The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-07-18
BY HORSLEY BROS. & FIGUERs

thought the sum Sunc1enG 10 Duy up al
the crosses in Paris, and all the women
bearing them. How did you resist?"
eff I did not know that your slur on
woman and their crosses was said more
in humor than earnest, I would not
give you another word of information.
told the man that the offer was very
tempting, but that could not possibly
accept it without first consulting you. " !
"That was noble reply my dar-A
ling" said Henri, drawing his wife
close to his side, bestowing on her an
eloquent glance and several passionate
kissess. Hereafter I shall consider
you cheap at fifty thousand francs
What said old Croesus to your priceless
answer ?'
cat first he appeared much diseom-
fitted. After little while he said he
was going into the country to remain
one week that he shodld return this
way, and if /, in the meantime, gained
your consent, or concluded to part with
the cross without it, he would make
good his offer And then he bade me
reluctant adieu, went to post chase
that was waiting in the road, goti and
drove off rapidly to Chalons.
FINALLY we have the finale OF act
first, F" remarked Henri.
Eyes" responded the musing Irene,
toying with the object of so much dis
cussion, which was in reality of but lit
tie intrinsic value, and is no way re-
markable, excepting from peculiarity OF
design. Itwas of a clear, blood red
cornelian, the upright pillar being
carved to represent descending arrow,
and the cross piece very fine wrought
imitation of wings.
"What attraction this bit of thing,
which, aside from being your gift, L
| look upon as WORTHLESS, can possess to
render it so exceedingly precious IN the
eyes of that man I cannot conjecture,
| continued the puzzled Irene.
"I think I can furnish you with a
| clue to the foundation of his extraord1-
| nary interest" remarked Henri. "Wh hat
was his general appearance ?-that OF a
coarse, ilI-bred persons"
| "Far from that. He was quite tai,
not over feshy, we'll dressed, and re
fined in bearing and his language. His
countenance betokened much illness at
some early period of his life, or exces-
\ sive dissipation"
| "Should your oss-enamored friend
call again, and should much doubt ii
he ever does said Henri, 81 am the
person with whom he must deal"
"Why with you, dear p
| Because the object he is so extreme
| ly soIicitous to possess has a mysterl-
Gus history known only to myself.
"And that mysterious history at
| fords a kew to the solution to the seem
ingly insane offer of five hundred
| francs ?"
"I apprehend such to be the case.
That cross was found upon spot
where. but few days previous, re,
voting crime had been committed. Ii
NV sTrmises are correct, this strange
| visitor of YOURS was the author OF that
| crime. If so, he and that little red
cross are old acquaintances, and he
| would readily sacrifice several times
| five hundred francs to compass its pos
session. Why? Simply because, sc
long as it remains in other hands thar
his own, he is painfully conscious thai
it NAV at any moment ride up IN Judg
ment before him, and cost him the
more irreparable sacrifice of his head.
And you have kept all this dari
mystery from me-" complained Irene.
"I have, but will no longer / havt
refrained from making you acquainted
with the circumstances that are as
sociated with my finding of the trlnke
solely from a fear that the knowledg'
might cause you to conceive a morbl(
dislike to it. and as it is really prett.
toy. 1 liked to see you wear it. AM
now for the mystery. Do you remem
Der the murder, six years ago, of NO
bleman of the name of Comte de 81
Armande, in the Rue de Germaine ?"
, Distinctly" replied Irene. " Al
Paris was thrilled with horror at tn
: mystery and barbarity of the deed. Blu
= what association can this cross have wit
: that dreadful affair ?"
{ can intimate association. That eros
y was found by me on the identical spc
: of the murder, and but three days ther'
after. If you closely examine the III
, derside, you will observe a small dr1lle
o hole at each extremity. From thes
holes 1 am led to infer that 1t Wa
V worn by the unknown assassin on I'll
e fatal nightin question; and furthermor
r that it was wrenched from its FASTENING
n by the hand of the hapless Comte In h
diving struggle. Naturally enough,
It fell to the ground, where found 1t.
IS this day, in spite of the superhuman e
g forts of a by no means obtuse polio
If and the incentive of fabulous reward
% st. Armande's relatives, the murder
t. is undiscovered, and the whole atfa
a remains wrapped in impenetrable my
'. tery. After all these unreveallng yea
lie who shall say that the coming togeth
,e of this man and the cross is not &
ID working of a retributive fate? II
,e we'll does the man of inexplicable fan
IN know that the little toy he so covets
70 adequate, if it falls into proper hano
a. to work the cruciixiOn of great scou
ID drel.' -.
st "Ugh p shuddered Irene. And
a have been wearing it all this time,
e. ad miring it, totally ignorant of
" terrible thing its blood red color sy
n. bolizes, I can wear it no long
at Here removing from her shrink
at neck the chain by which it was 81
n pended-''I can now view it with
interest but that of horror ;" and S
n threw 1t nervously into her husban
lie lap" - -, IT,
at ina iocose tone, ''are you going to fair
Id Are YOU afraid of it? It is Just
ut harmless as it has been, and Just
Oy beautiful"
" Il do not fear it." replied Ire
shrinking from it, nevertheless. 4" 1
not that foolish. But dislike 1t.
ge innocent charm is lost to me forever.
After weighing the matter IN
er mind until the specified week had ne
IL ly elapsed, Henri suddenly and sag
concluded to acquaint the protect
police with the story in all its bearln
nd real, and suppository. That asst
TO- functionary proved to be an intellig
bv. and patient listener, and was only
ie- glad to detail two subordinates to I
ther a scheme that promised to res
ed in the capture of the criminal who
oh succeeded in eluding the pursuit
zen Justice. Early in the morning, w
&C. subsequent to that on which the
ed posed criminal had called, Henri
ent Irene into the city on visit to SO
friends with the explicit understand
erv that she was not to return until
came for her. Following close u
nd her departure, came the arrival OF
gendarmes, who were forthwith secre
ma in her but recently vacated bed-ro'
thereafter to make their re-entree In
IN | presence of the expected stranger