The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-05-03

OAOAdnSSu quIp anu ISpdFGeS, wei
coined new comers without inter-
rupting the stream of dialogue-and
SMOKED CIGARETTES
with assiduity. The fragrant fumes
of choice Latakia filed the rooms.
and Lola's hands were constantly
busy in the preparations of fresh
supplies of ''the weed" for herself
and her companions. She asked me
to take a cigarette. 1 consented,
mainly to see how she would manu-
facture it. 1t was ready in twenty
seconds. Taking from the arm of
her chair a reticule, containing to-
bacco in one division and silk paper
in another, the roll was twisted in a
twinkling, and Lola's light lighted
it. We sat and smoked together till
the cigarette burned QUIT was not
long-and then the bell announced
supper.
l do not believe that
CURIOUS SUPPER
will be forgotten by any of the par
ty of twenty who sat down to par
take of it. Lola placed at her left
hand the only other persons of her
own sex who appeared among the
guests, and at the right was dash
ing French captain, across whose
face saber-stroke had left a sinister
scar. The talk of the table soon
turned upon the absorbing topic of
the day-the BurdeH murder. Var
iohs hypOtheses were broached, and
the argument finally became general
and heated. The question in dis
pute was that of the sex of the assas-
sin. We had the whole controver-
sy settled in a summary manner by
the SCARED captain-who, gravely
rising, and walking toward the win
dow, opened the drawer Of a meat lit
tie eScrttoire, took therefrom beau
tiful little Turkish dagger-Lola's
property-and then, returning to his
place at table, drew himself up and
described at great length
HOW A WOMAN SLABS A MAN,
promising that no one but a woman
could have inflicted the wounds
found upon the body of DIR. Burdell.
"a man. said the Captain, ''when
he strikes with a dagger, makes a
strong downward blow-thus;" illus
trating with a fierce emphasis. "But
woman is unaccustomed to the use
of weapon, and she makes spiteful
little upWard blows, as if she had
struck with pair of scissors. Now,
most Of the wounds DR.. Burdell re-
ceived were of slight depth, and near
ly all took an upward direction. So,
you see, the doctor mast have been
murdered by q womanp'
Lola cried out at this in rapture ::
"Brayo, Captain, you have made it
all clear. Now let us have some sal
ad and some wine"
And then the conversation passed
into other channels. There was a
good deal of wit, but no coarseness.
Much wine was consumed, but all
the consumers were seasoned YES
sells. Smoking was encouraged, not
prohibited; and at the end of the
third hour Lola was dimly visible
through an overhanging cloud, to
the creation of which she had con
tributed her full share.
But all this time I was studying
the hostess. Her beauty had been
left in Europe, except that belonging
to her wonderful eyes-eyes that
never ceased till the last hour of her
life to express the force and the pas
sion Of her nature. But the face
was drawn and haggard, the form
attenuated, and the hands almost
transparent. With all her vivaeity
and sparkling wit, the countess was
but wreck. Three years later she
was dead.
This brings me to
THE LAST EPOCH
in her life. The record is contained
in little volume, entitled "The
Story of Penitent, issued six years
after Lola's death, by the Protestant
Episcopal Society for the promotion
of Evangelical knowledge in New
York. 1t appears from this singular
story that Lola, who died in this CITY
in 1861, and was buried in Green
wood under her proper name of Eli
"a Gilbert, became a convert to the
Christian faith during her last ill
ness. In the latter part of 1860 she
was struck with paralysis of her left
side, and lay for some days in an un-
state. When her system
had partly rallied, she became
thoughtful upon religious subjects,
and solicited the ministrations of the
late DR.. Hawks, to whom she confid-
ed the story Of her life and her
hopes of a new spiritual existence.
DIR. HAWKS
has left brief memoir, in which he
describes these interviews. ''In the
course of a long experience as
Christian minister, he writes, 81 do |
not think lever saw deeper penitence
and humility, more real contrition
Of soul, and more Of bitter self.re-
proach, than in this poor woman.
When prayed with her, nothing
could exceed the 'ferver of her devo-
tion; and never had l a more watch
full and attentive hearer than when |
read the Scriptures" In another
passage DR.. Hawks relates that dur
ing this period the Bible was within
reach of her hand, and adds: son
my first visit, when I took up her
Bible from the table, the fact struck
me that it opened of its own accord /
to the touching story of Christ's for
giveness of the Magdalene in the
house of Simon"
FRAGMENTS FROM LoLA's DIARY
Ire not the least interesting part of
his little tract. The first extract,
lated Sept, 10, 1859, shows profound
devotional feeling, and those which /
jollow reveal the growth of a strong
'eligious faith. In one singular pas
sage she writes: "AIl that has
passed in New York has not been
mere illusion. feel that 1t is true.
The Lord heard my feeble cry to
lin, and l felt what no human
ongue can describa. Such feelings