The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-26

"Of that have no doubt. I am trusting
you beyond what, were my necessities less
urgent, 1 have right to repose in any one."
civil endeavor to justify your confidence,
monsieur" replied the lady, carefully con-
cealing the papers about her person, "and
now / will no longer intrude upon YOU"
"But Il fat de rdrgent ?"
'No am supplied, monsieur
"Then boutez en- dudnt. Dielt Uoas gdrde Z"
and the general wrung her hand in parting
with evident emotion. Little did he then
suppose how deeply he was doomed to regret
the confidence he had reposed in his fasci-
mating visitor.
Bowling herself, with graceful selfposses-
sion, from the apartment, she was soon in the
street and scarcely waiting to be assisted
into the carriage, she commanded her coach
man to drive her home with the utmost speed.
And now her whole face was radiant with
triumph. Her black eyes shone and flashed
and lightened and burned until her counte-
nance cleaned with the intensity of her sup
pressed excitement. She had played her part
and played it we'll She held in her hands
the keys which were destined to unlock the
mysteries of the federal campaign. From
the power she clutched to her heart the
waves of invasion that were now flooding
the land would retire broken and discounted
from the shock
In this frame of mind she reached
her home. What home? Has not the
reader already guessed? In that rich,
tropic beauty has he not already traced the
Ineaments of the young Persian girl, the
heroic Zera? Yes, it was her; her object was
accomplished; her secret visit to the city was
drawing to an end. Rushing, rather than run
ming into the house, she few through corridor
and hall, until she reached her own apartment,
where, with scream of exultation, she fell
laughing and crying by turns into the arms
of Laura Taylor.
al have done it, LAURA have done i'll"
she exclaimed, almost breathlessly; the
forged letters did the work."
"But were you not suspected?"
"Not at all; not even breath of suspicion.
He fell into my trap as quietly as the mouse
is ensnared by the housewife; it is all right
tell you'll"
"But what did you ascertain?'t
"Everything-the plan of the campaign
the situation of the posts, and the number of
the garrisons. Oh, 1 have been successful be-
yond even our most sanguine hopes"
"And you think your information, indeed,
valuable?"
valuable, ma chere it is priceless"
"You adhered to our French character"
eyes, G-la-FrancaiSe; ah, ma chere Laura,
c'eSt en- fat de li"
81 trust so, oh, Zera, trust sol"
''Our success now is certain, je us en- es-
poir? Here are the papers let us examine
them, and, seating themselves on one of the
luxurious lounges which adorned the room,
the two girls were soon deep in the mysteries
of the plans so surrepitiousy obtained from
the federal general.
The room was Zera's bed chamber, and ex-
hibited picture of Oriental splendor as
gorgeous as ever foated through the dreams
of Sabian.
Exactly in the middle of the room stood
the bed, built low to the floor, with a mirror
at the head, another at the foot, and third
in the circle of the canopy above. The
canopy was silken and white, looped up with
golden tassels, golden corded couple Of
brown cherubs were astraddle the head.
board, looking away from the bed, and hold.
ing fast the curtains of the canopy two
others at the foot were saying silence with
their fingers on their lips, and both thei,
| quiyers were empty. The bedstead was Of
satin wood. delicately grained; the coverlei
was pure white knitted silk, and the pillow.
cases were adorned with Spanish point lace
| six inches wide. There was no daylight
in the room, but the lighted chandelier
made all the gildings in the window.
cornices glister. They were plain arched
cornices, except in the keystones, where two
hearts, transfxed with an arrow, gave one
cruel pang and, like the bed canopy, the
white silk curtains fell in folds to the floor
with golden tassels swinging between. The
carpet was white and blue Axminister-very
rare-with small design of lily in it. A
like pattern was the wall paper without the
blue; one gilt band ran around the ceiling.
The only pictures were a copy of Titien's
Venus lying very cool and n6glige upon O
sheet, and Autograph of King Candanles
and his wife and friend.
| A sandal wood dressing-stand and mirror
reflected a case of smelling bottles in Bohe
milan glass; there were upon brackets, on
either side, statuettes in alabaster of Love and
Pshyche, and Diana and Endymion. The
towel-rack was of sandal wood, aud shod with
gilt feet Out of the soft, white splendor Of
the silence Canary bird in a cage at the win
dow sang shrilly. All the tints and patterns
in the room were in pure and beautiful taste
just suited to the beautiful being to whose
comfort they administered. Sofas, lounges
and piles of cushions, harmonizing with the
prevailing pure, white, tone of the room.
And yet everything was used by this young
girl with an indifference that bespoke her
long accustomed to such luxury. Indeed
| fba obulo11c axrNap 1itr,ra ~, Il 81