Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-02-25

may be plain in the face, but we are certainly
unexceptionable behind"
1t was an absurd thing to say even to ones
SELF and | remember blushing like a beet, as
though it were not quite out of the question that
could be overheard. There were several jewel
drawers-ths ruby upon my middle finger, a
ring belonging to my mistress'S late husband,
was in one of them--but had no time for more
than to set off handsome necklace or two, and
to very much regret that my ears had not been
punched for the accommodation of an especial
pair of diamond earrings before heard wheels
in the courtyard, and my mistress came home.
Everything had been put away carefully, and l
undressed her and saw her to bed as usual. She
was more than commonly kind and gentle in her
manner that night, as have since thought at
least and when she wished me'her bon sOar,s she
added: 81 am sure we shall both be tired to-
morrow, Bessie; so call me an hour later, and
take an extra sleep yourself" was never to
hear my good mistress speak any more.
Did dream that night that she had left me
all her wardrobe, and that was married in the
glace silk9 Did Ieven in my sleep, build schemes
of what l would do with the money that my
dead mistress might enrich Inc with No; as
hope for heaven, and to meet dear Joseph, with
all my woman's vanity,I had my woman's heart
too, beating true and warm and | thought no
shadow Of evil told them so N court where
all looked black against me, and they believed
me even there But in that morning, late, when
the sun was shining tull upon the window, and
the noise of the people going about their daily
work was full and clear, saw q trighttul sight,
ghasty horror that the day but served to make
more hideous and unnatural-my mistress muir
dered in her bed No answer when | knocked
again no answer. The curtains at the bedside
were close drawn, but through the open shutters
fiery flood of light fell red upon the carpet and
the curtains-ay, ,and on the corner OF the snow,
white counterpane, red also. 1t was blood
thought there had been rain of blood; upon
the handles of the drawers, upon the toilet Gov
err on the dressing case upon the towels, IN the
basin-everywhere where the murderer's hands
had been after their deadly work; and in the
bed dared not look in the bed but in thai
great swing glass, where | had decked myself
but a few hours ago, saw it al,and every mir
ror in the room was pcturing the same sight
there lay the corpse, the murdered woman Will
her gaping throat.
They thought at first that was murdered too
living so stiff and cold in that death chamber.
answered nothing to their questions, neither II
the house nor in the prison. | knew nothing
nor could | have told them had known, untl
Joseph came. 1t seemed to Inc then quite ma
turaf that he should be with me-nothing praise
worthy, nothing. Crhs dear litte engaged young
persons eyes began to get redder about the rim:
at this remniscence, and her story TO assume al
lincoherent as well as choky character) dc
not understand how much l owed him; how
not having heard from me for some time, an'
reading in the paper that an English LADY S mal'
II, -, Do 4,ro n ,nurlnr fl(
Rue st. Honore, but that she refused to speak
and even had perhaps in reality lost her senses
he started off at once, giving up his employ, ant
borrowing and begging what he could, ah'
knowing no word of French but the name 0
that one street, he hurried to me; so that m.
mind came back again and I could tell then
what knew. All he did, he said, was less thar
he ought to have done, because he had behaved
i'll to me of old, (Which, am sure, dear JOSEPH
had never thought of doing) He stood by mi
in court-n the prisoners place along with M
he stood and shared my shame. | told abou
the Jewels and of my trying them on; how ev
cry thing was safe, and the doors locked, ant
the chamber-window too high to be climbed u
to, though q man might have let himself cow
from it into the yard.
And then | learned for the first time that al
that afternoon and night the murderer had lail
hidden under my mistress's bed; that he mus
have been there all the time-think oft tina
| was trying on the dresses and the ornaments
that there was murder waiting in that chambe
all the while; it made me shudder even then, q
midst that crowded court, with Joseph by me
They thought it very strange, they said, tha
since there was so much time before him be
tween my mistress's departure and return, tina
he had not murdered me instead. He had car
ried off all the iewels-those in the drawers q
well as those which my mistress had worn tina
very evening; but from the moment he ha
dropped into the courtyard, the police couldf fn
no trace of him. A mere suspicion fell upo
the brother of the gate-porter; but it was s.
vague that he was not put upon his trial. 1
great sum was offered in reward for the appre
hension of the murderer, making up, with wha
was offered by my late mistresss family, nearl
e4OO. She died without will, poor lady, AM
they were not disposed to give me anything be
yond the wages due me.
After my acquittal, a collection for mine ant
Joseph's benefit was made by some good peo
pie ; but the money only suficed to bring u
back to England. Joseph had TO work out
heavy debt, incurred upon my account, and
went into surviee again at once, resolving to d
Inv best to help him. At the end of two years
poor fellow, except that he had discharged hi
obligation, he was but little better off than a
their beginning, ''and dispairing of ever gettin
a living for us both in the old country" he sail
ed for Sidney. Whichever Of us first got rich
it was arranged, should cross the seas after tn
other: and until very lately, it seemed that w
might each stop where we were, engaged youn
persons, till we died.
was rsery-maid in my new place,and wa
taking the youngest child across Hyde Park on
afternoon, when was followed by an imperti
nent man had my ugly on, for the sun wa
hot, so that my face might have been like We
nus, for all he knew to the contrary and other
wise, | fatter myself | was not diSagreeabl
looking. At all events, attracted the wretch
who kept close behind me- He was an abomi
nable person, with foreign appearance-whlcl
| had reason enough for disliking-and eyes tina
looked different ways but neither of them nic'
ways, 50 that | was glad enough to get in sigh
of the policemen about the marble arch. H'
saw that there was no time to be lost, if h'
meant to get good look at me at all, so he pass
ed me on sudden, very quickly turned round
and looked up into my face. gave him very
toerable stare, too, because knew it would dis
appoint him, after his great expectations; anC
it did so; and not only that, for it made hin
give sort of villainous grin, which | hope
may never see again, and lie broke out as if ht
could not help it for the life of him, with, well
we may be plain in the face, but we are unex
ceptionable behind
cried out Murder and Police = as loud as
could, and the man was secured at once. NJ
human being except the one who had been un
der the bed, her murderer, could have known
those words, which had spoken alone, before
madame's toilet glass. He denied everything o.
course, and said it was an unjust detention buI
in little more than half an hour telegraph
ic message from the Paris authorities set his
mind at case in this respect, and demanded hi:
presence in that city. He was the elder broth.
er Of the gate-porter, whom had never before
coon n nl ,,,Lnt hnl ~, tnn In n1d;A;nr y,