The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1870-10-13
OUR PASSENGER.
BY wAG. b. wtNrERaREEN


colIonade, when tall, elegantly dress
ed gentleman asked permission t,
light his cigar by mine.
l saw at once that he was a French
man, although his English was nearl!
perfect.
Have you heard the news ?" he in
quired:
"No."
It's it pOssibleP ? Why, all Pari
is alive with it at this moment"
(" What has happened ?''
"The Countess de Marville-tht
fairest of the fair-was found murder
ed in her bed last night, her buret
broken open, and ten thousand france.
missing from it. All, it was terrible
There were marks of fingers on hel
throat; the brute who did the deed eff
fected his entrance through the win
dow of the chamber, near which, un.
fortunately, was a tail tree, planted
years ago by the distinguished grand
father of the countess. Little did he
Imagine the terrible use that would
be made of it. All, monsieur, if you
had ever seen the countess you would
wonder still more. She was beauti.
ful, beautiful as an angel!'' he added,
strOking his whiskers with an unmis.
taxable air of vanity. 81 knew he1
well.''
"Indeed -
go, yes. There are in Paris few
popular women unknown to me.1
His manner was now decidedly con-
ceited and l felt disgusted with him.
My GOODNESS evidently repelled- him,
for he soon left me.
Afterwards 1 heard from other ae-
counts of the late tragedy. Among
details of the affair was one which ne
culiaTly impressed me, and which my
first informant 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 a mark from a ring he wore
the impression of a chariot wheel,
with star in the center.
"This," said my last 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 ? ring
with chariot wheel device Was pur-
chased"
"Who is this Jean Mosqueau ?"
"What, monsieur, have you not
heard of MOsqueau, our famous detec-
tive. Although his courage is we'll
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
steamer bound from Calais to Dover.
Among the passengers, 1 beheId one
whose face had a familiar look. /
was not long in recognizing this per-
son as the same 1 had seen in the front
of the Hotel Windsor, and who had
first informed me of the murder of the
countess. He was certainly a very
handsome man, although his conceit-
ed air was a blot upon his good looks.
He moved languidly hither and
thither; now and then turning his
pretty brown eyes admiringly upon
the pretty lady passengers, while
stroking his whiskers with one white
hand, upOnsthe middle finger of which
was a superb diamond ring.
l am of rather suspicious nature,
which combined with a lively imagi
nation, has often led me into singular
errors. Now it moved me to advance
and hold out nay hand to a man whom
1 had invOluntarily disliked from the
first, in order that 1 might have a
chance to glance at the ring Some
how the idea had possessed me that |
should discover a chariot lObeeL device
upon the glittering bauble!
The stranger did not at first recog-
nize me. He soon did, however, and
frankly extended his left hand which
was not the one containing the ring.
My brain fairly reeled; the mans
behavior was conviction of my sus-
picions. 'sThe other hand, if you
pleaseT' 1 said, in a low, stern
voice.
"MOnsieur will excuse me, if he
please. My other arm is lame with
He beheld me glance toward the
half hidden ring, and Twas sure 1 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 1 felt ashamed of
my suspicious. The device was a
heart, which certainly
bore no resemblance to a chariot
wheel!
After a little general conversation,
to recover my self-possessiOn, I turned
away, resolving in future to have a
better opinion of my fellow creatures.
The strangers good looks seemed to
attract the attention of many of the
ladies. One, especially, a modest
looking little thing attired in black |
kept directing furtive glances at the
handsome passenger. Finally she
glided so close to him that in turning
he brushed against her.
An apology, smilingIy received by
the lady-a remark about the weather
on the part of the gentleman-and the
two were conversing with animation.
Meanwhile the blushing cheeks and
bright eyes of the fair one seemed to
betoken that she was well pleased
with her companion, whose air was
now more cOnceited than ever.
II am afriad we shall have storm,
she remarked, pointing towards dark
cloud, upon which the captain Of the
boat was anxiousIy looking.
"We may, but do not feel alarmed,
madam"
With an air of nOnchalanCe he pull
ed a red cigar case from his pocket,
asked his companion if she objected !
to smoking, and being answered IN
the negative, opened the case. Then
he started, and quickly returned this
to his pocket, pulled forth another of
a blue color.
"How many cigars do you smoke