Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-09-28
OUR PASSENGER.
BY W. H. wINTERGREEN.

is it possible? Why, all Of Paris is
/. alive with it at this moment
What has happened% p
THE Countess de MaFVille-the fairest
of the faiF-was found murdered in her
bed last night, her bureau broken open,
! and ten thousand francs missing from
it. All, it was terrible! There were
marks of fingers on her throat; the
brute who did the deed effected his en-
trance through the window of the cham
Der, near which, unfortunately, was a
tall tree, planted years ago by the dis
tinguisbed grandfather of the countess.
Little did he imagine the terrible use
that would be made of il. All, mOnsi-
eur, If you had ever seen the countess
you would wonder still more. She was
beautiful, beautiful as an angel, he adj
ded, strOking his whiskers with an un-
mistakable air Of vanity. Il knew her
WE'LL
Indeed"
%, yes. There are in Paris few pOpu-
lar women unknown to me-
His manner was now decidedly COLI
ceited, and 1 felt disgusted with him.
Ny coolness evidently repelled him, for
he soon left me.
Afterward heard from others accounts
Of the late tragedy. Among details of
the affair was one which peculiarly inn
pressed me, and which my first infOr-
mant had not spoken of an oversight
that surprised me, as the incident which
he had not mentioned was the kind
which would be most apt to strike the
fancy.
Upon the throat Of the countess, the
murderer, in thrOttling her, had left
mark from a ring he Wore--the impress
sion of chariot wheel, with a star in
the center.
rThis,' said my latest informant, may
lead to the discovery of the murderer,
Jean MOsqueaU is already visiting the
jewellers shops to find out from which
and by whom a ring with a chariot
wheel device was purchased
/ who is this Jean MOsqueau?
What, monsieur, have you not heard
of MOsqueau, our famous detective. Al
though his courage is well known, you
would not, to look at his girlish face and
delicate form, believe that he could
! fight gnat.'
! A week later, was aboard the steam
er bound from Calais to Dover. Among
/ the passengers, I beheId one whose face
1 had a familiar look. l was not long in
recognizing this person as the same l
had seen in front of the Hotel Windsor,
and who had first informed ME of the
murder of the countess. He was GER
! tainly a very handsome man, although
| his eonceited air was blot upon his
good looks. He moved languidly hither
and thither; now and then turning his
pretty brown eyes admiringiy upon the
| pretty lady passengers, while strOking
| his whiskers with one white hand, upon
the middle finger of which was superb
diamond ring.
p afy1rn
which, combined with a~1ively imagina-
/ ton, has often led me into singular er-
rors. Now it moved me to advance and
! hold out my hand to man whom had
! involuntariIy disliked from the first, in
order that I might have q chance to
glance at the ringi Somehow, the idea
had possessed me that should discover
a chariot ICheeL derice upon the glitter
ing bauble!
The stranger did not at first recognize
me. He soon did, however, and frank
ly extended his left hand, which was
not the one containing the ring.
My brain fairly reeled; the mans be-
havior was conviction of my suspicious.
The other hand, if you please " l said,
( in low, sterll voice.
Monsieur will excuse me, if he please.
Ny other arm Is lame with rheunna-
tism.'
He beheld me glancing toward the
half-hidden ring, and was sure l saw
him start and turn pale, while at the
same time looking much surprised. He,
| however, opened his right hand, as if
perfectly willing for me to shake it, if l
chose. Then I had good look at the
ring, and felt ashamed of my suspicious.
The device was a common heart, which
certainly bore no resemblance to a char
lot wheel!
After little general conversation, TO
recover my self-pOssessiOn, l turned
away, resolving i'll future to have bet
| ter opinion of my fellow creatures. The
strangers good looks seemed to attract
! the attention of many of the ladies'
One especially, a understanding little
| thing attired i'll black, kept directing
! fIrtive glances at the handsome passen-
ger. Finally she glided so close to him
that in turning he brushed against her.
An apolog sInilinglY received by the
! lady-a rema. Z about the weather OH
the part of the gentleman-=and the two
were soon eonversing with animation
Meanwhile, the blushing cheeks and
! bright eyes of the fair one seemed to
betOken that she was well pleased with
1 her companion, whose air was now
more cOnceited than ever.
Il am afraid we shall have a Storm
she remarked, pointing towards dark
cloud, upon which the captain Of the
/ boat was anxiously looking.
We may, but do not feel alarmed,
madam
With an-air of nonchalonce he pulled
/ a red cigar case from his pocket, asked
/ bis companion if she objected to smok-
4 ing, and being answered in the negative,
I ..,.-,,,a a., ,ol,r Fffl,oY, IA c4r y-foH and
quickly returning this to his pocket,
! pulled forth another of blue color.
/ iHOw many cigars do you smoke a
day@ inquired the lady, evidently
amused at the sight of the two cases.
The man colored and it struck me that
his voice faltered slightly, and his hand
trembled, as he made some laughing re-
tort.
Soon the storm came pouncing down
upon us. We were midway i'll the chan
mel, SO that we caught the full force of
the sea and thR gale. Both were ter
rife. The sea swept the boat, Wliehlay
so far over that her machinery soon
was damaged so that it could not
work. The wind, screaming like de-
mon, threw her over still further.
/ Suddenly, we observed the sailor ell
deavOr to loosen u lOng-bOat on the dav-
/ fits Rstern. Meanwhile, there was an
ominOus grinding, smashing noise un-
der the counter. The truth could not
/ long be cOncealed-we were sinking!
The ladies screamed, the handsome
passenger lost his self-pOssessiOn, and
ran wildly hither and thither. Mean
/ while the cool behavior of the little lady
in black contrasted strangely with the
agitated demeanoF of these around her
! There she stood, calm and immOvable,
the bright, steel-blued eyes fixed upon
the handsome stranger, of whom she
did not loose sight for n moment.
Keep quiet, ladies aud gentlemen,
sang out the captain. Keep quiet and
do not crowd round the boat so! There
will be room for you ALL and, besides,
! toere ig q schooner coming TO our assist
ance,' pointing to q vessel bowling along
/ toward us before the wind,
There was, however, panic among
those addressed. The moment the boat
was lowered, into it they all bundled,