New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-16

child-for it was child j arm sure of it."
$50 to the devil with your woman and
child go to the devil!o cried the Provost.
Seeing the unfortunate woman throw hersen
upon her knees, Hans Hans!' he cried,
twill you come and turn this woman out OF
doors To the devil with the Office of Pro-
yost! 1t brings me nothing but annoy
ance."
Z The servant appeared, and Monster Karl
Schwartz pointed to Christine.
Show her out" he said. Tomorrow
i shall certainly draw up a warrant in due
form to nd the town of this unfortunate
creature. Thank Heaven, we have mad
houses"
The woman laughed drearily, while the
servant, full Of pity for her, took her by the
arm and said gently to her:
"Come, Christine--come."
She had relapsed into madness. and MUIR
mured
"Deubche! Deubche!"
+ ii.
While these things were passing in the
house Of the Provost, Kasper Schwartz,
carriage came down the Rue d'Arsenal the
sentinel on guard before the shot-park, re-
cognizing the equipage as that of Count
Diderich, Colonel of the Imperial regiment
of Hilbourighausen, carried arms, a salute
answered him frem the interior of the We
hicle.
The carriage, drawn at full speed, seemed
as If going towards the Porte d'Allemagne,
but it took the Rue de lHomme de Fer, and
stopped before the door of the Provost's
house.
The Colonel, in full uniform, descended,
raised his eyes, and appeared supplied, for
the shocking laughter Of the mad woman
made itself heard outside of the house.
NOR al
thirty or forty years of age, tall, with brown
beard and hair, and Of severe and energetic
physiognomy.
lie entered the Provost's hall abruptly,
saw Hans leading Christine, and, without
waiting to have himself announced, walked
into Monsieur Schwartz's dining-room,, ex-
claiming
monsieur, the police Of your district are
intolerable! Twenty minutes since, stopped
in front of the cathedral, at the moment of
the Angelus. AS descended from my car
rage, seeing the Countess of Hilbourlghausen
coming down the steps, moved on one side
to allow her to pass, and then found that
my son-a child Of three years old, who had
been seated by my side-had disappeared.
The carriage door on the side towards the
Bishons house was open advantage was
taken Of the moment 1 was engaged in
lowering the steps to carry of the child! All
the search and inquiries of my people have
been fruitless. 1 am in despair, monsieur =
in despair"
The Colonel's agitation was extreme his
dark eyes flashed like lightning through the
tears he tried to repress his hand clasped
the hilt of his sword.
The Provost appeared to be dumbfounded !;
his appethetic nature was distressed at the
idea of having to rise and pass the night in
20 oh
place to place-in short, to recOmmence, for
the hmdredth time, the always unsuccessful
search.
He would rather have put of the business
till the next day.
!" Monsieur, )" replied the Colonel, ''under-
stand that will not be trifed with. You
shall answer for my son with your head. 1t
is your place to watch over the public secur-
lty-you fail in your duty--it's scandalous !!
Oh, that / at least knew who struck the
blow!''
While pronouncing these incoherent words,
he paced up and down the room with clenched
teeth and sombre looks.
Precipitation stood on the purple brow of
Master Schwartz, who murmured, rs he
looked at the plate before him
I'm very sorry, monseur--very sorry |;
but this is the tenth THE thieves are much
more clever than my detectives. What would
you have me do ~
At this imprudent response, the Colonel
bounded with rage, and Selling the fat Pro-
yost by the shoulders, dragged him out ofhis
armchair.
''What would have you do Is that the
answer you give to father who comes to
demand of you his child ?'
"Let me go, monsieur let me gow
roared the Provost, sitting with alarm. " In
Heavens name, calm yourself! A woman
a mad woman-Christine Evig, has just been
here-she told me-yes, l remember-Hans
Hans!"
The servant, who had overheard all at the
key-hole, entered the room instantly.
:" Monsieur ?"
Fetch back the mad womon."
She's still outside, monsieur"
well, bring her in. Pray, sit down,
Colonel"
Count Diderich remained standing in the
middle of. the room, and a moment after
wards, Christine Evig returned, haggard, and
laughing insanely, as she had gone out.
Hans and a servant girl, curious as to what
was passing, stood in the open doorway open
mouthed. The Colonel, with a commanding
gesture, made sign to them to 60 away,
then, crossing his arms in front Of Master
Schwartz, he cried:
do YOU expect TO obtain fronithis unfortunate
creature 2"
The Provost moved, as if he was going to
speak his fat cheeks shook.
The mad woman uttered sort of sobbing
laughter.
Monsieur" said the Provost at length,
I" this woman's case is the same as your
own two years ago she lost her child, and
that drove her mad"
The Colonel's eyes overlooked with tears.
$50 on" he said.
when she came little while ago, she APP
peared to have recovered a spark of reason,
and told me -"
Master Schwartz paused.
what did she ten you, nionsieur?''
THAT she had seen a woman carrying a
child"
"Ahp
thinking that she was only raving, sent
her away"
The Colonel smiled bitterly.
You sent her away?" he cried.
YES she seemed to me to have relapsed
into her state of Madness"
''Parbleu 2" cried the Count, in a tone of
thunder; 'you refuse assistance to this I'M
fortunate woman? You drive away from her
her last CLEAN Of hope, instead of sustaining
and defending her, as it is your duty to do I?
And you dare to retain your Office You dare