The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-08-13

NiSdp pSdiSu lEOn Lflc convent. C0
had gone out one afternoon as usual
and had never come back. It had evi
IDENTIFY been a step studiously eoutem
lated, for all her clothing and effects
for some days past, had gradually
been in course of removal.
[ may here state what subsequently
transpired-that she had obtained al
engagement to sing at the Sail,
d Artois. / was never able rightly t.
make out whether she had formed the
acquaintance of Monsieur Papillo1
previous to or during this musiea
engagement, but have reason to sus-
pect that the former was the case.
+ Mrs. BrOadhurst had Immediately
been telegraphed for by her friend
Mrs. Burns to come to Paris and in
state almost of distraction she had
been making inquiries everywhere in
Paris about her daughter, but had
not hitherto met with any success in
the search.
Such is brief outline of the hur-
ried story which they told me, and
they now looked impatiently towards
me to seel what consolation or guild
anCe | could offer them. My own
mind was in state of utter ineerti-
tude. / was uncertain even on the
question Of Identification whether
the girl I.had seen was really the
Clara Broadhurst who was missing.
But here they we're positive, and
would allow TO expression of doubt.
[ then told my trembling and aston
ished listeners that assuming the iden-
tity, | knew that their Clara was iu-
innate, and apparently deeply in love
with Frenchman that | had heard
her mention this present Friday to
him in a way that looked like an as
signation with aim; that [ knew that
on this very day her engagement to
sing in public terminated and l also
knew this on the very day the French
man was going down to Fontainbleau
The almost irresistible inference was
that she was going to accompany hin
to that place. l told them that it was
my intention to go to Fontainbleau
that very day: but did not think
it necessary to say that [ was going
there simply On account Of the young
lady unknown, for then they might
be building still higher expectation:
tn at might prove fallacious. [ dis
covered that if we moved off at once
we should be in time for as early {
train as Monsieur Papillion was at all
likely to take. We caught our train
and in about three quarters of al
hour [ and my two sudden and unex-
pected companions arrived at Fon-
tainbleau.
The reader will probably recollect
that long, straight road With its lows
of straight trees, between the station
and the town of Fontainblear. We
looked eagerly to see who might be
our companions in the train; but nc
one whom [ could recognize alighted
at the station. When we got into the
town and had alighted at an ugly
looking hotel, persuaded them tc
have some refreshment, and [ endeav-
ored to calm Mrs. Broadhurst's in
tense nervous excitement. Then /
lighted a cigar and strolled about
setting our plan of operations. My
first object was to discover where the
Maison Dupont might happen to be
1 easily ascertained that it was very
respectable boarding house kept by
NJ. Dupont, a respectable and respon-
sible man, situated about twenty min
utes' ride from the town, on the verge
of the forest. Finding that some
hours must elapse before the arriva
Of the next tram, [ persuaded then
to visit the palace and grounds; show
ed them the spot where the first Ma
poleon kissed the eagles, and tool
his farewells; showed them the pon(
where the third Napoleon tumbled
topsy-turvy amOung the great
carp; pointed out the Empress gon-
dola, which 1 believed was the very
same that Lord Byron lad used al
Venice, and, in fact exhausted all my
little store of Napoleonic reminiseen-
ces. TIE ladies, howeves, were hard
ly in state of mind that permitted
them to do justice to my agree able
and improving vein Of aneedote.
thought it best, therefore, to dismiss
all notions Of sightseeing, and con-
fine ourselves strictly to the immedi-
ate business of the day Mrs. Broad
hurst and l were Immediately to pro-
ceed to the Maison Dupont, and Mrs
Burns was to return to the station
and watch for the runaways 1t was
curious how the impression that they
would arrive had now become rooted
in cur minds.
We drove leisurely to the locality
that had been indicated to me, OBJ
tanning glimpses of howery spaces
deep forest glades. When we ar.
rived at the Maison Dupont, we were
ushered into the pleasant presence Of
Madame Dupont, and, as had agreed
with my companion, l took charge Of
this sufficiently difficult and embar.
RAISING business.
1 asked Madame Dupont if she
had any room for any more inmates
Madame Dupont was very full, and
was expecting fresh arrivals. Still
there was one chamber unoecupied
Mrs. Broadhurst at once said that
she would be glad to engage the room
for herself.
Might l ask who were the new al
rivals? We were daily expecting
some friends of ours who were going
| in sketch in the forest.
She thought it was for a gentle.
man and his sister. The name wa;
Bertrand. Her two best bedrooms
were taken for them, by telegraph
They had also wanted a private sit
ting-room, but she had only the usC
Of the public rooms to offer them
but for the day at least they would
have these rooms pretty we'll to them
selves.
1 will now put down in chronology
cal order the few remarkable event.
of that afternoon.
Good Mrs. Burns waited for many
anxious hours at that uninterestins
station. 1t had been arranged tina
if they came and proceeded anywher,
else than to the Maison Dupont sh,
should follow them, and at onct
communicate with US by a messen
ger, but if they went to the MaisoI
| Dnnnnt hnr mission wns ut IN nnd