PTS
tol which was held within an inch of his head
He IS searched and sharp dagger found on
him. He confesses that the girl was his accom-
pce, and told him M. Aubrey would bring
large sum home that night. Nothing remains
now but TO give them over to the authorities.
Madame Aubrey asked her husband 10 pardon
them, but the voice Of duty is larger than that
at Lon AL. Il. e Ill