The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-10-23


In the dead Of the night carriage
ratified up to the door Of the Red LII.
on, that quaint old hostelry at Sting
bourne, which dates from the days of
AgincOurt. Though the hour was
late, the carriage was evidently ex-
pected, for a servant instantly ap-
peared and placed himself at the car
riage door. On his opening it, two
persons descended. One was a lady,
wrapped from head to foot in loose
velvet wrapper lined with leopard
skin throughout, so ample that it
covered her head and concealed her
face. Her companion was q youth in
a travelling cloak; mere youth, with
perfectly smooth oval face, and
with clustering locks about his head.
Not word was spoken. As the
lady passed in, the youth bowed to
her in a manner that was deferential
almost to servilIty. AS she crossed
the hall and began to ascend the great
oak staircase, he walked by her side,
not as companion but as an attend.
ant. The staircase terminated in g
broad corridor, also of oak; the walls
paneled and black with age; the floor
polished, except where narrow strip
of carpet extended from end to end.
Into this corridor all the doors of the
apartments on that floor opened. The
place was long and full of draughts,
and the lady shivered, though wrap
ped in furs, and extending her hand
so that it rested on the arm of the
youth, she elutehed at it spasmodi-
cally.
T., o;Io,,oa fT,o sorranf lad A. ,,,o..
with candelabra that showed giim-
mering light. In equal silence the
guests followed half way down the
corridor. They passed the doors of
many rooms, each furtively scanned
by the hooded lady with eyes not less
bright, furtive, or ravenous than
those Of the beast in whose furs she
was muffied. They seemed to have
no end TO these doors. Suddenly the
sharp click of lock sounded. A door
they were nearing opened slowly and
noiselessly a few inches. Then the
face Of man peered forth cautiously.
Black eyes glimmered in the dim
light. The lady shuddersd, uttered a
suppressed cry, and drew the leopard
skin over her face. The next mo-
ment the apparition vanished, the
face was withdrawn, and the door
closed. EFIU
Moving onward with difficulty the
terrified woman at length reached,
with assistance, a suite of rooms
which had been engaged for her at
the end of the corridor. The moment
lights had been placed on the table,
and the servants had Withdrawn, the
attendant double-locked the door.
''That was he; 1 knew his face. We
are tracked here also!" cried the Ia
dy, starting to her feet.
stSurely not; my lady, replied the
youth; "think how very often you
have been deceived"
"True; but not tonight, Roland
not tonight"
"And why not? Pardon me; 1 am
bold and presume to differ from your
ladyship; but surely, surely this can
not be?"
| Without answering, the woman
glanced at the table on which the
lights were burning, and, startled al
the sight of what there met her gaze,
darted toward it. On salver there
had been placed a small packet wrap
ped in white paper, tied with a scar
let cord. It was addressed
to her who now snatched it from the
sslver, in the name in which the
rooms of the hotel had been ordered
for herI What did this mean? With
set teeth, quick, painting breath, but
tremulous fingers, she tore open the
wrapper. Then a small enamelec
box was disclosed an oval box, azure
in color, enriched with cupids anC
flowers. 1t was easily opened. With
a pressure of the thumb against tht
spring.snap the lid flew open. AS thu
woman gave one glance at the con
tents Of the bon 6onuiere, for this i
; was, an involuntary cry escaped he
lips.
"LostI lost!D she with difficulty
: exclaimed.
"You have proof of what you fear
} ed. my lady" the youth enquired
} "Yes," she gasped, clutching tn
J box and its contents to her bosom q
il to hide it even from the eyes Of he
attendant 'QuickI let me goI lie
me 90 :"
'fNot yet, my lady,n Roland inter
, posed. You cannot mean this?"
"And why not ?"