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

10 belkECu tlle pOGhcto.
/ had in that moment time to, regard
him. ss
I could hardly forbear cry; for, in
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 TO find the key, and
forced one into my hand.
I then pretended TINT / 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;have given way under the unnatural
tension to which they had been subjected;
I felt in sort of stupor, and hardly
knew whether I was asleep or awake. I
returned to my bedroom, and, looking ct
the key as I placed it on my dressing
table, saw that it was that 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 I returned to bed, leaving q thief.
downstairs ransacling the place. After
about n quarter Of an hour I heard .
stealthy step ascend the stairs. I closed
my eyes, and as I did SO my door was
opened, and again I underwent another
examination by the Light of the lantern.
Presently I heard my prosecutor 50
oyer to, the dressing-table. There WINS
no article Of iewelry there; so il that was
what he wanted, he was disappointed.
Soon he withdrew from my room, and
descended the stairs once more. heard
nothing more 1cannot say that I slept
but the heavy stupor which Ind been
creeping over me deepened into complete
insensibility, and remained in that state
till morning. 1t was my habit to wake
without being called by tho servant, but
it was late when I arose the following
morning; md I was informed by the
maid that my father and mother were Mt
breakfast. + could mot whit till I was
dressed to tell my adventure, SO I threw
on my dressing-gown, and went to the
breakfast-room. I opened tho door.
My fathers back was turned TO me, and
my mother was. facing me. She looked
up as entered tho room-looked mp,
yes, and, with n terrific scream, rushed
toward me. ''ss- lh"'-'
Ny father evidently thought, rs I did,
that she was deranged, till be looked ut
me, when no in his turn uttered cry OF
surprise aud horror. My parents both
dragged me to the chimney.piece, above
which there was n looking-glNss. It was
then my turn TO exclnim. : 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 was asked, ind m cx-
PLANTATION given; after which my mother
left the room, and in a few moments re-
turned, bringing with her the key Of the
bureau.
"You must have been dreaming, my
love-" she said; Z" evidently not n thing
| Inns been touched. Our jewclry is rs safe
Us it was this time yesterday. ,f..,
"Well, whereas Monsieur Menton?' !
asked. 81.
"In his room, undoubtedly" answered
my father. So spying, 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:
any VERY DEAR FRIENDS:
81 write to say farewell to you. We
shall never meet again. When you read
the confession I anu about to make, you
will think yourselves well rid Of one who
accepted your hospitality and then turned
traitor. 20. ,.s.-a 80 = 800 fSs
Eyes, mn n poor, despicable wretch.
You, my benefactor, remember. that last
evening I asked you to help me in some
money matters, which you said you could
not do, md you know | had asked you
several times before, and you Ind de-
clined; but yesterday night you said You
Ind given mo my final answer. then
grew desperate, (though.t to your face fair
cnough), and determined to steal the
money from you, il I could got. it in no
other why. '-m.
Earlier i'll tho evcning-bcfore our
conversation in your study-you may re-
member that your daughter (who, by the
why, never seemed to like or trust me)
wis seated ut her bureau, looking Mt
some iewclry. An idea seized me TINT il
l could onl y get possession OF these
iewcls-for some u them warG very
costly-I could sell them at n price which
would not only pay my debts, but would
leave mo enough besides to enable me
to get clear out OF the country.
Your daughter, in having locked her
bureau, did not take the key, but left it
in tho lock; therefore, SO far tho why was
paved for me. q,
81 did my best to conquer these
temptations, but alasl we arc but weak
creatures, and Mt length succumbed, ard
resolved to turn (oh! my friends, pasB
over the word Us soon as possiblc) MiGG
SO ut quarter-past one this morning I
descended to tho drawing-room, opened
the bureau, and was about to take the
jewels, when, hearing the handle of the
door move, I went to sec the cause, and
imagine, my feelings at seeing your
daughter standing before mo. I soon
perceived however, by tho fixed look in
her eyes TINT abe was asleep. flSlG' begun
talking disio:ntelly OF having left the
key In tho lock OF her bureau. I went
to my ovcrcoat, which was in the room,
anil got key-tliat Of the front door,
which I Ind taken from your study, aud
forced it into her hand. She believed
herself to be the posscSsor OF Whit abe
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