The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-05-04

magic prestlge OF their beauty ap
peared to fascinate all the strangers
present in the room; in short, we all
were under an inexpressible seduc.
ton. However, among this array ofI
Mexican beauties, none shore with
brighter lustre than the four daugh.
ters Of the wealthy baker. They had
come to the ball leaving their father
at home with his assistants, consist
ing Of four men and boy.
1t seemed, also, to me as If the
faces of the natives wore an unusually
pertidous look. Many times / saw
indignation and hatred, flash through
their most pleasant smile. Most
surprising still, detected my cor
respondent in the act of exchanging
mysterious signs with other persons
in the room.
'T,re- vioci. JUST had struvN tovi,e
when a new conner, man apparently
unknown to all, entered the room. -
He shook hrnds with my correspon-
dent, and then going to lady he
politely invited her to dance. He
made only few turns when every
French officer began to shy away
silently, one after the other. The
new conner had nothing remarkable
on his person; he was dressed as a
civilian, in black suit, and wore at
his button. hele the cross of the Le.
gion of Honor. The dance being
over lie politely led the lady back to
her place. But bis appearance had
chilled the pleasure of the night
Many guests withdrew, but the stran4
ger, seemingly unmovcd at the sem
sation he had produced, remarked,
with a smile, that they would soon
come back, They came indeed, but
with changed countenanccs, and with
fear in their eyes. The French, how
ever, did not return, which seemed
to increase the anxiety Of all, even of
my host.
Seeing in my face that l was large
ly interested, that was, perhaps the
only person in the room to be trusted
the stranger came to me, and after q
polite bow, said in low voice:
II have not the honor of knowing
you, sir; but your manners and accent
/, show me that you are a stranger in
this country--an American, perhapsf"
!. nodded. swell sir, l then require
of you," said he, ga small service. =
, You know Comaro's daughters; you
are also acquainted, Ilearn with thcii
: aunt, an old lady, living in this town
= Now please 90 to her house, awake
/. her, and beg her to come in all hastt
:, and take her neices; come with hei
> if you can; shalt need you the Who'll,
evening"" added he, with an air o
authority he had not yet assumed
"Ask no questions until i see 80,
again; on your return you will know
q everything"
The air and manners of this MAJ
were altogether so distinguished anG
i impressive, there was such an ear.
nestness in his language and look
that l was about to leave the room
, when he added, "Takc this with you,
! or you will be arrested Quitting in
= my hand q small card written with
red ink, but perfectly unintelligible to
mel show this to the men who will
, ask you questions, for you will need
it, | am sure"
, Hardly had stepped into the
street before man hidden behind O
', tree arrested me. "No one is allow
ed TO 20 out from this house without
an Order" said he. "Very WELL"
/, said l, "here is mine" The sentinel
looked at the card by the light Of the
moon, which in this country, is as
bright as the sun is in ours, and hand
! ing me back my card politely: "ioI
can go on, SIR
l hurried to the house OF the lady
= and in half an hour came back with
! her. The ball was at an end. The
; four girls, duly worned, were waiting
ia q corner. "Madame,' said the
stranger, stake along your nieces
r, and keep them IN your house till
! see you again" Then turning to tn,
= other persons in the room, he said
: The ball is at an end, ladies anC
!, gentlemen" you are at liberty TO 90 i
you like. This gentleman (pointins
q to my correspondent) authorizes N,
!, to put an cndto the festivities of thu
- evening, ut the same time he advises
the men to remain until "A certain bust
- ness duplicating the life of severa
: lpersons, be unrayellcd. Ten minutes
: after, all the ladies' had left, the mel
: remaining in the room, guarded by
- sentinel placed at the door
We want down into the street. -
= Two horses, held by two Frencl
! chasseurs, where in readiness for us
SNOW, SIR said the stranger, sd
- me the favor to take one Of thes
y horses and ride with me down T.
- Comaro's bakery. l desire you :
), be the witness of a spectacle so SHOCK
y ing, so atrociously cruel; SO extraol
a binary is its cruelty, that l did nc
~ believe men could be guilty of sue
!, denominations. The invitation,
" know, is not pleasant. But you al
N here, you told me, for your instru'
70 tion. You wish to see the manner
= = and civilization Of this people. Hei
Ia is an admirable opportunity for yo
10 TO satisfy your taste. Besides, / al
~ little egotstical, | confess, in asl
T. ing you. i am Erenchman, and
labor under. the disadvantage I
y seeing all my reports distrusted
H. native Mexicans, you, as an Amer
n n can, and friend, have double rig
;" to THAR cOnflpnca Please the