Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-02-21

out OF Inc WINDOW, Wnen saw nock OF
carrion birds, evidently waiting for my de-
parture to seize upon their prey. Fright
ened at the sight, l motioned them away.
They obeyed my signal. At the same mo-
ment noise broke upon my ears.
Between the entry that Castagnac's
room led out of, between the precipice and
the wall, there was staircase; not more
than foot wide, covered with broken bot
ties and vessels.
"Why hasn't the sentinel seen that man 2"
thought. SIN moment he'll fall"
Instantly 1 heard the voice of Castagnac
shouting out, "Raymond, where are you
goingr'
heard fall-a groan-then all was
still. Then burst of laughter, then
closing of window.
For twenty minutes remained immov-
able-a cold sweat exuding from me. l
went 10 bed, but found sleep impossible.
had need of repose, but my emotions
kept me awake. 1 was convinced that
Castagnac had perpetrated crime, and in
my minds eyes l fancied I could see the
terrible drama enacted. But Morpheus
prevailed at last, and l fell into slumber
at about three o'clock. When l awoke it
was daylight; the high wind of the night
before had lulled, and the clear sky and
delightful breeze made me almost doubt
my memory and think had had bad
dream.
Strangely enough I felt a kind of fear
about verifying my impressions. 1 went
to fulfill my duties, and it was only after
having visited all my patients that went
to the room of Duterte. l knocked at his
door-uo reply. I opened it-he was not
there. l called the servants, and asked
where Lieutenant Duterte was. No one
had seen him since the night before.
Summoning all my courage entered
Castagnac's room. A glance at the win
dow showed that two panes of glass were
broken. 1 said as cody as 1 could:
"Something of wind last night, eb,
lieutenant?"
Looking quietly up from a book he was
reading, he answered:
81 should think so-look at my broken
window" .| III.
"This chamber, lieutenant, seems to be
more exposed than the others-or perhaps
you left the window open?"
The muscles of his face contracted al
most imperceptibly.
"No," said he looking at me with
strange air, ''it was shut"
"Ah!' Then approaching him to feel
his pulse, "And your health-how are you
TO day?"
"Not very bad"
"Yon seem better-a little nervous. In
fifteen days you will be well, lieutenant, l
promise you. Only then try to govern
yourself-no wine."
Despite the pleasant tone l affected, my
voice trembled. To touch his hand was
to me like touching a reptile. And his
searching eye never left me. However, l
continued talking. Just as l was going,
said, as if a sudden thought had struck
me:
"By the way, Lieutenant, Duterte hasn't
been to see you?"
"Duterte?'
"Yes; he's been away since yesterday,
and nobody knows what has become of
him."
"No one has been to see memo one"
"He took up his book, and l left the
room convinced of his crime, but unlucki
ly l had no proofs. If l denounce him
1 thought-he will deny the charge, and
what testimony can produce! None II
NY own evidence will not suffice. All the
odium of the actuation fall on me, and l
shall have made terrible enemy. re-
solved to wait and quietly watch Cas!ag
mac, sure that in the end be would betray
himself. | went to the commandand and
simply informed him of the disappearance
of Lieutenant Duterte.
The next day some Arabs informed us
that they had seen on their way to Phila-
delpei. uniform banging to a rock, and
that birds of prey were flying round it in
thousands, filling the air with their cries.
This led us to find the remains of Duterto.
The officer of the garrison talked of the
affair for two or three days and then
changed the subject. My position, in the
midst of this general indifference was pain
full, silence weighed upon me like remorse.
The sight of Castagnac excited in me an
Indignation, sort of insurmountable re-
pulsion. He often looked at me as if he
would read my soul. He suspects some
thing, I thought; if he verifes his suspi
cions, l am lost, for he would stop at no.
thing.
These ideas imposed upon me an intol
erable coustraint, but Providence came to
my aid. One day l was about 60 in the
city at three in the afternoon, when cor
poral brought me letter he had just found
in coat of Duterte's.
at is from Moorish girl named Fatima,"
said he, land thought it might interest
you."
The letter was very brief, and simply
appointed time and place for rendez-
vous. But what revelation in the sigma
turel
$50 then,"I thought, "that was Castag-
macs exclamation in his delirium, 'Fatoma
o Fatimap This woman lives. Perhaps
she loved Duterte. 1t was to 90 to this
rendezvous that Duterte asked permission
to leave the hospital. Yes-the note is
dated July Sd. Not being able to 60 by
day he risked the night, and Castagnac
awaited him."
soon found myself in front of Arab