The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-05-20


dresser, far the opera my only fellow
servant was on leave of absence for some
days and, except he porter in the court
yard. there was nobody when the carri.
age had driven off thst night, in the
whole house save myself, therefore, hav.
ing nothing bet'er--or at least nicer
to do, aud being in my mistress's bed.
room among her beautiful robes aud or.
naments. it was hardly to be expected
that l should resist such an opportunity
of trying them on. The room, beside 3
being cbarmiugly hung with mirrors. had
a delicious full length swinging gass,and
thus | amused myself for good long
while | beheld how Mademoisele Elz.
abeth Marliu-tlat is my present name
but dear Joserhs is Andrews-how she
looked in bargegcs, in silks, ip muslins,
for the morning aud how lace aud satin, d,
and how sleeves with pearls became her
for the evening wear, finally, cquipping
myself in pleasant grace silk walking
dress, with bonnet and falling veil fit
for blidc. l could not help twisting
round little, to see as much of myself
as possible, and contrasting the effect at
the same time with that of madame
who was beautiful enough but iudiffer
emily proportioned involuntarily. re-
marked aloud Well, wc may be plain in
the face, but we arc certainly uneXcep-
tiorable behind
1t was an absurd thing to say even
to ones self and | remember bIushng
like beet. as though it were not quite
out of tho question that | could be over
heard. There were several jewel draw.
crs-this ruby upon my middle tingcr,
rirg Belonging to my MISTRESS late
husband, was one of thcm-but had no
time for moro than TO set off a handsome
necklace or two, and to my much regret
that my ears had not been pinchcd for
the accommodation Of an especial pair Of
diamond car rings, before heard wheels
IN the courtyard, and my mistress came
home. Everything had tocn put away
carefully, and l uudressed her and saw
her lut to bed as usual She was more
than commonly kind and gentle in her
manner that ligh', as have sil CO
thought. at least aud when she wished
me her ton Soir, she added Il am sure
We shall both be tired to morrow, Bessie:
50 c'll me an hour later and take an cx.
ira sosp yourself l was mover to hear
my good mistress speak any more.
"D.d | dream that night that she had
loft me all her wardrobe, and that | was
married in the gacc silk 8? Did | even
in my sleep, build schemes Of what |
would do with the money my dead mis-
tress night enrich NE wuhT No; as
l hope for heaven, and to meet my dear
Joseph, with all my woman's vanity, l
Lad my womah's heart, too, beating true
ard warm. and lh rght 10 shadow #
evil told them so 10 court. where all
locked black against me, and they be-
lievod me even there. But in the morn.
ing, late, when the sun was shining full
upon The window, and tho noise of the
people going about their daily work was
full aud clear, saw n frightful sight
ghas'ly horror that The day but served
TO make more hideous aud unno iural-
my mistress murdered in her bed No
answer when | knock again no answer.
The curtains at tho bedside were cluse
drawn, but through the oren shutters n
fiery q Ajod Of light fell red upon the car
pet aud the curtains-ay, and on tho
corner Of tho snow white counterpart,
red also. 1t was blood | ,ho't there
had been rain Of blood upon the han
dies Of the drawers, upon the toilet GOV.
er, on the dressing case, npon the towels
in the basin everywhere where the mur.
derers hands had been after the deadly
work and in the bed-I dared not louk
in the bed ; but in that great swing glass.
where | had decked myself but a few
hours ago, | saw it all, and evory mir
ror in The room was picluring the same
sight-ihere lay the corpse, the nur-
dercd woman with her gaping throat.
They thought at 6rst that l was
murdered, too, lying so stiff and cold in
that death chamber answered nothing
10 their questions, either in tho house or
in the,prison. knew nothing, nor could
have told them had ! known, until
Joseph came 1t seemed to me quite
natural thot he should be with me-
nothing, praisewurtby, nothing (This
dear little engaged young persons eyes
~ Bce dODHl tue Tltlls NJ 'ulS
reminescence and her story to assume
an incoheTent as well as choky cbarac-
ter.) | die no. understand how much |
owed him how, not having heard FROM
me for sometime, and reading in the
newspaper that an English lady's maid
had been taken up in Paris for murder
10 the Rue ST Honore, but that she re-
fused to speaS, and even had perhaps in
reality lost her senses, he started off at
once, giving up his employ and borrow
ing and begging what he could, and
knowing no word of French but the pame
Of that one street, he hurried to me SO
that my mind came back again and
could tell him what knew. All he did
he said, vas less than he ought to have
done, because he had behaved i'll to me
of old, (which l am sure dear Joseph
had no thought of doing) Ho stood by
me in court-in the prisoners place a.
long with me he stood and shared my
shame. l told about the jewels aud of
my trying them on how everything was
safe, and the doors locked, aud tho cham.
bar wiuhaty IN hiah IA ka olin, haA ~, In