Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-05-25

further end OF Ine mouse. sGoou
watching her until she had disappear
ed then I turned and re-entered the
5oudoir. I need not say what alarm
ing thoughts passed through my mind
as 1 sat there waiting for further de-
velopments. would have gone down
stairs to ascertain whether the baron
had left the chateau, had not my
mistresses's own words about giving
the guests to understand that she was
not we'll, reminded me that, as the
maid of the baroness, must be found
in her. chamber when dinner was an
nounced ready to utter the white lie
she had ordered me to utter.
Ali lust then 1. would have done
far more wicked things than that to
save my mistress from her troubles
and anxieties 1t may be very wrong
to say so but such were undoubtedly
my feelings at that time.
Before long servant knocked at
the door of the boudoir.
+ Madame is unwell," said, an
swering the knock. Please tell mon
sieur this. Say not.seriously unWeH,
merely indisposed." )"
"Monsieur is gone out" was the
reply.
The baroness had predicted right
ly. I tried to show no agitation IN
the answering of my. fellow-seryant.
"That is too bad,". ] said. "You
had better tell Monsieur de Cholsson,
to take the head of the table. Men
ton this to the butler, and I am sure
it will strike him as an excellent idea.
If madame is unwel and monsieur is
away, that seems no reason why the
company should not dine,", and I fin
ished the words with little laugh.
"The butler knows that Monsieur de
Choisson is Monsieur ls Baron's first
cousin. /"
After that the servant departed,
and during. the next hour that passed Sc
slowly away, I concluded that the
butler had taken my advice. Indeed,
from certain vague, far-away sounds
that occasionally reached me, I felt
sure that the guests were dining.
It was, perhaps, an hour and half
since my few words with the servant,
and was still seated in the 6oudoa.
when, happening to glance toward
nv mistress s bedchamber, I saw what
brought a cry of astonishment to my
lips. Glass folding-doors separated
the 5oudoir from the bedchamber,
and, though these were closed. the
next room, in which dim light burn
ed, was distinctly visible.
There sat my mistress, dressed just
as when she had left that evening.
Her head was leaned against the back
Of the easy-chair which she occupied,
and her eyes, in sort of calm stare,
were fixed directly upon me. Beyond
a doubt, she saw me, but had no de-
sire to speak. F.,
She looked very pale, and seemed
quite exhausted. I remember how
pity stirred my heart, and how I long
ed to pass beyond those glass folding
doors to where she sat. l should have
done so-should at least have spoken
had it not been for her evident
knowledge of my presence:
"How strange" I recollect think
ing "that she should have entered
that bedchamber, even by its hall
door, without my having heard her u
Moments passed by, and still the
same calm stare was fixed upon my
face. Presently I arose, and walked
toward the door of the boudow which
led into the outer hall. If it was
madame's pleasure to tell me nothing
of what had passed, I could at least
find out below-stairs whether mon
sieur had yet returned.
This Immediately proceeded to
do. The upper hall, on the second
floor of the chateau, was a great
oaken-ceiled gallery, spacious alike
in width and length. I had reached
the first step of the main staircase
that led below, when I started back,
a faint cry on my lips.
The baron was ascending. I shall
recollect till I die the pallor of his
face, and the terrible, changed look
about his eyes. He saw me, and
sprang forward, reaching the top of
the staircase just as I quittedit. An
instant later felt a grasp Of steel
on my arm, and heard a husky voice
in my ear:
Your turn next, traitorous wretch
that you are !"
NV blood was cold with terror, but
1 had strength to cry, though quite
family:
Madame madamel save me p
He released my arm, and drew
backward a step or two.
Whom are you calling?" he
asked.
"My mistress, answered, burst
ing into tears. "She has just re-
turned, and"
He sprang forward again, and again,
caught my arm, thoug h this time not
roughly. 49,,
fixing those same wild, altered eyes
upon my face.
1.-THE baroness. She is now in her
bedchamber, monsieur. AS for that
note you found me with" went
on.
But I somehow paused for Mon
sieur d Hauteville, still holding my
arm, had passed his disengaged hand
across his forehead in so strange a
way that terrible thought flashed
through my BRAIN He is mad II
You say that the baroness is aoaD
in her bedchamber p
His tones were hoarse and low.
He pointed toward the door of the
bedchamber as he spoke.
"She was there not three minutes
ago" ! said.