The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-12-10
SMistrllanrous,
THE INVISIBLE EYE.
FROM THE FRENCH OF ERCKMANN-
CHATRAIN.
(CoNCLUDED.)

(coNCLUDED.)
Nothing could be more sinister than
the den now spread out before me-a
great court yard the large slabs of which
were covered with moss; in one corner,
q wei, whose stagnant waters you shud-
dered to look upon a stairway covered
with old shells; at the farther end a
gallery, with wooden balustrsde, and
hanging upon it some old linen and the
tick of an old strawmattress on the
first floor, to the left, the stone covering
of common sewer indicated the kitch-
en- to the right, the lofty windows of
the building looked out upon the street;
then few pots Of dried, withered flow
ers-all was cracked, sombre, moist
Only one or two hours during the day
could the sun penetrate this loathsome
spot; after that, the shadows took pos
session then The sunshine fell upon the
crazy walls, the worm-eaten balcony,
the dull and tarnished glass, and upon
the whirlwind of atoms floating in its
golden rays, disturbed by no breath of
air.
1 had scarcely finished these observa-
! tions and reflections, when the old
woman entered, having Just returned
from market. l heard the grating of
her heavy door. Then she appeared
with her basket. She seemed fatigue d.,
almost out of breath. The lace of her
bonnet fell to her nose With one hand
she grasped the banister, and assembled
the stairs.
Tine heat was intolerable, suffocating;
it was precisely one of those days in
which all insects, s,-crickets, spiders,
mosquitoes, etc.--make old ruins re.
sound with their strange songs.
Fledermausse crossed the gallery slow
ly, like an old ferret who feels at home.
She remained more than a quarter of
an hour in the kitchen, then returned,
spread out her linen, took the broom,
and brushed away some blades Of straw
on the floor. At last she raised her
head, and turned her little green eyes
in every direction, searching, investi-
eating carefully.
Could she, by some strange intuition,
suspect any thing? ! do not know ;
but gently lowered the slate; and gave
up my watch for the day.
In the morning, Fledermausse appear
ed reassured, One angle of light fell
upon the gallery. In passing, she
caught fly upon the wing, and pre-
sented it delicately to spider establish
ed in Il corner of the roof. The spider
was SO bloated, that, Notwithstanding
, the distance, saw it descend from
round to round, then glide along finC
web, like drop of venom, seize its
prey from the hands Of the old shrew
and remount rapidly. Fledermausse
looked at it very attentively, with hei
eyes half closed then sneezed, and said
to herself, in ieering tone, "God bles:
you, beautiful one God bless you !"
watched during six weeks, and coult
discover nothing concerning the power
: of Fledermausse. Sometimes, seated
: upon stool, she peeled her potatoes
]. then hung out her linen upon the balus
trade.
Sometimes | saw her spinning; bu
she never sang, as good, kind old womer
} are accustomed to do, their trembling
voices mingling well with the hum
6 ming of the wheel,
i Profound silence always reigned darounC
: her; she had no cat-that cherished so
: clety of old women--not even II spar
: row came to rest under her roof j
seemed rs if all animated Nature shranl
from her glance. The bloated spide
alone took delight in her society.