The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-03-18

ulouS In ltS pure IuStre, and now
with a baleful lurid glow.
In the instant that it was with
drawn from his sight, Armand saw,
or fancied he-saw, that its prismatic
lustres were all absorbed in one hue
that, like the ruby, it was blood
red.
In the dead of the night carriage
ratified up to the door of the Red
Lion, that quaint old hostelry at
Sittingbourne which dates from the
days Of Agincourt. Though the
hour was late, the carriage was evi-
IDENTIFY expected, for a servant in.
stantly appeared and placed himself
at the carriage door. On his open
ing it, two persons descended. One
was a lady, wrapped from head to
foot in a loose velvet wrapper lined
with leOpard-skin throughout, so
ample that it covered her head and
concealed her face. Her companion
was a youth, in travelling cloak; a
mere youth, with a perfectly smooth
oval face, and with clustering locks
about the head.
Not a word was spoken. As the
lady passed in, the youth bowed to
her in manner that was deferenti-
al almost to servility. As she eros
ed the hall and began to ascend the
great oak staircase, he walked by
her side, not as a companion, but an
attendent. The staircase terminated
in broad corridor, also of oak; the
walls panelled and black with age;
the floor polished, except where a
narrow slip Of carpet extended from
end to end. Into this corridor all
the doors Of the apartments on that
floor opened. The place was long
and full Of draughts; and though
wrapped in furs the lady shivered,
and extending her hand so that it
rested on the arm Of the youth, she
clutched at it spasmodicalIy.
In silence the servant led the way
with candelabra that showed glim-
lmering light. In equal silence the
guests followed halfway down the
corridor. They passed the doors of
many rooms, each furtively scanned
by the hooded lady with eyes scarce
| ly less bright, furtive or ravenous
than those of the beast in whose
furs she was mutHed. They seemed
to have no end, these doors. Sud-
denly the sharp click Of a latch
sounded. A door they were near
ing opened slowly and noiselessly a
few inches. Then the face of man
peered forth cautiously. Black eyes
glimmered in the dim light. The
lady shuddered, uttered a suppress
ed cry, and drew the leopard skin
over her face. The next moment
the apparition vanished, the face
was withdrawn, and the door clos
ed.
Moving onward with difficulty the
terrified woman at length reached,
with assistance, a suit of rooms
which had been engaged for her at
ehe end Of the corridor. The mo-
ment lights had been placed upon
the table, and the servant had with
drawn, the attendant doubleloeked
the door.
That was he; l knew his face.
We are tracked here also' cried the
lady, starting to her feet.
Surely not, my lady, replied the
youth; think how often you have
been deceivedY
True, but not to night, Roland,
not tonight
And why not? Pardon me if 1 am
bold and presume to differ from
your ladyship; but surely this can
not be-
Without answering, the woman
glanced at the table on which the
lights we're burning, and startled at
the sight Of what met her gaze, dart
| ed towards it. On a salver there
had been placed a small packet
wrapped in white paper, tied with a
scarlet cord. twas addressed-ad-
dressed to her who now snatched it
from the saIvers, in the name in
which the rooms in the hotel had
been ordered for her. What did this
mean? With set teeth, quick panti1g
breath, but tremulOus fnser~, she
tore open the wrapper. Then a
small enamelled box was disclosed: !:
an oval box, azure in color, enric Ie
with cupids and flowers. 1t was ca
silly opened. With a pressure of the
thumb against the spring map, the
lid few open. As the women gave
one glance at the contens of the boz
bOaaiere, for this it was, an involu..-
tary cry escaped herlips-
Lost! lOstr she with difficulty
calculated.
You have proof of what you fear