The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-01-23

| Dame Chariot, as soon as she hear
that her poor old master was actual
dead, fell into swoon which lasted eigh
and twenty hours and upon her recover
from it, it was found that the poor crea
lures mind had given way. Her sentenc
was then partially revoked, and as the oil
necromancer had left no will, and hi
money was confscated to the State, tn
town council allowed the old woman (wh
was harmcless) to occupy her late master
house, under the care Of a. middle-aget
female named Gretchen as her attendant
To this house, then, about three month
from the beginning Of our story, the tw'
women repaired.
On the very first night of their occupa
ton of the old dwelling, the old dame ant
her attendant sat in the kitchen, wher,
three months back the worthy housekeep
er had consequentially tended the bastins
of the fowls which was to be Donna Este
vans last meal on earth. Perhaps ever
across her weakened intellect there dawn
ed some faint recollection Of this for sht
sat sorrowful in her chair, looking yacan
tly at the wood fire, and watching the
smoke curl slowly up the broad old-fash
Toned chimney. Her friendly attendant
was busy preparing cups and saucers fol
their early tea, and stole now and then 8
glance at the poor soulless sufferer. Al
last Dame Chariot broke the silence.
s'Gretchen, was I ever here before ~
Willing to soothe her, Gretchen replied
ssNo, no, dame why should you think
that This is the house given you by
your good council, you know.
Council. council p repeated Chariot,
vacantly.
Gay, dame! but come, draw and drink
this hot cup Of coffee, it will cheer you
finely, warrant me" And worthy Greet
chen commenced cutting breadand butter.
They had nearly finished theirmeal, when
sudden noise caused both to look up,
and Gretchen SCREENED aloud. Not SO the
elder woman she looked on as if body
and soul were about to part; with all her
faculties (sueh as they were) fixed on an
obscure corner Of the old kitchen.
It was a large black ape, intently engagg-
ed in pouring the contents Of one phial
into another. During this occupation,
he grinned and gibbered with devilish sat-
isfaction, quite appalling.
A food of light bnrst in on the clouded
brain of the unfortunate Dame Chariot
She sprang from.Aer feet as if electrified.
"Bertram! Oh, the monkey the mon
key! My poor murdered master. There !!
The money-the murderer J and pouring
out incoherent sentence after sentence, fell
senseless on the floor.
The true murderer was found
In the hurry and tumult on the night
of Donna EsteAan's death, nobody had
thought of the ape, who had for three
months since the tragical event held entire
possession Of the premises, living how
and where he could This ape was one of
the animals which Winter had in his
little menagerie, and from his tameness,
had been allowed to rove through the
house and garden at will.
| It is well known that monkeys will most
faithfully and accurately initiate the tran
sactions of human being. On the night
of the supposed murder the black ape had
been Watching old Winter in the labra
tory until sleep oYercame the latter.
It will be remembered that the vial of
aquafortis had been unfortunatelyleft by
the necromancer on the table. The, ape,
eager to initiate the motions Of his master,
had seized the vial. But there was no
other vial at hand in which to empty it,
for the remainder were locked up. {
| Suddenly :, thought flashed on the mon
Keys mind. There were walls outside tie
door on the bracket, and he would use the
those. As the charlatan had left open the
door, on account Of the heat,this was easy
and the ape accomplished his design.
| This performed, the ape, with the sagac-
ity which distinguishes his tribe when they
have been perpetrating mischief, left the
bottles he had tempered with in the place
where he had found them, and secreted
the unlucky vial which had been the cause
all the misfortune.
Dame Chariot at midnight, found the
bottles precisely as she had placed them,
and, uncmsciously was the agent Of de
struction to the poor Spanish lady. That
was the first act Of this tragedy.
But, unfortunately, the second act Of
the tragedy, inwhieh poor old Winter had
played the chief part, could not be recall
led The curtain had fallen on it forever
Happily the third act was never per
formed.
Gretchen speedily gave the alarm, and
the house was soon full Of sympathizihsg
townspeople. Tho ape was secured. and
it was found that one Of the two vials
which he held when the woman first OBJ
served him, was the identical cae- which
had held the aquafortis
For the second time, Antwerp was IL
an uproar, and the upshot may be reaai
ly guessed. Our old friend, Dame Chariot
received herreason, (Which the shock hao
brought baelz-such cases are not( rare and
she lived oseca hundred years. The repeD
tant townspeople would have erected s
statue to the memory Of the poor necrom
ANGER, who was the victim Of a monkeys
freak, but they changed their minds ane
did still better: They raised compel
enee for the now happy Chariot. As
her master had left no heirs. the States
made over his wealth to the old lady, il
part compensation for her many trials, ane
she resided Till her death in the cid house
The tide Of i'll luck turned. The house
became fortunate. ''Madan Chariot as
she was then called, sent to Venice fer hcl
great-nephew, famous jeweler; to eomt
and set up bis trade in Antwerp. Proba
bly,, with the old lady's guildars ane
| n bn,