The Van Buren press., 1874-07-28

been found dead in Madame Matteau
house. and that she was arrested on sus
picion of having murdered him, his watcl
and chain having been found in her pos
session.
Before had recovered from the shocl
of this terrible piece of news, message
came to me from Madame Matteau Sh'
desired to see me. OF course | went a
once
She had been taken to prison, and
found her in little room with barref
window, and an insufficient fire on th'
hearth The logs had burnt in two upor
the andirons, and the white ashes wer'
scattered over the hearth. Almost II
them sat Madame Matteau, in her wild
ow s dress of sombre black,
She was chilly with grief and excite
ment, and had drawn her chair close tt
the fire.
She snook violently from head to foot
and her face was deadly pale as she turn
ed it toward me and held out her hand
90, thank Heaven. you have come J
she said g know you can save me II
it not horrible? ? How could kill man
Why should |? Why do people come
to my house to dieY To die horribly
with black faces and staring eyes, as !
some one had chokcd them? Ugh ano
he was pretty young man the night be
fore Oh, good Heaven, how horrible! I!
sat down beside her. | took hel
hand.
Madame Matteau," | said, " be calm
collect yourself. AS your lawyer, mus
know all Tell me, from first to last
what happened-what was said, what was
done. Ifyou-'
paused; her black eyes had flashed
upon me. | could rot ask her whether
she had any confession to make l saw
that she had not. Unless she was th'
best actress who ever lived, Madame
Matteau was innocent of any crime.
"Ifyou have any suspicious, | added
tell them all to me
" There is no one to suspect, sobbeo
the poor woman.
/" In the house were Gabrielle, ms
daug ter, whom you have seen old Han
nah, the cook Mr.. and Mrs Beauchamp
friends of my poor, dear husband in hl'
boyhood--the best, kindest people; Mr.
Gray, a very old man, too feeble TO leave
the house poor, deformed Miss Norman
and the librarian, Mr. Bassford. Non,
Of these would murder a mouse. See
how kind they are; they remain in my
house they send me word that they have
no doubt of me. Oh, how can any
body? 7"
. And this man who" began.
"Yes, " said Madame Mattcau, II viii
tell you; he was fair, Young, handsome
ly dressed be asked Mr. Bassford at tn,
depot if he knew Of anyone who could
accommodate him. Mr. Bassford brought
him home My only empty room was
the one in which those other two stran
gers died. could not bear to put him
there; but Mr.. Bassford laughed at me
We had supper aftcrward He talked
long time to Gabrielle. 1t was late when
he retired-late for quiet household
Hannah had made his fire. She came
and told us that she had done 80. lie
said good night
AFTER he had gone we found that he
had left his watch on the table tie wore
it only with a bunch Of seals, and he had
been setting it by the clock, and showing
it to us as something very handsome.
knocked at the door to restore it to him
He had not left us but fifteen minutes be
fore; but he must have been asleep al
ready, for he made:no answer. So kept
it for the night, and wore it down to
breakfast next morning AS ! came down
! met a gentleman in the hall. de IN
quired for Mr.. Glenn. That was the new
comer's name sent Hannah to wake
him. She could not do so, and grew
alarmed. She had key that would open
the door, and used it, The next thing
know we were all In the room and tho
windows were all wide open, and the doc
tor had been sent for; and the young
man who had called was screaming tha
his brother had been choked to death
and then there was the inquest, and they
arrested me. The brother said the frs
thing he noticed was that l wore Mr.
Glenn's watch and seals. l had forgot
ten it in my terror
$50 Hannah had key to the room :?
| said
/" Yes; at least it was key that would
opu it. 1t was the key to Mr. Bassford' s
door. She knocked the other out with q
stick and put that in"
"The people who were there on thai
night were your boarders when the othel
men were found dead p ] asked
"Oh, yes.
"Aunt Hannah was there also p
All my married life Hannah has lived
with me.
Your daughter oversees your house
hold in your absence p
Yes, poor child with Hannah's help
thought little while
Madame, said, "thcre is some
strange mystery in this affair. ] do not
despair OF proving to all the world your
entire innocence. Meanwhile be as calm
as possible, and endeavor to remember
everything connected with the sudden
deaths that have occurred in your house
The incident that seems tire least impor.
tant may really be of the most immense
value.
So | left and went home. Strange
enough, on the way met the doctor who
had been called in lie was dull, heavy
sort of person, considerably given to
beer drinking, and my opinion of his abil'
ity was not very great. However. ques
toned him on the subject, and he re-
piled: -,
"Well, you see, I don't say the old