The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-12-05
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE GUNSMlTH OF ORLEANS,
on
THE DEAD W0MANS SECRET
EY MRS. ELIZA SHERIDAN.
CHAPTER |.
EY MRS. ELIZA SHERIDAN.

In an humble street in Paris occupying
the third floor of respectable house,
lived the hero and heroine Of the present
tale, Cephsc and Richard NORM.
They were Orphans; brother and Sis
ter; Richard was by some years the ell
der, Cephiso having just attained her
nineteenth year. Their mother, on her
diving bed, bequcathed the sister to the
brothers care, with an carnestncss that
long left its impression on the heart oil
Richard, and that he faithfully adhered
to his mothers appeal Of protection for
her daughter, will be seen IN the events
which follow.
Alter his mothers death--his father
having died while he was yet very young,
Richard found situation for his sister
with respectable mlliner and dress-ma-
ker, with whom she rcmlincd until she
had learned the business in all lis branch
ca. Richard then took the apartments
where himself and Cephise now resided ;
she, attending to their little household ar
ranremcnts, aud doing needle work for
the store of Madam Dumas, while he was
engaged as journcyman gunsm'lh, ny "a
master whom he had served for eight
wears, and who thought highly OF HIM,
both as a man and workman. Indeed,
the two Orphans possessed among then
friends and mel .hbors, high characters Tor
virtue, honesty, and industry.
Cephisc sat at work in the principal
room oftheir little domicIl, every thing
around her be,pcaking neatncss and or
der. A small work-table stood at her
side, on which lay all the Implements re-
ouisite for her occupation. The manu-
facture ol'some dresses were to be COM
pIetod by the following day.
There was restless anxiety in the
hurried manner Of drawing forth her nee
die 10 the dptrnont of the thread, which
broke at every stitch or two. The clock
at,uc, the hour Of three, and as the last
stroke reyerbatcd through the apart
ment she threw down her work. rose has,
tily from her seat, and listened as tito
catch the sound OF stcp.-'Some one
ascends the stals!-It's Edward, per-
hapsr--A pause of second, and the
70 ,tstcps PISSED on to the floor above
With the same air ofunquietness, she re-
sumed her work, solil,qulzing as she from
time to time raised her eyes from her en-
ploymcnt to wipe away tear.
''rwo whole days and | have not seen
him! two days'-what an age!-'Iis the
first time he has ever stad away 50 long
he will not come to-day he knows It's
near the hour my brother comes to din
ner. | long to see him to tax over OUT
love. and the prospects of our marriage,
and TO learn when he will inform my dear
Richard of his intentions. His employ.
ment surely could not have detained hin
80 long; he has been from home all niIh
TOO. for have watched his window oppo.
site. aad saw no light shine from it Il:
usual. What can have happened? Ifht
had not so strangely prohibited my avOw
inv our love to Richard, | would entrea
nv brother to seek him ont. 0! why
should this secrecy exist? this conceal.
men, of our affection; surely, he would
not oppose the bestowal of my han,
where | have already given my heart!
will tell Edward when next we meet, o
my firm determination in having no lon
ger any cuncealment from one who la!
been-is SO kind to me-
Appearing better satisfied with hersel
after forming the above resolution, sht
resumed her almost forgotten work which
she had suffered to lie untouched upor
her lap, when knock at the door star
ted her once more from her occupation.
A hurried come in. and the door open
cd not to give admttance to the person
Cephise half anticipated seeing, but tc
Madam Dumas.
'Ah,' said Madam, 'at work, eh, &c.
phise! | always find you with your nee.
die in your hand Your brother at his
employment too, I supPose' Well, no"
do you do my dear''