The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-04-28

IL uCd1D OCdO ~ SULOCd GlOus duu L HGI
that if the ordeal lasted much longer, ]
could not control myself, and should
scream Or faint.
Happily, however, the next moment
the light was withdrawn, and my noe
turnal visitor left the house.
[ heard the footsteps pass along the
corridor, and descend the stairs leading
to the drawing room. Then it flashed
upon me, though I had locked the bu-
reau containing my .iewelry, l had not
taken away the key.
l have remarked hat by nature l
was timid: but, at this juncture, I
felt as brave as a lion, and, springing
from my bed, threw on my dressing
gown, and went out to the head of the
| stairs.
I paused. A dreadful fear came over
me. All was dark, and l heard not a
sound. ] began to descend.
When / got opposite the door of the
drawing-reom, which was partially
closed, I saw a dim light proceeding
thence. Oh! my agony OF fear lest the
stairs should creak and betray mel
On reaching the door of the room, l
saw to my delight that the key was in
the lock outside. But if I should not
be successful in making this villain
prisoner.
l shuddered at the thought. How
this man had got into the house l could
not tell. He must be a friend of one of
the servants, I conjectured.
My hand was upon the key OF the door,
when the handle with a sharp click, be-
trayed me.
| heard a quick step across the apart
ment. A moment decided me
I must feign somnambulism.
In anotherins the door Was opened,
and /, with my eyes fixed wide open,
entered the room.
The thief started back with a smothered
exclamation of surprise.
I dared not look at him, but walked
straight past him to the bureau, and
spoke the following words disjeintedly
81 lost my key here. Where can it
be?"
The man walked over to the other end
of the room, where an overcoat was hung
on the back of a chair, and began to
search the pockets.
I had in that moment time to regard
him.
[ could hardly forbear a cry; for, in
this room, trying to rob MY mother and
myself of our jewels, was Monsieur Men
ton.
He returned to the bureau (where I
still fumbling to find the key, and
forced one into my hand.
| then pretended that | had found
what l wanted, and, turning round, left
the room.
] have often wondered since then why
did not raise the house, but, truth to
ell, my movements on that night were
luife mechanical my faculties seemed Z
% have given away under the unnatural
'ension to which they had been SUBJ
ected [ felt a sort of stupor, and hard
knew whether / wal asleep or awake. ,
returned to my bedroom, and, looking ,
it the key as I placed it on my dressing
able, saw that it was that of the
ront door of our house, which Mon
ieur Mention must have taken from NV i
study otter we had all retired I
or the night,h t
Then returned to bed, leaving a thief c
own stairs ransacking the place. Alter I
bout a quarter of an hour I heard a Y
step ascend the stairs. lit
losed my eyes; and as I did SO my door a
as opened, and again l underwent !
mother examination by the light of the t.
q
Presently | heard my prosecutor 90 v
YER to the dressing-table. There was
0 article of jewelry there; SO if that r,
what ne wanted, he was disappoint- Il
|. Soon he withdrew trom nv room, -
I'D descended the stairs once more. I :,
card nothing more. / cannot saw I =,
ept, but the heavy stupor which had
creeping over me deepened into
insensibility, and / remained
that state till morning Tt was my
hit to wake without being called by er
70 servant, but it was late when I arose ii
e following morning, and was in W
rmed by the maid that my father and he
other were at breakfast. I could not fiji
ut till / was dressed to tell my adyen- hi
re, 50 | threw IN my gown, and hur- dr
ID to the breakfast room. Iopened the tn
or. My fathers back was turned to ha
!, and my mother was facing me. She We
,ked up as I entered the room-looked III
!, yes, and with a terrific scream. al,
shed toward me. h,
father evidently thought, as / did, M,
It she was deranged, till he looked at in
!, when he in his turn uttered a cd of KIN
prise and horror. My parents. both VIII
'gged me to the chimney-piece, above gu,
Ich there was a looking-glass. It was liy,
a my turn to exclaim. When I took ma
vn my hair to brush it the nighRbe- lea,
J, it was black as jet now it was eve
,aked with gray, tLo