Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-02-27

fond of gay life and brilliant amusement;
and that place suited her so well that she
made it her home, and |, but litilo 10th, re-
manned there too. Joseph and had kept
company together before that time, but he
was not so foolish as to wish me to give up
my expectations for the sake Of a hurried |
marriage, he said that he would wait patient
ly, dear fellow, although the great salt sea
was TO roll between us, and there could be
no chance Of his getting letter more than
once day. He was a thasoi's assistant in
London, and very hardly worked, it seemed,
for he himself was rot able to reply nearly
so often; however, of course | was not n
Bird that | could be in two places ut once,
so made the best of il, and was rs happy
rs a confidential lady's maid, under such cir
cumstances, could hope to be.
One evening | had been preparing my.
mistress, who was very splendid dresser,
for the opera; my only fellow servant was
on leave of absence for some days; and ex-
cept the porter in the courtyard, there was
nobody, when the carriage had driven off
that hight in the whole house save myself;
therefore, having mother bettcr-or ut least
nicer-to do, aud being in my mistress
bedroom amongst her beautiful robes and
ornaments, il was hardly to be expected that
| should resist such an opportunity of try
ing them on. The room, beside being
charmingly hung with mirrors, had deli
eious full-lcngth swinging glass, and before
this amused myself for a good long while.
| beheld how Mademoiselle Elizabeth Mar
tin-that is my present name, but dear Jo-
seph's is Andrcws-how she looked in bar
egcs, in silks, in muslins, for the morning;
and how lace and satin, and low sleeves,
with pearls, became her for evening wear
finally, cquipping myself in particularly
pleasant glace silk walking dress, with
bonnet and falling veil fit for BRIDE could
not help twisting round to sec as much of
myself as possible, and contrasting the ef-
feet at the same time with that of madame
who was beautiful enough, but indiffer-
emily proportioned-1 involuutarly remark
ed aloud: well, we may be plain in the
face, but we are certainly unexceptionable
behind 1t was an absurd thing to say ev-
en- to ones self, and | remember blushing
like beet, rs though it were not quite out
the question that should be overheard
There were several jewel-drawers-this rl-
by upon my middle finger, ring belonging
to my mistress late husband, was in one of
r them-but had no time for moro than to
set on handsome necklace or two, and to
very much regret that my ears had not been
$ punched for the accommodation of an es-
t pccial pair of diamond earrings, before
t heard wheels in the court yard, and mis-
: tress came home. Everything had been
t put away very carefully, and undressed
0 her and saw her to bed as usual. She was
( more than commonly kind and gentle in her
5 manner that night, as l have since thought
/ at least; and when she wished me bon soir,
e she added: Il am sure We shall both be tir-
r cd tomorrow, Bessie; so call me an hour
a later and take an extra sleep yourself" l
@ was never to hear my good mistress speak
= any more.
Did l dream that night that she had left
me all her wardrobe, and that was married
r in the glace silk? Did /, even in my sleep,
0 build schemes of what would do with the
|, money that my dead mistress might enrich
$ me WITH No; as hope for Heaven, and
to meet dear Joseph, with all my woman's
e vanity, had my woman's heart too, beat
G ing true and warm, and l thought no shad-
o ow of evil. told them so in court where
A all looked black against me, and they be-
t lieyed me even there. But in that morning,
. late, when the sun was shining full upon the
r window, and the noise of the people going
/, about their daily work was full and clear,
9 | saw frightful sight, ghastly horror,
: that the day but served to make more hid
D eous and unnatural-my mistress murdered
Q in her bed No answer when | knocked; !;
!, again no answer The curtains at the bed
f side were close drawn, but through the open
shutters fiery food of light fell red upon
) tho carpets and curtains-ay, and on the
/ corner of the snow-white counterpane, red
Q also. 1t was blood thought there had
@ been rain of blood; upon the handles Of
a the drawers, upon tho tolet-cover, on the
II dressing case, upon the towels in the basin
a everywhere where the mtirderer's hands
/ had been after their deadly work; and in
e the bed dared not look in the bed, but
t in that great swing. glass, where | had deck
r ed myself but few hours ago, saw it all,
: and every mirror in the room was picturing
!, the same sight-there lay the corpse, the
murdered woman with her gaping throat.
Q II
r They thought at first that was murder
r ed too lying stiff and cold in that death.
r chamber. l answered nothing to their
q questions, neither in the house nor in the
prison. ! knew nothing nor could have
5 told them had known, until Joseph came.
1t seemed to me then quito natural that he
$ should be with me--nothing praiseworthy,
: nothing. (This dear littlo engaged young
persons eyes began to get redder about the
: rims at this reminiscence; and her story to
: assume an incoherent as well as choky char
: acter.) did not understand how much |
S owed him; how, not have heard from me
= for some time, and reading in the paper that
: an English lady's maid had been taken up
b in Paris for a murder in the Rue st. Ho-
7 more, but that she refused TO speak, and ev.
Q en- had perhaps in reality lost her senses
: he started off at once, giving up his employ
r and borrowing and begging what ho could
o and knowing no word of French but the
u name of that one street, he hurried too me
Q so that my mind came back TO me anti
could tell them what knew. All he did
n said, was less than he ought to have done
It because he'had behaved i'll to meof ole