Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-03-12

0oulo compose herself sufficiently to
answer. When she did, it was In
neart-broken tones: You are RIGHT.
Monsieur, must tell YOU. NV sus-
picions point to one who has for
years been my all-nameIv MAIDEN.
oiselle De Antoinette De Grav. Mad.
emoiselle De Gray has been NV nro-
tege since the death of her parents
whick occurred while she was vet an
infant. In her I have hitherto re-
posed the most unlimited confidence;
nowI am distracted with doubts it
is impossible to silence.
But have not sent for you to un-
ravel this web of mystery with any
intention of giving publicity to her
guilt. Heaven knows I only desire
to learn the truth for her own dear
sake. / would not wrong the inno-
cent even in thought; the guilty l
would increasingly labor to restore.
Then, with sudden burst of grief
she exclaimed:
My poor Antoinetttel She is so
young, SO winning, and so beauti-
full!
Does Mademoiselle De Gray know
of your suspicious? I inquired as a
deep sob choked her utterance.
She does. A few hours before 1
sent for you I told her of my loss,
and entreated her to confess and re-
ceive my forgiveness.
With what result?
She gazed at me with startled eyes
for moment, and then in proud.
almost scornful accents replied, that
above all others, should know
whether she was capable of such
deed. v
And is she acquainted with the
fact of your having secured my ser
vices? = 81. t-.-. ..--
| Oh, yes, Monsieur. hoped it
would frighten her into a full con-
fession.
Il Your servants?
They know nothing whatever. For
MademoIselle De Gray's sake, / have
kept these startling robberies pro-
found secret. a'' '7z's O. 1-'H9ieNe-
After few moments serious con-
sideration, said: Madame, win
watch here nightly until the mystery
is solved. l-7srT
Madame shook her head despond-
| ly.
1t is quite useless, Monsieur. 1 am
no coward, and have already tried
that plan, and, strange to saw, nv
cabinet remained intact both times.
Perhaps MademoiselIe De GRAY
suspected your intentions, / replied.
This time we must guard against
the possibility. And now, if you
please, / will trouble you for a few
more details. About what time do
these robberies take place?
Always between midnight and
daybreak. i seldom retire till twelve
o'clock, and or the night of the
theft it was considerably later. i
remember distinctly; for, by sim
gular coincidence, Mademoiselle De
Gray and / sat there discussing the
possibility of the very event which
occurred. The recent MadWorth
robbery had impressed us both deep
Iy, and as I left the room, I bade
her lock the door.
Do you lock the door? / asked, in
dicating one I had noticed awhile
] bafoyo = ----- z CT
1t might secrete burglar, howev-
er. That is only a store closet. lI
Yes, Monsieur; but it did not. I
was in there very few minutes be-
, fore we retired. s=Is 20
Andth key of the door here
did MademOiselle know where YOU
put it? Div 7Fsz-f i-s.e3
Certainly, Monsieur.
And since that night?
Alasl Monsieur, / have hidden nv
keys in vain. ..-
After some further conversation I
took my leave, promising to return
! about midnight. / did so. Made
, moisefle and the servants had retir-
{ ed, and, as previously arranged,
Madame answered my light tap her
self. She ushered M into the pri-
, vate room, and soon bade me good
! night. -7 7-s-E2 ON -a''z91 a
70 After short absence, she return
: ed with a steaming cup Of coffee and
plate of Dutch cake. zg
I always take q cup before retir-
, ing, she explained, and thought you
: might find one acceptable.
And with a final good night she
: left me. Feeling both chilled and
7 thirsty, emptied the cup almost at
a draught. Then wheeling chair
behind the curtains draping 3 bay
window, l extinguished the light
IS and sat down to await the appear
ance of the unknown theft.
But saw nothing Just at day
q break Madame softly entered the
! room and spoke to me. l rose IN,
steadily to my feet, and stepped
n from behind the curtains. She gaz-
g ed at me in surprise for moment,
L and then smiled little ironically.
Y Monsieur slept wen, / perceive.
Yes, Madame, if well means sound
: Iy, l replied. The coffee was drug.
e ged. rsIs
, Druggedl she echoed, staggering
back a pace or two. -a
Yes, Madame. Permit me to ask
who made it?
: She covered her face with her
hands for an instant, and then drop
: ping them, reeled over to the eabl-
net. In minute she was beside me
! again.
9 deep, hollow tones. Mademoiselle
y De Gray! And-and, Monsieur, tle
0 money Is gone!
/ But. / answered, in some vexstion,
y she of all others, should not have
known of my presence here.
All, Monsieur, / was most careful,
returned the Madame, sorrowfully,
! 'Tis mystery how she gained her
knowledge.
a Wen, Madame, / answered, after
a few moments deiiberation, we viii
a meet Mademoiselle on her own
4 ground. Permit her, if you please
! to prepare another cup OF oonee 70 70