The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-03-10

L AOIbNSAA " AVAt AA
this room, trying to rob my mother and
myself Of our jewels, was Monsieur
Mention.
He returned to the bureau (where I
was still fumbling 70 find the key), and
forced one into my hand. ~
I then pretended that I had found
what / wanted, and, turning round, left
the room.
have often wondered since then why
I did not raise the house, but, truth to
tell, my movements on that night were
quite mechanical; my faculties seemed
to!hnye given way under the unnatural
tension to which they had been subjected;
I fclt in sort Of stupor, and hardly,
knew whether I was asleep or awake. I
returned to my bedroom, and, looking at
the key rs I placed it on my dressing
table, saw that it was TINT Of the front
door. OF our house, which Monsieur
Mention must have taken from my fathers
study after We had all retired for the
night.
Then returned to bed, leaving thief
downstairs ransaclsing the place. After
about quarter Of an hour I heard q
stealthy step ascend the stairs. I closed
my eyes, and as / did 50 my door was
opened, and again I underwent another
examination by the Light of the lantern.
Presently I heard my prosecutor so
Oyer to. the dressing-table There was
no article Of jewelry there; SO If that was
what he wanted, he was disappointed.
! Soon he withdrew from my room, and
descended the stairs once more. I heard
nothing more 1cannot say that I slept
but tho heavy stupor which had been
creeping over me deepened into complete
insensibility, and I remained in that state
till morning. It was my habit to wake
without being called by tho servant, but
it was late when ! arose the following
morning; md I was informed by the
maid thRt my father and mother were at
breakfast 4 could not wait till I was
dressed to tell my adventure, so l threw
on my; dressing-gown, and went to the
breakfast-room. I opened the door,
My fathers back was turned to me, and
my mother was. facing me. She looked
up as I entered the room-looked mp,
yes, and, with n. terrific scream, rushed
toward me- 'sS'-
My father evidently thought, rs I did,
that she was deranged, till be looked at
ime, whenIho in his turn uttered cry Of
surprise and horror Ny parents both
dragged me to the cliimney-piece, above
which there was looking-glNss. It wis
then my turn to exclaim. ! When took
down my hair to brush it the night
before, it was black MS jet; now it was
streaked with gray.
The work Of years had been accom-
plished in one terrible night!
An explanation WIS asked, and IN ex-
p!anation given; after which my mother
left the room, and in a few moments re-
turned, bringing with her hickey Of the
bureau. 49, -
"Yon must have been dreaming, MY
Eloye," she said Z" evidently not thing
Elias been touched. Our iewelry is rs safe
.as it was this time yesterday" 4 III
"Well, whereis Monsieur Menton?' I
asked. -....... .-.5
"In his room, undoubtedly" answered
my father. So saying, he went from the
room, but quickly returned with pale
face, and III his hand note, hastily
written in pencil.
"Read It aloud" he said, handing it
TO my mother, who took it, and read rs
follows:
"A1Y VERY DEAR FRIENDS:
"I write TO say farewell to you. We
shall never meet again. When you read
| the confession anu about to make, you
will think yourselves well rid Of one who
accepted your hospitality and then turned
traitor. ''"-n.s .-. "a >, 'sr1 rs
"Yes, 1 mn poor, despicable wretch.
You, my beneiactor, remember that Inst
evening asked you to help me in some
money matters, which you said you could
no! do, and you know I had asked you
several times before, and you had do
clined; but yesterday night you said You
hnd given me my final answer. l then
grew desperate Though, to your fRce fair
/ cnough), and determined to steal tho
money from you, if could get it III no
other why.
Earlier i'll tho cvening-belorc Our
conversation in yonr stuly-you may re-
member TINT your daughter (who, by the
why, never seemed to like or trust mc)
wis seated ut her bureau, looking Mt
some iCwelry. An idea seized me that il
/ could only get possession of these
iewCls-for some u them were very
costly-I could sell them Mt price which
would not only pay my debts, but would
leave me enough besides 10 enable inc
to get clear ont Of the country.
Your daughter, in having locked her
bureau, did not take tho key, but left it
in tho lock; therefore, SO fur the way was
paved for me. 49,
"I did my best to conquer these
temptations, but alas! we are but weak
creatures, and 1 at length succumbed, ard
resolved to Lurn (oh! my friends, pnsS
over the word rs soon as possible) MicG
So at n QuArter-past one this morning |
descended 10 tho drawing-r0Om, opened
the bureau, and wus about to take the
jewels, when, hearing the handle OF the
door move, I went to see the cattse, and
Imagine. my feelings at seeing your
daughter standing before me. I soon
perceived however, by the fixed look in
hGr eyes that she %Iss asleep. NShe began
talking disio!ntelly of having left the
key ia tho lock OF her bureau. I went
to my oyercoat, which was in the room,
anil got key-that Of the front door,
which Ind taken from your study, aud
forced it into her hand She believed
herseltto be the poSscssor Of what she
wanted, and, turning round, left the
room. ....N
"For some moments I stood where
she had left mo, looking after her, Ms if /
nyself were in dream. When l hNd