The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-10-20
From the World Of Fashion Of October.
THE MYSTERIOUS ROBBER.
BY BENJAMIN HAMILToN.

III N y GhlOOO nODDGn'
BY BENJAMIN HAMILTON
II was in the year 49,, that a very lovely
woman, the Countess Of Wastein, became an
inhabitant Of Vienna, to which city the news
other husbands dea,h--a Colonel in the ser
vice ofFranee, and slain, as it was stated 10
The letter of The Minister of War, at the great
battle ef Muskawa-bad brought her.
One night, after having dismissed all her
female attendants, she was seated at her writ
ing desk; intensely absorbed in the perusal of
a manuscript, when the window other bou-
doir was burst open. She was utterly paraiy>
sed, for the moment, with fear. She believed
she was lost forever. Three O'Clock in the
morning had just struck, and all around her
was silence and darkness, The servants
were all fast sleep. The sound Of no foot
steps in the distant street could be heard. II
was favorable moment for The perpeIration
Of crime, for crime could be committed safe
from the observation Of any witness. Excited
by sudden terror, the Countess turned her eyes
toward The window ,ha, had been forced open;
but the dimmed glass through which the wax
lights Shone, gave forth but an uncertain and
glmmering view, and she could only dstin-
ga!sh, AID mat with difficulty, GifHi the dark shade
Of a mans, ,6gure..a, the lower end Of the room
fancyng, for the moment that il was but q
terrific illusion, she seized light and turned
il towards this strange object. What was
her terror, when she was convinced That there
was before her strange man! He was
very tall, his figure was concealed by black
mautle, and HE face was covered by mask.
Her FIRST thought was to ring the bell; but the
masked man grasping her arm, prevented her
from carrying her project into execution.
Have no fear,' said the unknown; 'and tho
appearances be al this moment against me,
still do not confound me with the common
melafac,ors that fill this city, Although my
proceedings are such as 10 give you reason TO
entertain euch an idea, yet presume 10 hope,
that you will soon abandon q notion, that
would do my feelings wrong. am an honest
man; but very extraordinary circumstances,
such as cannot and ought not TO explain to
you, oblige me to act thus. That is all can
for the present, say to you" ...r...
The tone o. voice in which these words
were said, and the apparent unGonceru, and
calmness Of demeanor in the unknown, excl
ted The establishment of the Countess, without
lessenng however her uneasineus, nor dimin-
isbing her fear. ..... .........
fHow can you explain she SAID to her sin
gular visiter, your conduct and your pre- sence
in my house, and when am alone2-besides
there is that mask which conceals your fea-
tureR--"
THAT mask should not at all terrify you.
For heavens sake, be calm. have this
false vissge, but as a security for that discre-
tion that mus. guard my conduct, and until
circumstances, less unhappy than those that
now affect me, permit me TO make myself
known to you r...... ........
Well, then. what 40 you rcquirel asked
the Countess, periscly astonished.
"A very great service indeed, and one upon
which depends my future liberty, my honor,
and The happiness ofmy li:e.'
Il know not, Sir, hOwor in what manner,
u ~
Il am about 10 tell you-and Low deign TO
listen to me, withsa kind Of charitable feeling.
You have in your secretare sun Of sixty
thousand francs. want that from you, as
loan Understand me perfectly. II is under
the name of a loan, that shall receive it from
you, but as that sum will not accomplish the
object which compsls me thus 10 borrow from
you, i snppIcate you TO add 10 il your jewel
case. shall have faithful and acute value
put upon it by jeweller as TO lis contenls; &
with that will ask you for your diamond stud
ded watch; and these along with the sixty thou
sand france, will make The sum total Of my
debt 10 vou." rf
The Countess was supplied alike from as
tonishment and fear. So much Of audacity
surpassed her aginatiOn Of all that impu-
dsnce could think Of doing, But then how
! was she 10 act, situated as she was? Should
she Ieluseto despoil herself Other gold and
dianOndsa II would be to expose herself ia
outrage. A man capable ofbavOg conceived
And e4ocuiedSo rash aProjecl,snd to express