The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-09-23

"Ahi Monsieur has had another
good night, without the aid of drugs, +"
she remarked, somewhat tartly.
"Yes, Madame, very good one" !"
l replied; "but l first earned the
right"
"Ahl' calculated Madame again;
but this time very tremulously.-
"Then you have-you-"
eyes, Madame" | answered, find
ing she could not finish the sentence.
"And now will you kindly allow me
to see Mademoiselle DeGray?"
"No, Monsieur, no p she replied,
with hastv emphasis. "My poor
Antoinette has siEned, no doubt; but
she shall be protected. You shall
not see my poor child, Monsieur, "
she concluded passionately. "Heav-
en- and l will make good woman OF
her yeti"
"My dear Madame, you quite mis-
take me-" ] answered feelingly.-
"Mademoiselle is innocent" l was
hardly prepared for the little French
woman's outburst of joy.
"My Antoinette! My pure dar-
ling! My white dovel My wrong
ed angel! Sweet Heaven, | thank
thee l' she cried, tearfully.
And before could say any more,
she had darted from the room. In a
few minutes she returned, leading a
tall, elegant, golden haired girl, whose
proud eyes glittered with tears. This
fair vision of youthful beauty left
Madamc's side and came to me. IL
thank you, Monsieur" she said, with
simple, earnest dignity. Il thank
you most truly"
"I have done little or nothing 10
entitle me to your thanks, Mademoi-
selle," l smiled in response. "But
have you no desire to learn the name
of the guilty party"
"Ah, true !" exclaimed Madame.
II forgot all but my infinite joy. Tell
US, Monsieur"
'First, Madame" l answered,
"permit me to restore your stolen
money. You have your keys, l see;
will you be kind enough to open the
treasure box z"
And fastening to the closet, /
rought out the japanned box.
Madame knelt down and wonder
ingly turned the key. then lifted
the lid and removed the false bottom.
An astonished exclamation parted
MademoiselIe De Gray's lips; but
Madame leaned over the box like one
in q dream, and could not be convinc
ed until the notes were in her hand
and counted, that it was no dream a
all, but a most pleasant reality.
Yes, Antoinctte," she at last said
rising and casting the notes on the
table, "every sou of it is here. Anc
to think of its being in the old box
Antoinette l''
"Yes,,, smiled Mademoiselle, will
puzzled expression, "but-"
"But," interrupted Madame, ever
more vivaciously, "but who put it in
to the box?" And she fixed her eye
in eager expectancy on mine.
"The-the apparition," l faltered
"entered the room between two ant
three o'clock, and went straight t.
the cabinet. In a few moments tn,
notes were purloined and deposited
where YOU just now found them"
"But the secret compartment, Mon
sieur," interrupted Madame. excited
lly, "was it opened without difficulty
Eyes. Madame"
STRANGE! most strange |" she eiac
ulated, in pcrplexing tones, adding
the next instant, "go on, Monsieur.
THAT is all, Madame"
"Alll But what did you do, Mon
sieur 20 she asked, sharply.
Nothing, Madame, but stagge
aside and gaze like an imbecile aite
the retreating form l had extende
nv hand to seize"
.'Ohp p exclaimed Madame, in
low. awed voice. "Was it-you cal
ed it an apparition, | recolleet, Nor
sieur. What-what did it resembley
at was a woman. A small, pa
lid woman, clad in a trailing crimso
robe"
"a crimson robe ~ echoed Mao
ame and Mademoiselle, both eviden
ly aghast.
"Yes, and with silvery white hat
-"
"White hair ~ again echoed boil
looking at each other with faces
CONSERVATION.
Mademoiselle DeGray recovere
herself first. "What else Monsieur?
she querriep impatiently.
Nothing else, Mademoiselle, e,
cept that this singular apparition ca
ried q bronze candlestick and yond'
bunch of keys" Mademoiselle ga
ed at me a moment in silence, an
then turning, suddenly flung h'
arms about the Madame's neck, an
kissing her on both cheeks, exelain
ed between tears and laughter:
"Oh! you naughty, naughty thief
: Madame Stared from Msdemoiselle
the picture of bewildered disma
then dropping her eyes to the flo,
she revolved, apparently, some pc
picking question. Presently she loo
ed up.
"Tell me, Antonette," (" she murmu
, ed doubtfully, why did you drr
! Monsieur's coffee ?"
2 I?" exclaimed Mademoiselle, fus
4 ing with astonishment. II did it I
r more than l stole the money. i kne
not Monsieur was here, much lie
/ that he took coffee. But perhaps
: she roguishly added the next nome
: as she again sbowered kisses on Ma
e ame's roseate cheeks, "but perhaI
: you can plead guilty" Again b
e wildered dismay widened Madame
eyes, and, after q little, she faltere
: "Oh, Antonette, I-I-yes, l ce
J. tainly did, Monsieur slept well al
8 | slept poorly. Yes, Monsieur &
d my powders 1 never thought of
till this minute"
"What powders?" laughed Mad
e moiselle DeGray.
',The morphine ~ exclaimed Ma
i anne, more composedly. Il felt slee
/ less and excited, and put it into
!. cup, intending to pour my coffee ov