The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-10-02
sumo their seats found in the empty place a

A murder was certainly improbable in such
place, but lecollect that in Paris there are
no probable crimes.
There was great commotion in the saloons
of the duchess The vague apprehensions
which prevailed at the beginning of the tete
returned. Was there drama enacted under
the very windows IF the hotel?
The Marcnioness Of Boistrudan was GER
tain of it. Since her entrance she had never
ceased to keep watch aud yet she had seen
no one who realized the idea she had formed
of the Frcnchman Edward and the Count
Albert de Rosen.
Why under the very windows Of the hotel ?
The whole affair was eccentric. bizarre, i'm
possible. The denouemcnt. to crown logical
IL the adventure. must be absurd.
In the second saloon there was another
version: General OBrien had disappeared.
and also the parsonage brought in by the
Visconnt Henri with Mr.@George leslie
Some one. who went out tomake observations.
returned and said that no one knew the livery
Of the fugitive carriage: that two unknown
dominoes had remained constantly within it;
that no one had seen it depart.
who pretended to explain it by saying that
some one had bled sick horse, and that at
ter the operation they had gone back to the
stable. Everywhere people can be found
who pass their lives in turning into common
incidents the most curious circumstances.
Madame the marchioness detested such
prosaic people. Her disposition. on the con
trary. was to tint everything with the most
agreeably romantic colors
Since the first waltz Helene had not dan
ced She twice refused her afhanced, the
Vscount Henri The marchioness was dis
satisfied with her.
Happily Helene was masked, or she would
have excited the pity of every one. Itseem-
ed as if she had not drop of blood in her
veins She was cold even in the fervid at
mosphere of the ballroom. She remained
immovable and SILENT and when her mother
spoke to her she did not seem to understand
Sometimes slight trem"r agitated her whole
body-at other times she pressed her frozen
hand against her heat, as if she were catch
ing her breath.
BUTT was in vain. The person whom she
sought was not to be found.
The Viscount Henri de Villiers had retired
into the card room, and was waiting impati-
emily To allay his fever he had seated him
self before the green table, when IA hand rest
ed upon his shoulder He turned, and Geo.
Leslie was behind him.
s.At last, cried the viscount.
"Fiuish your game, sir" said George
You have time"
As Henri looked at him eagerly he stopped
down to his ear and said
s.Roscn has arrived
Are you going to show him to me ?"
Il am going at least, according to our
agreement, to put you in a position to recog-
nize him. 1t is not necessary that he see US
together
''Ihat is right" said the viscount.
Then. turning toward his partner, and lay.
ing down his cards, he said
''Excuse me, baron one second
Certainly" he answered
Henri rose and followed George some
steps. The latter said to him:
The Count Albert is now near Madame
the Duchess of Rivas. Make haste and lose
and then come immediately to the boudoir,-
The person you will fud talking with the
duchess is Rosen"
"Thanks," replied the yisconnt. '.When
shall have seen Rosen the fifty thousand
crowns are yours"
George withdrew saying, II will claim the
money of you to morrow And Henri re
seated himself at the gaming table His
hand slightly trembled in taking up the cards.
He made mistake after mistake, lest, paid up.
and left the party.
'sAre you in hurry" said the baron to
him
"Unlucky at play" commenced Henri.
The baron gathered together the pieces OF
gold, and smilingly added:
Lucky in love"
Henri penetrated the crowd to get to the
boudoir which opened uponthe terrace. When
he entered he looked searchinyly around, but
the duchess was not there. The Duke OF
Rivas was talking, near the fireplace with
some distinguished pcrsonages
Henri believed at first that he had been
deceived but at this moment the door of the
interior apartment opened and the duchess
showed herself, accompanied by masked
parsonage whose face was concealed under Il
domino.
Henri looked at him earnestly The man
in the domino seemed to move with difficulty
He and the duchess seated themse Ives upon Il
sofa between the two windows.
In the movement which he made to seat
himself, the domino opened aud displayed the
Hungarian costume.
1T is indeed he!' said the viscount to
himself
REST yourself, count" said the duchess
in clear tone OF voice. Take off that
mask, which prevents you from breathing. .
The mask fell. Henri was obliged to sea,
himself
The mask, in falling. had discovered pale
countenance. or rather chin. For the fore
head, the eyes, the nose were concealed un
der bandage of black silk. The bandage
had two tinted glasses through which to sec.
Henri had not hoped to find him thus
Here was. then. that terrible adversary
that hero of rouance-that fierce Magyar
whose name had filed the West plains and
mountains-the mayor of the Golden Dag
gers-the man for whom beautiful Mexican
women sacrificed their magnificent hair.
A sick man, with trembling step! Not
even phamtom-for the word implies poet
ry; and all poetry must flee before black
bandaee and green eye glasses.
Henri was almost ashamed of himself fol