The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-12-26
The Little Lady.

dressed gentlemen asked permission tc
light his cigar by mine. saw ut once
that ne was Frenchman, although hiE
English was nearly perfect.
Have You heard the news :" he in.
"No."
,' Is it possible! Why, all Paris is
alive with it at this moment"
What has happened r.
Ihe Countess de MarVille, the fairesI
OF the fair, was found murdered in hel
bed last night, her bureau broken oper
and 10000 francs missing from it, II
was terrible The brute who did the
deed effected his entrance through the
window OF her chamber, near which
unfortunately, was tall tree planted
0y the distinguished grandfather of the
countess years ago. Little did heimag.
Inc what terrible use would be made
of it." N-'''>'
:" This is bad news. How any man
could harm woman thus in cold blood
IS more than | can imagine"
All, Monsieur, if you had ever seen
the Countess you would wonder still
more. She was beautiful-beautiful ae
an angel" he added, striking his whisk-
ers with an unmlstakable air of vanity
Il knew her WELL"
Indeed
"Oh, yes. There are in Paris few
popular woman unknown to me.n
His manner now was decideCllv CON-
ceited, and | felt disgusted. nv cold
ness evidently repelled him, for he soon
left me.
Afterward / heard other accounts of
the late tragedy.
Among the details of the affair was
one which peculiarly impressed me
and which my first informant had not
spoken of-an oversight which sur
prlsed me, as the occurrence he had not
mentioned was Of that kind which
would be most apt to strike the fancy.
Upon the throat of the Countess, the
murderer, in throttling her, had left a
mark from ring he wore-the impress
sion of chariot-wheel with q star in
the center. .-.-..-
"This," said my latest informant,
may lead to the discovery of the mur-
derer. Jean Mosqueau is already visi-
ting the jewelers. shops to find out from
which and by whom ring with char
iOt-wheel device was purchased" y
"Who is Jean Mosqueau ?"
"What, Mosqueau, our famous detec-
i've? Although his courage is we'll
known, you would not, to look at his
fair, delicate face and form, believe that
hecould fight a gnati"
A week later was aboard the steam
er, bound from Calais to Dover.
Among the passengers [ beheld one
whose face looked familiar to me. Twas
not long in recognizing this person as
the same had seen in the front of the
Hotel Windsor, and who had first in
formed me of the murder of the Count
ess.,
He was certainly very handsome
man, although his conceited air was a
blot upon his good looks.
He moved languidly hither and thith-
Ell, turning his brown eyes admiringly
upon the pretty lady passengers, while
stroking his whiskers with one white
hand, upon the middle finger of which
was superb diamond ring.
j am rather OF suspicious nature,
which, combined with lively imagina-
ton, had often led me into singular er-
rors.
Now, q strange impulse moved me to
advance and hold out my hand to the
man whom had inv0luntarily disliked
from the first in order that might have
q chance to glance at his ring. Some
discover chariot wheel device upon
the glittering bauble.
The stranger did not at first recognize
me. He soon did. however, and frankly
extended his left hand, which was not
the one containing the ring.
My brain fairly replied the mans be-
havior was o confirmation of my sus-
picions.
s.The other hand, if you please" l
said, In a l0ws stern voice.
"MOnsieur, will you please excuse me !;
my other hand is lame with. the rheu-
matisn."
=, He beheld me glance toward the half
hidden ring, and was sure | saw him
start and turn pale, at the same time
looking much surprised. He, however,
opened his right hand, as il perfectly
willing for me to shake it if I chose to.
Then ] had a good look at the ring,
and felt ashamed ofmy suspicious. The
device was common heart, which GER
tainly bore no resemblance to q char
iot-Wheel.
After a general conversation to recoy-
er my elf-pOssession, turned away,
resolving ia the future to have q better
opinion Of my fellow creatures.
The strangers looks seemed to at
tract the attention of a good many of
the ladies. One especially, q modest
boxing little. thing, attiEed in black,
kept directing furtiVe glanees ut the
handsome passenger. Finally she Gid
ed SO close to him that-in turning he
brushed against her.
An apology, smilingly received by
the little lady, q remark about the wealth
er on the part of the gentleman. and the
two were soon eOnversing with anima-
ton. Meanwhile the hlushing cheek
and bright eyes Of the fair one seemed
to betoken that she was well pleased
with her companion, whose air was
more eOnceited than ever.
lam afraid we shall have storm,
she remarked. pointing toward q dark
cloud upon which the captain OF the
boat was gazing anxiOusiy.
We may, but do not be alarmed,
madame.
With an air Of n0nehalance he pulled
a red cigar ease rom. his pocket and
asked his companion If she objected to
lY returning the red one TO his pocket,
pulled forth another of asblue color.
How manX cigars do yeIl smoke O
day9' inquired the lady, evidently
amused at the sight Of two cases.
The other@col0red and it struck me
that his voice falterea and his hand
as llemadG some laugh thing reply
Soon the storm cslrlle pOuneing down.
upon u.s. III d were midway i'm the.
cflaR1lel, 50 that We ea1g lle full force
af the sen and sale. Both ssere terrific.
Ehe sea swept the boat, which Law 30
far over tllaf herr machinery was 90
damaged that ii would not work. The
wind, screaming like d demon, threw
her over still further.
Suddenly re observed the sailors en-
deavofing to loosen & long boat on the
davits st the stern. Meanwhile, there