Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-09-11

| lAtte VI Two.
Yes, Madame. Permit me to ask wht
made it?'
She covered her face with her hands foi
an instant, and then dropping them reeled
over to the cabinet. In a minute she wa,
beside me again
..Who made it ?" she repeated, in dee,
hollow tones. "Mademoiselle De Grav
And-and, Monsieur, The money IS gone ~
But, | answered. in some vexation.
"Mademoiselle, of all others, should moi
have known of my presence here
"Ah, Monsieur, was most careful, -
returned Madame sorrowfully. lis a
mystery how she gained her knowledge. -
Well Madame" | answered, after a few
minute dellberation, we will meet NADIA
molSelie on her own ground Permit her,
Hyoa please, to prepare another cup Of
coffee tonight. She will, no doubt, count
upon It's effects. And that night | received
another steaming cup. But it was received
cnly. Consequently | was not found nap
ping. had watched patiently for two hours
or more, when the door softly opened, and Il
pale, slender. little old woman, wrapped in
a crimson dressing-gown, and about whose
b're head doated a few scanty gray locks,
stole noiselessly into the room. She carried
bunch Of KEYS and a lighted tapor in q
small bronze candlestick Closing the door
carefully behind her, she proceeded at once
to the cabinet. Can this weird-looking
woman be Mademoisele De Gray?" |
thought, gazing at the singular apparition ::
''No, it cannot be. Certainly, Mademoi~elle
/ is young. This might be some old relative
or friend Of Madame" Quickly and noise
! lessly she approached the cabinet. and in
moment it was unlocked and the secret com
/ Tartment open.
Alter carefully Withdrawing the notes de-
posted there by Madame Il few hours pre-
yi5as, she snapped the spring and recl6sed
the desk Then turning quickly away. size
went over to the store closet.
now left my hiding-place and cautiously
/ followed. When | reached the door She
was in the act of removing the false bottom
from large .iapanned box in one corner.
Dropping it on the floor beside her. she took
from the box roll Of notes, and, after adding
the one Just stolen. returned the bundle to
/ It's place again Then hastily restoring the
/ box to It's former order, She rose and turned
away.
stepped back pace or two, with the
I design OF seizing her outside the closet.
In moment she appeared and confronted
ne. and for the first time | obtained fair
view OF her features. But instead of the
horror and dismay which had been anti
cIlating, | was the one to fall back agla-t.
My ouistretched arm dropped p0werless as
with swift tread and strong gaze, she swept
past me and out Of the room.
"Aud this Is the solution 80 | muttered.
( drawing deep breath of relief As the door
closed upon her. "What will Madame say?
VIII She readily credit the reports | must
giye?"
Without deciding ON the question
dropped On the sofa and made myself COM
Portable for the remainder of the night ~
on the previous day, Madame sought me
early. She looked at me scrutinizinglv.
"Ah Monsieur has had another good
night, without the aid Of drugs, She re-
marked, somewhat tartlv.
Yes. Alaiame, a very good one. =. re-
I Piled bat first earned the right
"Ah!" calculated Maname again: but
this time very tremulously. Then you have
-you-"
YES, Madame, answered fnling She
could not finish the sentence. And now
will YOU kindly allow me to sec Mademai-
>elle De Gray?''
"No, Monsieur no 3" she replied, vi,h
husty emphasis. my poor AntJinette las
-innel no doubt; but She shall be protected
/ lol shall not see my poor child, Monsieur, "
/ she concluded passionately. Heaven and
| viii make a good woman Of her yet -
Ny dear Madame. You quite mistake
me, | answered teelingly. "Mademoisellc
Is innocent | was hardly prepared for
/ the little Frenchwoman's : outbur@t Of iov
My Antoinctte Ny pure darling Ny
white dove? My winged angel Sweet
heaven, | thank thee ''' she cried tearfully
And before | could say any more, she lad
/ Garted from the room. In few minutes she
returned, leading tall, elegant, golden
haired girl, whose proud eyes gittered with
/ tears. This fair vision OF youthful beauty
/ left madame's side and came to me. II
/ thank You, Monsieur, she said, with simple
| earnest dignity. Il thank You most truly"
Il have done little or nothing to entitle
he To your thanks, Mademoiselle, - l smiled
in response. But have yoa no desire to
! learn the name of the guilty party ?''
All, true exclaimed Madame Il
forgot all hat my infinite joy. Tell Us,
/ Monsieur
First, Madame, ! answered, ''rermit
me to restore your stolen money. You have
I your keys, l see Will You be kinl enough
/ o. cleu the treasure-box ?''
And fastening to the closet I brought
out the japanned box.
Madame knclt down and wondcringly
turned the key | then lifted the lid and
removed the false bottom. An astonished
exclamation Parted Madenoiselle De Gray's
lips. but Madame leaned over the box Ike
I / ,,9
until the notes were in her hand and count
ed. that it was no dream at all, but a most
. pleasant reality.
Yes, Antoinette," :" she at last said, rising
and casting the notes on the table, "cycry
sou Of it Is here. And to think Of its being
10 the old box, Antoinette - "Nes,
smiled Mademoiselle, with a puzzled ex-
preston. ''but-''
But interrupted Madame, even more
yiyaciausly, 'bat who put it into the box p
And She fixed her eyes in eager expectancy
N mine.
"Ihe-the apparition, | faltered, "en
tered the room between and 3 O'Clock, and
went straight to the cabinet. In few
moments the notes were purloined and de
posted where You Just now found them.
Bat the secret compartment, Monsieur,
interrupted Madame, excitedly, was it
opened without difficulty p "Yes, Mad
ame'
Strange most strange :" she calculated,
in perplexing tones, adding the next instant.
60 on, Monsieur
That is all. Madame
All But what did you do, Monsieur -
She asked, sharply.
Nothing, Madame, but stagger aside and
gaze like an imbecile after the retreating
form had extended my hand to seize
oh exclaimed Madame. in a low
awed voice. WAS it-you called it an
apTarition. I recollect Monsieur What
what did it resembIe?@
at was woman. y small, pallid wo-
man, clad in a trailing crimson-'
"A crimson robe - echoed Madame and
Madamoselle, both evidently aghast
'Yes, and with siivery-white hair"
white hair !' again echoed both, look
ing at each other with faces of consterna-
ton.
MalemoiseIle De Gray recovered herself
first. 'What else, Monsieur ?" she queried
inpatiently.
Nothing else, Mademoiselle, except that
this singular apparition carried a bronze
caudlestiek and yonder bunch of keys -
Mademoiselle gazed at me moment in 81
lenee, and then turning, suddenly flung her
arms about the AIadame's neck. ani kissing
her on both cheeks exclaimedibetween tears
and laughter:
"Oh you naughty, naughty thief. =
Madame stared from Mademoiselle the
picture Of bewildcred dismay; then dropping
her eyes to the floor she revolyed, apparent
ly, some perplexing question. Presently
She looked up.
Tell me, Antoinette,' she mutterd
doubiiully, why did You drug Monsieur :
coffee p
~" exclaimed Alademoiselle, flushing
with establishment, Il did it no more than
stole the money. | knew not that Mon
sieur was here, much less that be took
| cnnae Rnt nerhnros'' she rnrnishly added