The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-14
TIE LITTLE LADY.

1 was stopping at the Hotel Windsor, at
Rue dc Rivoli, Paris.
One morning was smoking in the col
onade, when tall, elegantly dressed gen
tleman asked permission to light his cigar
by mine. | saw at once that he was
Frenchman, although his English was
nearly perfect
"Have you heard the ?" he inquired.
ono"
SIS it possible! Why, all Paris is alive
with it at this moment"
"What has happened?"
"The Countess de Marvlle, the fairest
of the fair, was found murdered in her bed
last night, her bureau broken open and ten
thousand francs missing from it. 1t was
terrible. The brute who did the deed eff
fected his entrance through the window
of her chamber, near which, unfortunately,
was tall tree planted by the distinguished
grandfather of the Countess years ago.
Little did he imagine what IL terrible use
would be made of it,"
"rhs is bad news. How any man could
harm woman thus in cold blood is more
than | can imagine"
"Ah, monsieur, if you had ever seen the
Countess you would wonder still more.
She was beautiful-beautiiul us an angel"
he added, stroking his whiskers with an
unmistakable air of vanity; 81 knew her
we'll"
"Indeed."
sob, yes. There are in Paris few pop
ular women unknown to me-"
His manner now was decidedly conceited,
and | felt Disguised. My GOODNESS evil
IDENTIFY repealed him, for he soon eft me.
Afterwards heard from others accounts
of the late tragedy.
tIo Intails af I,n oil -,
which peculiarly impressed me-and which
my first informant had not spoken of-an
oversight which surprised me, as the &C.
currence he had not mentioned was of that
kind which would be most apt to strike the
fancy.
Upon the throat of the Countess the muir
derer, in throttlng her, hld left mark
from ring he wOre-the impression of the
chariot wheel with a STIR in the centre.
"This,' said my latest informant, "may
lead to the discovery of the murderer.
Jean Mosqueau is already visiting the jew
ellers' shops to find out from which and by
whom a ring with chariot wheel device
was purchased"
'Who is Jean Mosqueau!"
"Who, Mosqueau, our famous detective?
Although his courage is well known, you
would not, to look at his fair delicate face
and form. believe that he COLD fight
gnat"
A week later was aboard the steamer,
bound from Calais to Dover
Among the passengers | bcheld one
whose face looked familiar to me. | was
not long il recognizing this person as the
same | had seen in front of the Hotel Wind
sor, and who had first informed me of the
murder of the Countess.
II, nartait,l,, hand
although his conceitcd ar was blot upon
his good looks.
He moved Anguidly hther and thither,
turning his brown eyes admringly upon
the pretty lady passengers, while stroking
his whiskers with one white hand, upon the
middle finger of which was a superb dia-
mond ring.
| am rather of II suspicious nature which
combined with lively imagination, had Of
ten led me into singular errors
Now, strange impulse moved me to adj
vance and hold cut my hand TO the man
whom had inyoluntarily dslked from the
FIRST, in order that might have chance
to glance at his ring. Somehow the idea
possessed me that | should discover char
| iotewheel device upon the glittering bauble
The stranger did not at first recognize
me- lie soon did, however, and frankly
extended his left hand, which was not the
one containing the ring.
Ny brain fairly reeled the mans be-
| haviOr was Il confirmation of my suspic-
| ions.
"rhe other hand, if you please" said
| in low, stern voice,
"Monsieur will please excuse me my
other arm is lame with the rheumatism
lie beheld me glance towards 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 if perfectly willing for me to
shake it if | chose to.
Then had good look at the ring, and
felt ashamed of my suspicious. The de-
vice was n common heart, which certainly
bore no resemblance to chariot wheel
After general conversation to recover
my self possession, turned away, resolved
in the future to have a better opinion OF
my fellow creatures.
The strangers good looks seemed to at
tract the attention of good many of the
ladies'. One especially, a Inodest-loo
little thing, altired in black, kept directing
furtve chances at the handsome passenger.
Finally she glded so close to him that in
turning he brushed against her.
An apology, smilngly received by the
little lady, remark about the weather or
the part of the gentleman, and the two were
soon conyersing with animation. Mean
while the blushing cheek and bright eyes
of the fair one seemed to betoken that She
was well pleased with her companion, whose
air was more conceited than ever.
81 am afraid we shall have u Storm" she
remarked, pointing towards a dark clout
upon which the captain was gazing anxi
! OuSly.