The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-03-25

! uctu dSSlStuuCC
"Why else should i be here at this
hour of the night. Monsieur%
And why here at all ~ quickly re-
| sponded /. "This street is very little
frequented, and it is about the last
| place in the world should have select
ed for disposing of luxury most suited
to wealth and fashion"
She sighed and reached out her hand
for the boquet which / still retained.
Whats your price p. 2" -. :.
Five francs"
ga large sum-" sss,EFEss sss
Monsieur will remember that it is
winter, and flowers are not plenty"
"To aid you will purchase" re
turned /, handing her the requisite sil-
yer coin; for though love flowers /
would hardly indulge in the luxury to-
night at such an expense.n HI ~
| She thanked me, and seemed about
to pass on, but hesitated, looked up to
me, and said: 5r5gfrt.a
| "Could Monsieur direct me to the
house of good physician who will turn
out tonight to see q patient at small
recompensew -
"Any friend of yours ill?' f.I
"My mother" with deep sigh and
downcast look.
| "Where does she reside 80
| "Only short distance from here"
| a-"What is the matter with her ~ Ia
"She he's high fever for one thing"
When was she taken ?n
"She came down last night, and has
not left her bed SINCE" 5-t.F.
"Why did you not send for doctor
| at once ?' TyPFI.t-rgF
ave hoped she would be better soon,
and it is SO expensive for poor people to
employ physician" ?. N
81 am myself medical student With
considerable experience among the sick
of the hospitals, and if you are dispos-
ed to trust the case to me am at your
service without charge" I rejoined, al
ready feeling deeply interested in the
fair girl. f ..f-rE5
"oh, how shall 1 thank you, Mon
sieurv she exclaimed with clasped
hands, and an upward, grateful look.
Pray, follow me, Monsieur lie Doc
teur." -FF .T.lffET
She turned and led off at rapid pace
down the street, towards the river
Seine, in the direction was walking
when we met.
In less than five minutes we had en-
tered q wretched quarter, among mar
row streets, old tottered buildings, and
squalid looking inhabitants, some of
whom seemed to glare at us as We
passed along.
ais it much further ?" inquired I,
beginning to feel uneasy. =
2" Only step, Monsieur; it is just
here"
Almost Immediately she turned into
a covered passage, which led back
among inhabitants that should never
have voluntarily visited in the broad
light of day. A distant lamp served
to make the gloom visible, till she stop
ped and opened door in total DARK
ness.
"Your hand, Monsieur lie Docteur,n
she said, at the same time taking it and
leading me forward.
was tempted to draw back and re-
fuse to go any further, though l me-
chanically followed her. l1 ! ~.
We nov went through long pas
sage in total darkness, and after two or
three short turns, began to descend
flight of stairs.
Is it possible that you can live i'm a
place like this?" said I, secretly wish
ing myself out of it. .....-
In Paris beggars cannot he choos-
ers; replied the girl. y,.--f 4
But even in Paris it is not necessa-
ry for the living to take up their abode
in sepulchres rejoined, with some
asperity, being vexed at myself for suf-
fering my good nature to lead me into
den from which might never come
out alive. - .|.f
To this my fair guide deigned no re-
ply. On reaching the foot of the stairs
she pushed open door into a small
dimly lighted room, and / followed
her into it with some secret misgivings.
There was bed i'm one corner, and on
it appeared to be human form lying
very still. 'i' '.'' i'ft'f
81 have brought doctor, MOTHER
said the girl as she closed the door be-
hind me. AS there was no reply to
this, she turned to me saying:
"Will Monsieur lie Docteur please he
seated minute 1 think my mother
is asleep"
"I beg that madamoiselle will bear
in mind that can only spare few
moments in this case tonight, as /
have another call / wish to make inn
mediately," feeling anxious to depart
from that subterranean quarter as
quickly as possible.
Monsieur shall not be detained long
by me-" rejoined the girl, passing out
of the room by another door.
did not sit down, but walked over
to the bed, where the patient was ly-
ing very still-so still, indeed, that I
could not detect any breathing. A
woman's cap was OH the head, and
at the end of it the sheet concealed the
face. I ventured to turn this down
carefully and beheld the eyeless sockets
and grinning teeth of a human skull.
/ started back in horror, and at the
same moment the door by which the
girl had left was thrown .open, and i'm
marched, one after the other, four stall
wart forms, in black gowns and masks.
I at once, then, knew that was to be
robbed, and probably murdered, ]
wore heavy diamond pin and ring,
carried valuable gold watch, and had
i'm money about my person some five
hundred francs, but not a single wea-
pom of any kind. Resistance being,
therefore, out of the question, 1 felt that
a chance-was to conciliate the ruffians
oAiN cuy stii Oli. WIN
of mind for which still take to my
self considerable credit, said at once !:
81 understand it all gentlemen, and
you will find ME liberal person to deal
with. There is one thing 1 value very
/ highly, because it is the only one /
have, and cannot replace it-that is
my life. Everything else of mine is at
your service, even beyond what have
with me-"
They were undoubtedly surprised to
hear me speak in that cool, off-hand
manner; but they marched forward and
surrounded me before they returned a
word.
"How much have you with you ."
inquired one, in civil way, but in a
low, gruff tone.
/ Immediately mentioned the differ
ent articles of value and the exact
amount of money; "all of which shall
be pleased to present you with, If one
of you will be kind enough to escort
me to the street above" added. =.
You said you had more, monsieur" "
Yes, gentlemen, ] have ten thou