Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-24

Her look of pitifal surprise and rebuke
answered me. fa .ts
Oh, Monsieur! But why should you
not doubt me?'
And she left the room weeping. | GER
tainly was very foolish elderly mani !
could scarcely resist following her and
telling her how loved her.
Toward evening Doricourt returned
with the police They instituted vigor-
GUS search all over the house, but without
effect. No trace of the lost property
could be found. Then they examined
the two women servants who alone had
slept in the house beside ourselves.
Babette was soon set aside; she was
densely stupid. But they questioned
and cross-questioned Suzanne for an
hour, which seemed to me endless.
And yet never had seen her beauty
so touching as when she stood meekly
answering their impertineRt interrogato-
ries. Once and again interferred in
her behalf, to their no small amazement,
especially as / saw they had no doubt OF
her having at least admitted her brother,
and aided him in robbing me-
She was to go to Jail; but it was too
late to convey her thither that evening.
The roads were nearly impossible, and
the officers were not unwilling to partake
of my hospitality for the night. !.
Ali that night; | can never forget it.
/ paced my room for more than an
hour after had wished Doricourt good
night. My anguish of mind was un-
speakable. felt that even if nothing
could be proved against Suzanne, the
mere disgrace of bridal, and the appa-
rent improbability of clearing her from
suspicion, would divide us forever
/ did not then feel that any former
pride or reluctance on my part had
already divided us.
But if she were found guilty? if the
property were discovered in the hands of
her brother? could not bear to think
of it. | suffered tortures. Oh, my
despised desk-my strict, but just EN-
ployersl You were avenged How /
wished at that moment that my grand
uncle had left will
At length, exhausted by my emotions
! threw myself on my bed and fell into a
feverish slumber, and dreamed. My
dream was only repetition of one that
had recently haunted me; /. e., that rob
bers were in the house, and that | was
endeavoring to conceal my treasures from
them. | awoke from it, fancying Su-
zanne's brother had just swept off my
foot with reaping sickle.
The pain, i dreamed. was real and
sharp; and where was II | uttered a
shrill, piercing cry of alarm. was
standing on the table by the kitchen
wall, amidst the broken glass of the bot
tie, and the blood was flowing from my
wounded feet.
My cry reused the man who was watch
ing in the sitting-room. He came out,
bringing his lamp.
Mais, monsieurl' he cried. You
are hiding your pillow"
And it was true. | was trying, or
rather had been trying, to squeeze my
pillow through small hole in the roof
or ceiling above the table; it was still
protruding from the hole over my head,
and one of my hands grasped it.
His words awoke me fully, and like
lightning the truth flashed upon me- j
was a somnambulist | had hidden my
property myself Doricourt was called
by my desire He came, and one of the
officers, after removing the glass,
mounted the table and examined the
hole, while | wiped and bound up my
bleeding feet. Yes, there was Monsieur
Doricourts watch, and there were my
casket and my plate and my small sove-
Mrs, and, double marvel, there also were
the silver snuff-box, watch, and purse, OF
my late kinsman.
Could it have been that somnambullsm
run in our family, or that Madame Le-
maitre had made the hole to conceal the
articles she wished her master to believe
were stolen? / am inclined to think the
latter, though Suzanne prefers believing
that the good old gentleman actually had
robbed himself as had. The hole had
very much the appearance of being made
ON purpose, and artfully designed TO
escape notice, as, in fact, 1T had that of
the young girl.
Of course her innocence was at once
fully established. nm
"And so it was you who stole my
watch, Monsieur the Somnambulist,"
laughed Doricourt, the next morning.
W nat Couiu hhNc cduocu sum " utoco9.
Have You been subject to walking in
your sleepg
"No," / replied; II never did such a
thing in New York. But the truth Is,
Doricourt, that a country life doesn't I
suit me. / have grown watchful and
restless at night. Il is not pleasant to
sleep in fear ofcut-throats, and my lonely
life makes me nervous. SO, if you will
be good enough to sell my farm, ! shall
be satisfied with the proceeds, and my
uncls's savings, and return to my old
life
And 50 it was settled We sold the
farm and returned to New York. ! say
We, for, Of course, the reader has OWNED
that | made Suzanne the only rcpafaiion
| could for the unworthy suspicious my
xinsman and myself had cast on her-l
married her.
We live very happily. TITS not known
in Bordeaux that married my servant.
Suzanne is well educated. pretty and
renteeL and her humble origin is as lit
he suspected as that the grave Antoine
Bornaud. lnou) wine merchant Of New
York. was once guilty Of frobbery-in his
sleep.