The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-05-08
FEMALE COURAGE.

the subject Of conversation at present in the
French metropolis
Madame Aubry lives in solitary chateau
not far distant from the town OF -. The
family consisted only Of M. Aubry. his
wife. . child, about . year old. and one
maid servant. In a little town, every light
10 out by 10 O'Clock, and Of course the most
perfect solitude reigns at that hour in their
house. which lies of the road and is com
pletsly hidden by trees.
One night, last winter, Madame Aubry
was sitting alone, reading. Her husband
had left her in the morning to visit friend
some six or eight miles OF. and. as he ex
pscted to bring home q considerable sum
Of money. he had taken the unusual pre-
caution Of arming himself with q pair Of
pistols. .t..-.......... .,,,...l
AZ about six o'clock, the lady went up TO
her bedroom TO put her child to bed Her
apartment was . large room on the second
floor. filed up on one side by an old
fashioned chimney, and on the other by a
deep and spacious alcove. near which stood
her infants. cradle The night was
gloomy one. cold, dark. and every now and
Shsn a, dash Of rain beat against the gothic
Widow. The trees in the garden bowed to
the wind. and their branches came sweep-
ing against the easement; in short. il was
night in which the solitude Of the mansion
WIS more complete and melancholy than
usual. Madame Aubry sat down on low
chair near the fire, which. by its sndden
flashes, cast an uncertain light over the vast
apartment, throwing its antique carvings
and mouldings. By turns, into brighter relief
or dsep shade. 80 ..,.5.t... Ea
She had her child on her lap. and had
:,ssN EusskoA for tho Cvad1a
She cast her eyes toward the slcove, to see
If the cradle was ready to receive its little
occupant whose eyes were already closed.
Just then the fire flashed up brightly. aud
threw . strong light on the alcove, by which
the lady distinguished pair Of feet. cased
in heavy nailed shoes, peepng out under
the curtain in front of the bed
A thousand thoughts passed through her
mind in An instant. The person hidden
there was thief, perhaps an asssssin-that
vas clsaS. She had no protection. no aid
at hand. Her husband was not to return
till eight at soonest, aud it was now only /
half past six. What was TO be done ! She /
did not utter single cry, or even start on
her seat.
The servant girl probably would not have
had such presence Of mind.
The robber probably meant to remain
quiet where he was until midnight, and
then seize the money her husband was to
bring with him; but il he should find he
was discovered. and that there was no one
in the house but two women, he would not
fail to lsave his hiding place, and secure
their silence by numbering them. Besides.
might not the girl be the robbers accom-
plice? Several slight causes Of suspicion |
ocoarred to her at once. end all these reflsc- !
- L. =
than we can take to write them. She de-
cided at once what to do. which was. to
send the girl out of the room.
"You know that dish my husband likes"
sha said, without betrayipg her alarm by
the least change in the tones Of her voice
-" ought to have remembered to have it
got ready for his supper Go down stairs
and sec about it at once
"Does not Madame require my help here.
as she generally does ?"
..No, no. I will attend to everything
myself / know my husband would not be
pleased il he was TO come home after his
ride in such weather, and not find good
supper ready"
Xftas- some delays. which increased IN
the iaty's mind that suspicion she was
forced to conceal. she girl leh the room
The noise of Der steps of the stairs dieds
away gradually. aud Madame Aubry was
LOFT alone with her child. with those two
:. =. :ioaless at their post. still peepihg
ont under the curtain. She kept by the
fr.. wi .or etiil ln her lap, continuing
20 c.ress .ss,l sing to it almost mechan-
ically.
fhs child cried Il wanted to be pot "a
bed. bat its cradle was near the alcore-l
near those dreadful feet, how could she find
courage to go near them At last she
made q violent effort !" Come, my child, )"
said she, and got up. Hardly able to stand
erect, she walked toward tbs slcove. close
70 the robber. She put the child IN the
cradle, singing Il 10 sleep as usual. We
may imagine how much inclination she had
70 sing. When the child fell asleep. she |
left il and resumed her ssas by she fire
She did NOT dare to leave ths room 5 il
would arouse the sospicicns Of the rSbber, |
sud Of the girl-pfobably hia aeeonPlice--l
~ ~t-as''s xa&