The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-12-09
The Little Lad

The Little Lad.
/ was stopping at ,he Hotel Windsor,
at Rue dc Rlyoi. Paris.
One morning l was smoking in the col
onuade, when IA tall, elegantly dressed
gentleman asked permission to light his
cigar by mine, saw at onpc that he
vas u Freuchman, although his English
was nearly perfect.
Have you heard the news 7? be inquir.
ed.
No
Is it possible! Why, all Paris is
alive with it at this moment
What has buppened"
The Countess dc Marville, the iairest
of the lair, was found murdered in hei
bed las; night, her bureau broken oper
aud 10000 francs missing from it. |,
vas terrible The brute who did the
deed effected his entrance through the
window OF her chamber, near which un
fortunately, was tall tree planted by
the distinguished grandfather Of The
Countess years pgo. Little did no i'm.
agine what terrible use would be made
OF it.
This is bad news How any man
could harm a woman thus in cold blood i.
more than can imagine
'Ah, Monsieur, if you had ever seen the
Countess you would wonder still more
She was beauliiu-heautiul as an angel,
be added, striking his whiskers with au
unni,takable air o! vanity; i knew her
we'll
JUDGED
'Oh, Yes. There are in Paris few pop
ular women uukuoan to me.
His manner now was decidedly concet
ed, aud | felt di,gusted. My codues'
evideLlly repelled him, for he soon left
me,
Afterwurd | heard other accounts oi
the late tragedy.
Among the details OF the affair was
one which peculiarly impressed mc-and
which my first informant had not spoken
uf-an oversight which surprised ne, as
the occurrence he had net mentioned wa'
Of that KIND which would be most apt tt
strike the fancy.
Upon the throat Of the Countess, th(
murderer, in throttling her, had left /
mark from the ring be wore-the impres
sion Of chariot wheel with n otar in the
center.
This, said my latest informant. may
lead to the discovery of the murderer
Jean No,queau is already visiting tn,
jewelers. shops to find out from which anC
by whom a ring with IL chariot.whee wa
/ purchased.
Who is Jean Mosqueau
What, Mosqueau, our famous detec
tive? Although his courage is wei
known, you would not, to look at his fair
delicate lace and form, believe that b
could fight guat
4 week later / was aboard the steam
er, bound from Calais TO Dover.
Among the Passengers beheld ou
whose face looked familiar to me. | wa
uot long in recognizing this person as tn
sane [ had seen in front of the llote
Wiudsor. aud who had first informed IL
Of the murder OF the Countess.
He wa, certainly very handsome mar
although his concealed air was blot upo
his good looks.
He moved languidly hither and thithel
turning his brown eyes admiringly upo
the pretty lady passengers, while strokD
his whiskers with one white hand, upo
middle ioger Of which was a superb dia
mond ring
am rather Of a suspicious natur,
which, combined with lively imagintior
had often led me into Singular errors.
Now, a strange impulse moved me
advance and hold out my hand to the ma
whom had involuntarily dislked iro
the first, in order that might have
chance to glance at his ring Someho
the idea possessed me that | should di
cover a chariot. .wheel devise upon ii
t gittering bauble.
t The stranger did not at first recogDi.
me. lie soon did, however, and frank
/ extended bis left hand, which was not Il
9 one containing the ring,
Ny brain fairly reeled the mans b
havior was confirmation Of my susl
cions.
The other hand, if you please sal
. 10 a low stern voice.
Monsieur will please excuse me; n
other hand is lame with the rheumatism
He be held me glance toward the hal
hidden ring aud | was sure saw hi
start aud turn pale, at the same til
looking much surprised. He, howcv'
opened his right hand as perfectly W
e., ling for me to shake il il chose to.
Then | had il good look at the ringa
I felt ashamed Of my su'picions. The
vice was common heart, which certa
ly bore DO resemblance to chariot VIII
After general conversation to reco'
my selEpossesson,l | turned away, resolv
IN the future TO have a better opinion
my fellow creatures.
) The strangers good looks seemed 10
tract the attention Of good many OF ,
ladies', One especially, a modest look
little thing, nttired iu black, kept dire
ing furtive glances at tho handsome F
senger. Finally she glided SO close
him that in turning he brushed agai
her
An apology, smiingly received By
little lady, remark about the west