Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-12-16

' CI OObCiloIpll W oiINNsa7'3
d an animated conversation about til
o masked ball-glancing furtively a
G me the while, as l fancied to not
the effects of the wine. To be Gel
| tain | was right in my surmise,
n thought it best to feign a heav
drowsincss, and secretly watch he
: motions. | did so, and gradual
appeared to fall asleep. As sh
perceived this, the mask Of nature wa
also removed, and | saw her darI
eyes CLEAN with a deadly light, anc
her proud lip curl IN scornful tri
ulnph. At length she ceased speak
ing, and for a minu.e or two sat anC
watched me in silence. Then, as i
to make sure, she approached anC
shook me saying:
f "You pay me but poor compli
ment, Sir Richard, to fall asleep il
my presence Y And then, Oh find
ing | gave no sign of consciousness
she added, in quite a different tone
Poor fool! it shall be my care you
do not wake again! You lave play
ed your part to suit me, and now ]
will play mine to suit mysslfr
She turned away as if to leave
the room, probably to summon her
accomplices to finish her wicked
work and at that moment | laid
hold of her arm. AS she looked
around in alarm, she fourd me wide
awake, and my eye fxedupon hers,
with severe, penetrating express
sion.
Madam" said |, in low, stern,
measured tone, "if you would save
your guilty life, do not attempt to
. escape, or call for help I am not
the poor fool you suppose! You
have played your part and mine !!
Do not fatter yourself have been
ensnared! l know you, and boldly
camehere todetect you in your guilt !
Not a single drop of your poisoned
wine has passed my lips Your
whole establishment is under the
surveillance Of the police. and unless
| return to my friends by daylight,
your mansion will be entered by the
dread officers of the law, and every
living soul III it will be taken into
custody! Now mark well what !
say! You must instantly yourself
conduct me clear Of these premises
and if you dare to falter in the leas
or attempt to raise an alarm, that
moment, SO sure as there is God
ia Heaven, you die! Now give me
your hand and lead the wayV
White with terrified amazement,
and trembling like an aspen, the
guilty, wretched woman stood cow
ering before my stern, penetrating
glance. For nearly a moment she
seemed too much overpowered to
move from the spot. | took her
hand, grasped it like vice, and 81
lently pointed to the door. At
length she went forward with tOtter-
ing steps. In silence she led me
through the dark corridor, down the
stairs, through the passage into the
court. through another passage, and
opened the last door that admitted
ne to life and light. Morn was just
and as | felt the cool air
of heaven upon my fevered brow,
md thought Of my narrow escape
rom death, there came such a whirl
)f strange emotions that | reeled for
ward like a man intoxicated.
The mansion had just quilted,
stood on the banks OF the Seine,
.bout two miles below the old city;
md | believe, if | had drank the
vine offered me, my rihed body
would soon have been cast into the
ushing waters. / believe, moreo-
.er, the mansion. grand as it appear :
ID, was only a den of robbers and
that the woman was sim i
'ly a beautiful decoy for strangers t
nd foreigners-and that many q j.,
'oor unsuspecting soul had taken :
IS flight from there to the eternal
rorld | did not communicate with
he police, for the reason that, in the
rst place, could bring no charge II
I crime against any and, in the v
econd place | did not wish to be- u
ONE involved with the French courts
t law; but, thankful beyond express T.
ion tor my own escape, | firmly re- r
olved never to risk my life again in
mother mysterious adventure in Pa
is u
The PAVING oE THE BoTToM OF .
HE SEA.-The whole channel of the
must be strewed with
uman bones, Carthaginians, Syrians,
idonians, L Egyptians, Persians,
rreeks and Romans; there they lie,
de by side, beneath the eternal n
.aters; and the modern ship that =
,tches freight from Alexandria sails =
! its whole course over buried ma Il
ons. |,
The great man is the man who v