The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-08-20

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nocence, my dear young lady. Your dear
| Henry, as you call &c cher petit mari, will
| soon give bargain of your pretty airs
ana graces, your little nervous shrieks,
and tender clingings. All, your English
| husbands, they are the nice lott / could
| tell you stories, my little love, that would
rise the hair up of your virtuous head !;
and as for &c cher Henri, he is no better
| than another. Ha, hal
Here she broke into an odious chuckling
laugh that chilled my blood.
"Well, there, then; shall it go to sleep
like good child, or shall tell it few
stories of the Englishmen have known ?"
Much alarmed at her manner and Ian
guage, family answered that I thought |
should go to sleep.
"Very good well, then, to sleep with
you; but first baby shall drink something
to settle its nerves; it is cordial, and |
think it viii be better than the coffee
monsieur went in search of. Ha, ba
How green of him to swallow my little in
vention of the twenty minutes; but the
determined to secure a tete-a-tete with
you. Here, now, drink"
Afraid to refuse this dreadful mad
woman, drank some Of the cordial she
offered it had an odd taste, and seeing
that she was busy replacing the bottle in
her bag, I hastily threw the rest out of
the window, and handed her back the
glass She was much pleased at my ODE
dience, and took great pains in settling
me comfortably, and wrapping cloaks
about me. For some time | kept watch
ing her; was determined not to go to
sleep, and I kept my wakeful eyes like
sentries on her in her corner, following
her, while she seemed absorbed in some
| ooJ
Thoughts crossed rapidly through my
mind. What should [ do when got to
Marseilles? How should | find out our
uncle? for | had forgotten his address.
| Would that dreadful creature murder me
if | fell asleep for few minutes? What
could have been her object in getting my
husband out of the carriage? She was
evidently mad, and possessed of all the
cunning of insanity. My eyelids grew
sore in my effort to keep them open and
on the guard. Iwould close them for five
minutes only to rest them. 1 feel calmer
she is still in the corner, all safe. My eye
lids are getting heavier and heavier; re-
sistance is vain, and sleep gets possession
of me.
How long slept don't know, but by
degrees l began to dream l vas in prison,
and under the sentence of death; and that
when | came to the scaffold the execu-
toner had the features of the French
lady Then it changed and I was at Mar
settles, and saw my husband but he did
not seem to know me; and then I called
to him; he turned and showed me the face
of my odious fellow passenger. AT this
| aWOke.
The train was whizzing along. The
lamp was swinging above, and the air in
the carriage was very dense and confined
| I w ~ onnfII cod and felt hpa6 60
heavy, that l lay for some minutes, not
well knowing where was. Then I slowly
| raised my head. Has my hateful tormentor
gone? She is not in her corner thank
goodness; but who is that figure with it's
back to me, bending over my husbands
carpet-b bag, turning over all the contents
Am 1 getting mad? Is it my husband +:
No, it is too tall. I am still sleeping.
shut my eyes and open them again. No, ii
is still there. 1t has on my husbands
travelling coat and cap. | am the victim
of some horrible deiusion. My tongue
cleaves to my mouth. [ would give
worlds if the French woman was here, OF
that something would break the horrid
stiffness. Presently the man turned slowly
around. Good heavens it was the face of
the French woman; her cleaning eyes
and sarcastic mouth! Cautiously he is
tying on black beard, which he adjusts
carefully. Then he lets down the
window, and throws a bundle out
[ see it all Our companion has been a
man disguised as woman. Overcome
with horror, | gasp in very agony Of mind.
| Immediately the wretch turns to my side
of the carriage, and our eyes meet.
"Diablesse! Treacherous catr' he cries.
$50 you have been awake and watching
me. You spy on me do you? Twice have
you circumvented me; your pretty little
shrek prevented the chloroform doing its
work on your husband and now you shall
pay the penalty. This pistol shall make
quick work of you; and your body thrown
out this dark night will tell no tales. You
will pass for some unfortunate who has
committed suicide, and you wiz make a
pretty article for the newspapers" Inmy
agony I fell on my knees and implored
mercy of this ruffian, offering him money,
| jewels, to spare my life. He listened
rloomily, then after a few minutes he
said
"There, that's enough; get up. I will
spare you on one condition; and, remem-
Der, you have no one to blame but your
own internal curiosity; only for that
feminine propensity you need never have
| known but that the French woman got
out and got in during your sleep. But
you must peep and spy, curse you. But
| you Can Uo Oh SOME SeTplCe, So 1SleH, DuG
first swear never to reveal what has hap
pened this night and secondly, swear
solemnly to follow most implicitly my in
| structions."
Trembling in every limb, I gave the re-
quired assurance.
CHOW get up, little fool, and listen to
me-. But first, to show you [ was not idle
while you reposed, here is plenty Of money
for any little trip we may take, and l will
look to you to find me more from your
store of pretty things"
| So speaking, he showed me Henry's
pochet-book, filled with gold and notes
from his travelling case. Obeying his
directions, unlocked my dressing case,
and, while he disposed of its contents in
various little bags about his person, he
| proceeded to unfold his plans. He would,
| he said, make little or no alteration in my
| husbands arrangements, with which he so
kindly acquainted him. He would GER
tainly dispense with the visit to ce cher oncze,
and avail himself of the excellent Henri's
purse, wife, and passport to push on to
| Civita Vecchia. Once landed ON italian
ground, he would dispatch me back to my
| friends and sorrowiDg husband in the most
convenient manner. and [ could account
| for my little adventure in any way most
pleasing to myself, and compatible with
strict adherence to my oath.
Never" I cried, "will submit to such
an indignity; will die first"
at is a pity you did not think so when
[ was disposed to oblige you. Now, your
l. 1. A.-4H.z i n