Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-05-16
put it in his pocket.
Then for the FIRST time he spoke.
He simply said
s.En1Iou ma %,

He simply said
Follow me p
More dead than alive. I obeyed. and
we went down the stairs and out into the
bitter biting air.
A traveling britzka stood waiting
near the place. Q
| was hurried into it. and after few
words to the coachmau, the duke turned
to me and gave me the key.
Keep this" said he; II. must GO
back, have forgotten something"
lie disappeared in the darkness, and
was absent perhaps ten minutes. when he
returned and got into the carriage BY NV
side.
We moved slowl away, and as we,
went my husbandy pointing flom the
coach window, uttered
s'Look there!"
looked, Q Gid ! the palace we had
just lett was sheet of fame.
And the Count Ivan was perish in o
there locked in the wardrobe Of which /
had the key.
With wild. heart-brokeu CRY, I fell
back in swoou, and lay, I knew not
how long. When | revived was alone in
the brizks. l felt a weight about my
neck.
touched it.
IL was massive gold ohaip.
Attached to 1t was the key of that ia ,al
wardrobe. Tho chain was rivited to i,s
place, and | could not remoye ii.
A second time | swooned.
When l again recovered 7 was in o
compartment of railroad carriage.
The coachman was with me.
inquired our destination.
Paris" be said.
In due course We arrived, and I was
taken to set of furnished apartments.
where | was left | determined al once
on suicide aud was about to carry nv
PROJECT into immediate execution. with
the AID OF small pocket-kn tie had liz
my possession. when my hand was ar
rested by my husband. who ct that mo-
ment entered the chamber.
He bound me by the most terrible
oaths never to make the attempt again
while he lived, under the pam that, if I
| violated the compact he would Instantly
publish my shame and bring dlshonor up
Oh my family.
l. was thus forced sorrowfully to live on
and to submit to bi, visits, which took
place regularly each mouth.
His love tor NE was changed Into in
tense hate, and 4 is highest pleasure each
visit Was to recount IN inuteiy to me all
the circumstances of my treachcry 10 i'm
aud all the events of that aw full light in
St Petersburg.
He made me swear to wear the chain
and key 10 my dying hour.
This lasted t"rtwenty long years, dur
ing the course Of which he never once
tailed to appear promptly at appoin ted
| time.
At last the welcome td;ngs Of his
| death reached me, and came to London
to carry out my cherished design o: put
ting an end to my woes.
| have taken this obscure apartment
With the view Of effecfing my des'gn by
| starvat
lhe total omission OF names and clues
is Intentional.
dom not.wish to bring further dis
grace upon my husbands family or my
own!
Daylight was peeping in through the
blinds OF my study window when | flush
| ed reading this narration
Was it t"e Wild outpou,ing of "a luna
tics brain or was il sober, truthful?
1T ali events, I myself had seen the
chain aud key.
However. as myself could not judge
of It's falsity Or verify, have determln-
ed TO publish the narrative iu full as it
came into my possession, with my own
experience as connected with it, and
| hope that its readers; If W it'll them when
they have pernsed it. it may lack COM
| formation. will, at least fnd touch OF
melancholy interest in The LADY OF THE
KEY.