Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-12-24
COL. MARTINEAU'S MYSTERY.

One bright, sunny morning, about the
middle of April, in the year 1858, the
French bark Adrian was sighted outside
the heads, and during the course of The
afternoon came slowly sailing down the
harbor.a Her eonsignees were on hand
of course, and before her anchor was
dropped in the roadway they knew heI
log by heart, the state of her cargo, the
health of the officers and crew, and had
introduced themselves to the passengers
NOT heavy task, there being but three
Of them. The Adrien had sailed from
the port OF Havre on the 18th day oi
November, of the year 1857, and, all in
all, had had a good and prosperous voy-
age. Her hold was stored with fancy
merchandise and wine, and her natty
little cabin was beautiful with one of the
brightest, dearest girls France ever had
the honor to claim for a daughter. She
was eighteen in years, brunette, aud
the possessor OF the most wonderful
pair of eyes to be seen anywhere. In
anger-no, she never became angry-tIt
in excitement they sparkled and shone
with light which fairly startled the
beholder. They never snapped, for they
were unpoeiias, and enough to ruin the
personal appearances of any heroine; but
they had a way Of suddenly shntting and
opening again as quickly, which gave
one some idea of the energy of the spirit
which was inducing the display of feel
ing. But in sadness, when feeling
of pity shone in them, then they were
indeed beautiful. The long lashes, which
almost sweptthe cheek, seemed 10 droop,
and the lids half closed over two sorrow
ing orbs, in which the tears welled up.
A face with such eyes as ! have but
poorly described could not be called
homely, were the features perhaps a
trife Irregular but such was not the
case in this instance. Regular features
were here, and the whole made up a
head spch as an artist would never tire
of painting. The figure Of the brunette,
whose eyes have made such sad havoc
with my description, was inclined to the
petite, and as she stood upon the deck
her hair, which Ind escaped from be-
meath her pretty French bonnet, was
tossed by the breeze aud thrown into
most charming disorder. The day was
ahilly, and she drew her cloak closer
around her and watched the prepara-
tions they were mskisg about her to dis
embark with an eye of eager interest
She stood close by the side OF an old
gentleman, TO whom she was continually
addressing herself He was tall, and
had an air about him which betrayed
the old soldier at the first glance. His
hair was an iron gray; and bis mustaehe,
which, it seemed, had got before in the
race against time, we're silyery white.
The other passenger, whom ] shall have
occasion to describe further on, stood
some distance ossT and varied his occu-
patton Of watching the sailors at work
and playing with q pet monkey, which
they, had brought from France With
them. t...a.--r Il
"And you, papa, said ths girl 10 .
voice that was singularly sweet and
afectionate, are you not glad that we
are at the end Of our voyage2 You
know we have been ever so many
months on the water
why, Marie, my darling, OF course
I'm glad" replied he; you don't know
how much feared for my darling on
this long. perilous journey; how often l
wished il had never begun; but now
we're safe in port we ought to be
truly thankful that il has ended without
mishap.
There was 3 tone Of sadness in which
this was said which told too plainly that
the speaker was not telling all he felt,