Litchfield enquirer., 1865-03-16

! tpreseht. if not indeed among society in genera l-and went; ont on the Rue PiDon to order , fdacre and join her Ut the Place Vendome.
 ! reached the Place first, and dismissed m, driver before her carri.ge appeared which stopped near the trinmplal pillar of Napoleor
 le Gand.. AS hastened up to the carriage l which was plain black without emblazonry o
 any kind-ihe door was opened by smal
 aIoyed hand from the inside, while the driver
 sat still, neither turning his head to the righ1
 pr lett l coald just see that my fair unknown ~aa its only occupant and quietly entered and
 took my seat beside her. feeling little nervous
 and Somewhat guilty. 1 must confess. The
 door va. then shut quickly, heard the sharp
 snap of spring, the blind was let down and
 we were whirled away in almost total dark. ness sfs ..s&. s. ,.E ~. < For nearly an hour we rode in silence through the strssts of the great city. seeing nothing but the dim form of the fair unknown beside
 me and having 10 idea of the direction We were going. thought over some curious stories bsd heard of strangers being by one means and another decoyed into dens of robbers. and be. gan to feel rather uneasy. Mypistols had been left at my hotel and had not single weapon with me. unless small pocket-knife inight. be 90 called. | had not the feeling, moreover. of acting in right and honorable manEer. to give ms manly courage and | could not but admit to myself that should harm come to me through this adventure, it would in great measure be owing to my own folly. ~~
 I had been thinaing this matter over for some time, and had just come to the determiu- ation. of declaring therr had been some mistake and taking hurried leave. when the carriage came to sudden stop, s4e s
 Here We gre at last sald the sweet musical voice of the fair masker--the silyery tones of which. coupled with my native language, tend ed much to reassure me.
 The next moment the door was opened by the driver. As I descended the steps and oi. fered the lady ny hand. l glanced quickly around, and perceived that we were in an in- ner court, surrounded on all sides by lofty buildings. If Ihad really been entrapped, es cape was now impossible. and sudden feeling of alarm made even my hand trenble.
 Come, my friend ' pursued the lady. whose face was still concealed by the mask 1; and talk ing my arm as she spoke, she led me forward to a door, which she unlocked and threw open. {. All was dark inside and E faneied the air felt. cold and damp. I hasifated and sssn drew step back.
 !, .aWhat i'shs exclaimed with light laugh.
 
 Richard, where you have SO often been with me befora7' .%. 4.
 These words convinced me that had indeed been mistaken for somebody else-no less. iu fact than an English baronet-. and det ermined me to go forward and see the end of the strange affair. y 'Of course. am not afraid of you.' I ven- tured to say; but what # the count should have returned during your absence?'
 This was the first time l had spoken in the lady's hearing and was not little curious to know what effect my voice might produce, not. withstanding her eyes had been deceived by my personal appearance. for had at no time been masked myself. To my great relief she did not indicate in any was that there was any thing wrong in either the sound or the words, but answered with assuring pronptness
 Oh, If that is all. have no fear, for he can not possibly reach Paris under three days. But how 'wss 1t, Sir Richard, that you disappointed me before r. s'@ ssss | -h ,rfA
 Il must explain that some other time, I eva sively replied. Here madam, please give me your hand,' l added as she was about to set forward through the dark passage in advance of me; T can always walk better with such a sweet friend to guide me- sHt5 st4a
 x She gave me her hand, though fancied there was . slight hesitation. It might be only fancy. but somehow my suspicious were re- awakened. Could it be that we were both play ing . part that the whole affair from the be. ginning was merely q plot to decoy me, a for eign stranger, into her meshes for the purpose of robbery if not murderf that what suppos. cd to be at mistake was merely ruse and for her own wicked purpose she was permitting me to think shstI was deceiving her The very idea nnder the circumstances, was eo startling, that in . moment felt cold prespiration start from ssssy pore, and would have given half ny fortune to have been saisly at my hotel. It was now too late, however, to attempt re. treat; we were groping our way through . dark lpas6aee, with the deer closed behind us but her hand rested in mine, and | held it in such . way That she eouli not withdraw it without my consent. Daylight, moreover could not be far o6, and there was some list,e consolation in the thought L.se ssasa.z s $ 7e3s4 ossrWe presently came to flight of stairs. as csnded to another story, passed througha long narnow corridor. with several !shasp turnings and aflaat stopped Ut door, which she un- locked and threw open. A blaxs of light from . large chandelier almost dazxled me, and saw as . glance that the apartment was luxuriously furnished. dAssoon q ws had entered, the la dy locked the door, and then removed her hlaak, disclosing young and beaaisfuls face so animated and radiant with smiles that instant ly | felt ashamed ot my bass suspicious.
 |kas Thsre nnH, Sir Richard, she said gaily, s you shail7 ssst yourself in that fauteuii, we
 will have glass df wine together and then we will arrange our plan with what haste We may lso thst you can depart before daylight if you
 aConld it bs that even here in ,this light, at | Sneh clpse quarter1, ahe still mistook me for 0de who by her own showing was an iu,inat. lffignd Tho thing han1ly seemed possible. II true our nsemhaance to each other must be re insfkabls indeed !: if not true, then had I been ifufed hither for sons dreadful purpose. l tented myself as directed and axaited the re. sdk with good deal of nefvous anxiety. She tstepped out of ths room for minute, through tsn inner door that was slightiy ajar, and re. tuned without het domino, in | very rich dress and vith . declnter and TWO wins-g glasses ou a siiver waiter. z 2 sss5 N saT
 ' IIsrs is your fasorite sherry, Sir Richard.
 shs said, with very sweet smile, placing the waiter pn small table, pushing the latter uu lhs!ots ne, aud ss.ting hsrself on the opposatss 1sf 6lisd tho two elassss, the shoueht oe, cutrSd 10 me that the wine might be poisoned flas II Shs drinks, however, | will. | said iqhshlaily, ' but not otherwises z Ws touched slasses, and both carried ths