The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-01-19
THE BULLETIN.
SELECTED STORY.
THRILLING ADVENTURE OF
PAULINE LUCIA.

The Royal Italian opera, Convent
Garden, closed on Saturday, the goth
inst, with Meyerbeer great master
piece, "L'Etoile du Nord." Talking
with friend about the principle feat
ures Of the season, had, naturally,
much to say about Madame Pauline
Lucca. After q time our converse
ton turned upon her high qualities in
private life her kind. heartedness,
affection, generosity and courage. For
cool resolution, the following incident,
related to me by my friend, cannot
we'll be surpassed. Madame Pauline
Lucca usually resides in the Victoria
Strasse, Berlin. Last spring, however,
she occupied, temporarily, at some
distance outside the city, gartenhaus,
or country house, consisting Of only
spacious, rambling basement story,
surrounded by veranda. One night,
about ten o'clock, she was sitting there
in her bedroom. Her chair was placed
before her toilet table, which was
lighted by wax taper on each side Of
the glass. The two tapers were not
sufficient to illuminate the rooms very
brilliantly, and the further end lay
buried in sort Of semi obscurity.
Madame Lucca was busy reading some
letters concerning engagements, when
suddenly she immagined she heard a
noise. She looked around, but, see
ing nothing, concluded she made
mistake, and resumed the perusal Of
the letters. She had forgotten all
about the noise, when she heard it
again. This time, instead Of looking
around, she happened, without moving
her head, merely to raise her eyes to
the glass. She beheld reflected in it
the face Of man peering cautiously
from out cupboard behind her. AT
first she fancied she was dreaming.
She quickly looked again. No, it was
no dream. There was the man, whom
she now recognized as having been
formerly in her service, whence he had
been discharged for general bad be-
havior. She had also suspected him
Of purloining several objects which
she had missed from time 10 time, but
not being certain on this point. she
had kept her suspicious to herself.
Yes, there he was there could be no
mistake about the matter. Madame
Lucas first impulse was to start up
and give the alarm. But there was
not another habitation within mile
or two, and she recollected that the
only person beside herself in the house
was her maid, who, though a very
good girl, and extremely attached to
her mistress, was by no means cele-
brated for her nerve. The other ser
wants, including the gardner and
coachman, had been granted permis-
sion to attend friends wedding some
miles off, and were not to return till
the next day. 1t flashed across her
mind that the man, who, as she knew,
had been lettering about the neighbor-
hood for two or three days, had learned
that she would be alone, and meant to
rob the house, or perhaps murder her,
if his project Of robbery could not be
executed without the preparation Of
the greater crime. What was to be
done Again she glanced toward the
mirror. The eyes were still there,
glazing Oh through the gloom. All at
once she remembered that revolver
belonging to her husband, the Baron
Won Rhaden, ought to be lying on q
shelf IN the dining room but she was
not quite sure. "If it is there, and if
l could only get it, she thought, II
should not mind?" While she was
rejecting, a knock was heard ON the
door Of the room. She saw the man
instantly draw back into the cupboard
and close it after him. She felt re-
lieved that those two horrible eyes
were taken off her; they seemed to
pierce her like daggers.
"Come in y she said. Her maid
entered.
~ thought you had gone to bed, my
good girl" observed Madame Lucca,
in a tone Of unconcern.
81 was going, please your ladyship
but I-I-thought you might per-
haps want something" replied the
maid.
II told you l would be my own
femme de chamJre tonight. No; the
only thing l want is to stretch my
limbs little, for they are cramped
from long sitting"
Speaking this, Madame Lucca arose
with an air Of admirably acted in.
difference, and took turn or two across
the room, passing close to the cupbard
as she did so. She afterwards de-
clared she thought she could hear the
man breathe in his hiding place. He,
on his part, might have heard her heart
beat, she said, when, on looking at the
keyhole, she found the key had been
removed. She was foiled in her plan,
which had been to lock him in. Still
her presence of mind did not desert
her.
"Ah, dear me !" she said, gaping,
81 feel very sleepy!
"Sleepy, your ladyshipl ! wish =!
did" replied her maid. 81 don't feel
sleepy. I'm too frightened
enlightened | What are you
frightened Of, you foolish goose ?
Nonsense - replied Madame Lucca.