Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-05-01


were visible at every pore his nerves
shook painfully. He dropped for few
moments on the side of the bed facing the
door, and covered his eyes with his hands. !
My agitation passed looking upon his
In few moments he removed his hands |
and raised his head, and then, to my
amazement, all traces Of agitation had
passed away. His features were calm
and stern as iron, and the beads of cold
sweat had all vanished.
{" Let US prepare for the crisis" said
he, rising and seating himself On his
chair. b" Get ready your pistols and your
knife"
/ made no reply, but prepared to fol-
low his suggestion. In few moments,
as far as defending ourselves with our
arms was concerned, we were ready.
1--WE must make up our minds to pass
the night without Sleep" said my COM
panion, cor else run the chance of sleep
ing forever"
81 am prepared" said resignedly.
And l." replied Herman.
Now listen. If it be my fate, in the
conflict that is coming, to fall, and yours
to escape, I have favor to ask of you"
Name it."
In the town of Picardy, France, l
have an estate valued at two hundred
thousand francs. By using my name any
citizen in that town viii point it out to
you"
"Well."
At Berse, by careful inquiry, you
will find a poor lone widow, by the name
of Rudder-she is my mother. Do not
start, for guess your thought and pardon
it. You will seek out this poor widow,
tell her of my end, convey her with what
dispatch you can to Picardy, and after
paying yourself freely for your time and
trouble, put her in possession of my prop
erty. Do you understand me?"
eyes"
"Will you do this p
"Yes."
"Thank you-thank you"
He took my hand and grasped it warm
ly, turned away his head and wept.
"And you" he said at length, :" have
you nothing to say, nothing that I can dc
for you, if you should fall and I live? ?"
"Nothing," said l.
Nothing" he exclaimed, looking al
me in surprise.
Nothing" 1 replied, " am mere
clerk, travelling from town to town, tc
extend the correspondence of my en-
ployer. I have no kindred living, nc
friends that care for me. I owe no man
and all the trouble my death would ere.
ate would be the burial Of my body and
the necessity, on the part of my EN-.
ployer, of appointing another in my
> stead. If you will write to him the fact
of my death, It's all that will be neces
sary."
His address ?"
M. Lecois, Paris"
/ Enough! enough 1t shall be done
: Now farewell"
We fell on each others breasts, shooI
each other warmly by the hand, and sep
t arated. As we parted Herman pointe,
o silently to the bed. 1t was slowly sink
ing to the floor. We looked at eacl
!. other.
e "The work of blood has begun" sal
d Herman, in fearful whisper. Deaf
), is here as well as on yon couch. Deliv
n erance is not here, and it may be wher
= the couch will lead us. Dare you try ?
r, al dare"
e Enough. Follow me-"
st We threw ourselves carefully upon tn
bed, in the attitude of men in profoun
i! slumber, with our armed hands betwee
US and the coyerlet. The couch contiI
4, ued to descend very gently, and noise
'. lessly and slowly-down down down
e 1t seemed to me an age. would hay
given worlds were it in my power, /
W have our descent FASTENED but it wa
IS not to be. We were to suffer the agoD
'e of an uncertain and protracted DOOM
d We continued to descend, slowly as b,
fore, and as noiselessly-with nothing |
10 meet US on our way-no light, no execl
TONERS to break the monotony of OF
j. agony.
:, Al length resigned myself silently
the terrible torture, and threw out m
hand. It struck against the wall. b
the feeling in my knuckles, / was su,
denly rejoiced to find that we had b
= gun to descend faster than before.
p Thank GodP' ] exclaimed, q we a
I'd nearing our journeys end"
'e Hush y whispered my companies