The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-05-05
THE ROBBER
CHvPTER I,

Ii was in the year 1S-, that q very lonely
woman, the Countess of Walstein, became al
inhabitant OF Vienna; to which city tho new
OF her husbands dealh-a Colonel in the ser
vice Of France and slain, as it was stated !,
the letter of tho Minister of War, at the grea
battle of Moskowa-bad bought her.
One night, having dismissed all her fsual'
attendants, she was seated at her writing desl
intensely absorbed in the perusal of manu-
scripts, when the window of her boundoir wa
burst open. She was utterly parylized, fo
the moment with fear. She believed Oh,
was lost forever. Three o'clock iu the morn
ing had just struck, and all around her was
silence and darkness. The servants were al
fast asleep. The sound of no foolstep in the
distant streets could be heard. 1t was a IA
vorsble moment for the preparation of crime
tor crime could be committed safe from the
observation Of any witness. Excited by sud.
den terror, the Countess turned her eyes to
ward the window that bad been forced open
but the dimmed glass through which the wax
lights shone gave forth but an uncertain and
glimmeriug view. and .ko. could ooly distin-
guish, that with difficulty, the ark shade oi
mans figure at the lower end OF the room !.
Fancying for moment, that it was but a
terrific illusion, she seized light and turned
it toward this strange object. What was her
terror, when she was convinced there was be-
fore her strange mani Ae was verv tall,
his figure WIS concealed by black mantle,
and bis face was covered by mask. Her
first thought was 20 ring the bell, but the
masked man, grasped her arm, prevented her
from carrying her project into execution.
Have no fears" said the unknown; +" and
though appearances be at this moment against
me, still do not confpund me with the com
mon maeiactors that gil this city. Although
my proceedings are such as to give you reason
TO entertain such an idea, yet presume to
hope that you will soon abandon notion,
that would do my feelings wrong. am an
honest man; but very extraordinary circum.
stances, such as cannot and ought not to
explain to you, oblige me to act thus. This
is all can, for the present, say to you."
The tone of voice in which these few words
had been said, and the apparent unconcern
and calmness Of demeanof in the ur known,
excited the astonishmeut of the Countess,
without lessening, however, her, uneasness,
nor diminishing he fear.
" How can you explain" she said to her
singular visitor, "your conduct, and your
presence in my house, aud when am alone
besides there is that mask which conceals
your features"
That mask should not at all testify you.
For beaven's sake be calm. have this false
visage, but as security for that discretion
that must guard my conduct, and until cir.
cumstances less unhappy than those now af-
feet me, permit me to make myself known to
you."
"Well, then, what do you requirep asked
The Countess, perfectly astonished.
"A very great service indeed, and one up.
On which depends my future libssty, my hon.
or, and the happiness Of my life." y,
IL know not, cir, how, or in what manner,
T."
am about TO tell you-and now being to
lie. en- to me, what kind Of charitable feeling.
Y'u have in your secretary q sum Of sixty
thousand frances. / want that from you--a
'oau. Understand me perfectly. It is under
The name of loan that shall receive it
rom you-but as that sum will not accom-.
plish the object which compels me thus to bor-
'ow from you, | supplicate you to add to il
Ilso your jewelry case. | shall have faithful
'ud accurate value put il. by jewelry, as TO iis
onteuts; aud with that will ask for your
liamond studded watch, along with sixty
thousand francs, will make the sum total Of
ny debt to you."