Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-01-09

"Or course, that must have Terminated
the conversation
"Of course, but did not, though. II be-
came more pointed THAI ever"
"Wcll, well! | am eager TO learn the
denouemont," said Henri. "If am not
at fault in my surmises, something will
shortly grow out of this affair that will in
tcrest Il very wide circle. Give inc the ex-
act particulars. What rcllowed?"
"lle said lie was wealthy and did not val
ne money; and that he had conceived so
strong a desire to possess the cross that
wild as the offer might seem, he would not
demur at giving 800 francs for it,"
give hundred, pdr6leul The iliuket is
not worth five francs, said Henri, excited
ly "Thc man is either a lunatic, or-what |
more strongly suspected him Of being"
"And what is il possible for you to more
strongly suspect him Of being?" asked
Irene.
"a knavc. In spite Of the temptation Of
800 francs, | see that you still bear your
cross. would have thought the sum suf-
ticent to buy up all the crosses in Paris
and all tho women bearing them. How did
you resisl?'
"If / did not know that your slurs on
women and and their crosses was said more
in bumor than earnest, ! would not give
you another word Of information. told
the man the offer was very tempting, but
that could not possibly accept it without
first consulting YOU
That was noble reply, my darling" 4"
said Henri, drawing his wife close 10 his
side, b esiowing on bcr an eloquent glance
and seyetal passionate kisses. Thereafter
I shall consider you cheap at 10000 francs.
What said old cIwsus to your priceless an
swcr?''
AT first he api cared much di,cumfted.
After li!Ilc while he said he was going n-
TO the country to remain one week and
that he should return this way, and II 1 in
the meantime gailcd your consent or eon-
cluded to part with The oro=a without ii, lie
,youid maze good his offer. And then he
babe me a reluctant adieu, went to post
chaisc that was waiting in the road, got in
and drove OF rapidly towards Chalons."
Final l!y we have the finale of act first"
remarked Henri.
YES, responded the musin5 Irene, toy
ing with the object Of 50 much discussion,
W hich Was in reality OF but little intrinsic
value, and in no way remarkable, except
ing rom pCculi3riiy of design. 1t was Of
clear, b!ood-lcd cornc.ian, the upright pill
lar being carved TO represent descending
arrow, and the cross piece Il very fine
wrought imitation Of wings.
"What attraction this bit of a thing,
which, aside from being yo3r gilt, look
upon a. worthless, can possess to render ii
50 exceedingly precious in the eyes Of the
man, | cannot conjecture" continued the
puzzled Irene.
Il think l can larnish you with clue to
the foundation Of this extraordinary inter
est" rem aiked Henri. "What was his
general appearance? That Of a coarse, i'll
bred pcrson?"
Far from chat. lie was quite tail. not
over ncshy, well dressed, and refined in
bearing aud language. His coun,cnauco
brtUhvuvu much Illness at some early perl
cd of his life, or excessive Gissil alton"
"Shou.d your cioss-enamorcd friend call
again, and should much doubt If he ever
does" said Henri, ~ am the person with
whom he must doal."
"Nhy with you, delr2"
"Becluse the object he is 50 extremely
solicitous TO possess has mysterious histp-
ry known only to myself
Anu that mysterious history affords a
key 10 the solution of the seemingly insane
offer of live hundred francs?"
Il apprchend such to be the case. That
cross was found upon a spot where, hut a
few days previously, revolving crime had
been committed. II my surmiscs are cor
rect, this strange visitor OF yours was tho
author Of that crime. II so, he and that lit-
tie red cross arc old acquantauces, and he
would readily sacrifice several times the
five hundred francs TO compass its possess
sica. Why? simply because so long as it
romans in other hands than his own. he is
painfully conscious that it may at any mo-
ment rise up in judgment before him, and
cost him the more irreparablc sacrifice OF
his head"
"And you have kept all this dark mys-
terry form me" complained Irene.
Il have, but will no lon-er. i have re
llAlhN' Ai'il hidhlH- NNh dN'lAdAllANu Will
the circumstance, that are associated will
my finding of the trinket, solely from q
fear that the knowledge might cause you tC
conceive n morbid dislike of il, and as il /,
really pretty toy, | ike TO see you weal
it. And now for the mystery. Do you re
member the murder, six years ago, OF ;
Dobleman cf the name of Comte dc st. Ar
! n,onIp in tbo Rnn ln (.arn,oipo
"Distinctly," replied Irene. All Pari
was thrilled with horror at the mystery
and barbarity of the deed. But what asso
citation can this cross have with that dread
| ful AFFAIR.""
"An intimate association. That cross
was found by mo on the identical spot o
| the murder, and Tut three days thereafter
If you will closely examine the uudersil
| you will observe small drilled hole n
each extremity. From these holes | an
led TO infer that it was worn by the un
| known assassin Oh the fatal night in ques
| lion; and furthermore, that ii was wrench
ed from The las,euings by the hard of th
hag!css Com,c, in his dying struggle. Nal.
urally enough, il fell to The ground wher,
l found It. To this day, in spite of the su
! perhuman efforts Of by no means obtus
| police, ana the incentive Of u fabulous re
! ward 10y -, Armaudc's relatives. the mur
dercr is undiscovered and tha whole anai
remains wrapped in impenetrable mys
terry. Amer all these unrcvealing years
who Shall say that the coming together O
this niau aud the cross IS no the working
of rctribnliye iate9 Too well does tn
man Of inoXplicaL!e fancy know that tn
little Toy he so covels is adequate, il it fall
into proper hands, to work the cruciiSiol
of great scOundrel."
Ugh r. shuddered Irene. "And hav
been wearing it all this time, and admirin
il, totally ignorant of the terrible thing il