Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-02-24

trying thein on. Inc room, OeSius oe
ing charmingly hung with mirrors, had
a delicious, full length swinging glass,
and before this 1 amused myself for a
good long while. l beheld how Made
moiselle Elizabeth Martin-that is my
present name, but dear Joseph's is An
drews-how she looked in baragas, in
silks, in muslins, for the morning; and
how lace and satin, and low sleeves, with
pearls, became her for evening wear; f.
nally, equipping myself in particular
ly pleasant glace silk walking dress. with
a bonnet and falling veil fit for bride.
1 could not help twisting around 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 indifferently pro-
portioned-I involuntary remarked aloud
swell, we may be plain in the face, but
we are certainly unexceptionable be-
hind" 1t was an absurd thing to say
even to one's self, and remember blush
ing like beet, as though it were not
out of the question that 1 could be over
heard. There were several jewel draw
ers-this ruby upon my middle finger, a
ring belonging to my mistress late hus-
band, was in one of them-but l had
not time for more than TO set off hand
some necklace or two. and to my very
much regret that my ears had not been
pierced for the accommodation of an es-
pecisl pair of diamond earrings, before
l heard wheels il the courtyard, and
my mistress came home. Everything
had been put away very carefully and l
undressed her and saw her TO bed as usu-
al. She was more than commonly KIND
and gentle in her manner thst night, as
l have since thought at least; and when
she wished me her bon soir, she added:
81 am sure we shall both be tired to.
morroy, Bessie; so call me an hour la
ter, and tSke an extra sleep yourself" :"
{ was never to hear my good mistress
speak any more.
Did 1 dream that night that che had
left me all her wardrobe, and that / was
married in the glace silk? Did l, even
in my sleep. build schemes of what 1
would do with the money that my dead
mistress might enrich me with? No; as
l hope for Heaven, and to meet dear
Joseph, with all my woman's vanity, l
had my woman's heart too, beating true
and warm, and thought no shadow of
evil. I told them so in court, where all
looked black against me, and they be-
lieved me even there. But in that morn
ing, late, when the sun was shining full
upon the window, and the noise of the
people going about their daily work. was
full and clear, l saw a ghastly horror
hat the day but served to make more
lideous and unnatural-my mistress
murdered in her bed! No answer when
knocked; again no answer. The cur.
aims at the bedside were closely drawn,
,ut through the open shutters a fiery
iood of light fell right upon the carpet
md the curtains-ay, on the corner of
he snow-white counterpane, red also
t was blood! 1 thought there had been
! rain of blood. Upon the handles of
he drawers, upon the toilet cover-on
he dressing case, upon the towels-in
he basin everywhere where the MUIR
lerer's hand had been after their dead
y work; and in the bed-I dared not
ook in the bed; but in that great swing
,lass where 1 had decked myself but
ew hours ago, 1 saw it all. and every
mirror in the room was picturing the
anne sight-there lay the corpse, the
murdered woman with her gaping threat,
= = They thought at
irst that ! was murdered too, lying so
tiff and cold in that death chamber. l
nswered nothing to their questions,
either in the house nor in the prison
knew nothing, nor could I have told
hem had l known, until Joseph came.
t seemed to me then quite natural that
e should be with me-nothing praise
7orthy, nothing. (This dear little en-
aged young persons eyes began TO get
edder about the rims al this remini-
cence, and her story to assume an in
oherent as well as choky character.)-
did not understand how much 1 owed
i'm; how, not having heard from me
Or some time, and reading in the paper
nat an English lady's maid had been
AIKEN up in Paris for murder in the Rue
/. Honore, but that she refused to speak,
nd even had perhaps in reality lost her
enses, he started off at once, giving up
is employ, and borrowing and begging
hat he could, and knowing no word of
rench but the name of that one street,
e hurried to me, SO that my mind came
ack again, and l could tell them what
knew. All he did, be said, was less
ian he ought to have done, because he
ad behaved i'll to me of old, (which l
m sure dear Joseph never had, nor
nought of dOing.) He stood by me in
curtin the prisoners place along with
le he stood and shared my shame. l
I'D him about the jewels, and of trying
lem on; how everything was safe, and
ie doors locked, and the chamber win ,