The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-20
BLACKMAILED BY A BEAUTY.
Some Marvellous Exploits Of "a Woman IN
st. Louis.
From the st. Louis JournalD

ST. hSo"''
From the st. Louis Journal.)
Armande Duplissc, alias Cccllc Bcrtram,
alias Mary Seafton, alias Hattie Downcs aIias
&c, &c, Is one OF the most skliul Dlackmall
crs in the country She works alone assisted
sometimes by male friend. Not more than
two months ago, under the assumed name OF
Mary Seafton, she got employment AS house
keeper in the family OF wealthy merchant,
and she displayed such knowledge OF house
hold affairs that Mr.. j. and his wife voted her
a priceless treasure. She had been there about
week, and the lady OF the house went on a
visit to friends in the country. one night Mr.
I went home late and assembled to his bed
chamber to retire for the night. While turn
inc down the gas he heard a noise from be-
hind the bed. Drawing aside the bed curtains
he saw his housekeeper, clad only in light
chemisc, lying on the outside OF the bed Be
fore he could recover his presence OF mind the
woman sprang to the floor, and winding her
arms around him, held him in vise-ikc
clasp. and began to kiss and hug nm. lie
struggled to free himself, and seeing this the
woman uttered a piercing scream, followed by
shrek after shrek The household was arous-
ed. and a minute later every servant was IN
the room, gazing in amazement at the suggest
i've spectacle Mrs. Seatton was lying prone
on the floor in u dead faint, her dress torn IN
several places, and her halr disheveled, and
Mr. J. stood looking at them aghast The
woman told story about suddenly aWaklnS
and finding herself in Mr.. J.'s embrace, IN his
room. The appearances were conclusive, and
the beautiful housckceper quit the house the
next morning $500 richer. -,
Another and successful attempt at blackmail
by this woman is of more recent occurrence.
As before. the woman, armed with irstclass
letters of recommendation, and this time I'M
der the name of Armandc DUpliSse, obtained
a situation as gOvcrneSS for respectable 1aml-
" consisting of husband, wife, Il grown son,
two grown daughters, and little girl. MISS
Duplisse was so quie, and gentle IN her de
meanor, and gave such evidence OF culture
and refinement that the family, believing the
story that she had told about her once wealthy
and aristocratlc connections, treated her as
their equal One of the daughters was en-
gagged to be married, and her sutton came, and
to him the gOverncSS was presented, ana he
was told that the same courtesy was due To her
as to the other ladies of the family. Upon
tins the young gentleman took kindly inter
est in the beautiful gOvcInc>s and frequently
sought her company. one night alter the rest
of the family had retired, the young man,
Frank, went to the library to yet Il book to
low, and as he entered the room he saw Il
white form on the divan. Drawing nearer, he
saw that 1t was Miss Duplissc. Her head was
<owed on the cushion of the sofa, half con-
cealed by her arms, and it seemed to him that
he could hear SObbing. He called to her by
name. She started IN confusion, and put her
handkerchief TO her face as though to wipe
away the tears She gave some plausible rea-
son for her presence in the library, but showed
no inclination to 80 out of IT.. Frank asked
her the cause Of her grief. She looked up
shyly; then sitting up her eyes glazing almost
fiercelv, her breath coming short, her bosom
rising and falling and seeming to swell with
an intense emotion she told Frank that she
loved him.
Frank was astOunded at this, and remonstra-
ted with incOherent words In passionate ac-
cents the woman told him how intense, how
consuming was her love for him, and yet he
was to be another's! Oh, that thought alone
was killing her The youth lost his wits, and
sat there as in II dream, listening to this beau
tiful woman contessing her love for him. So
well did she act her part that Frank discover
ed that it was day and the household astir on
" when servant, passing in the hall, saw the
library door aar and the faint glimmer of
light. and pushing the door open, saw the cou-
pie, uttered an exclamation of surprise, and
hastily retreated. That the servant told her
young mistress, Franks betrothed, of what
She had seen in the library, there is no doubt,
for the maiden instantly sent for him and de
manded an explanation. Frank told the truth
but she would not believe HIM. He sent for
the governcss to confirm his story. Instead OF
doing so she fell on her knees begging for
giveness, but, oh, she loved Frank so. This
confirmed the maidcns suspicious, and with
her eyes suffused with tears she left her lover
and the governcss alone. Frank implorcd the
woman ii she loved him To set him Alright IN
the mind of the family But she shook her
head sadly, and murmured that it would be
too great sacrifice; and even if she could
bring herself to make the sacrifice, where
could she 20? She had no money, no friends.
Upon his question as to whether she would 80
if he gave her money and letters of introduce
ton to friends whose influence would procure
her genteel and remunerative position, Miss
Duplisse hcsitated moment, and then, seem
ingly by a great effort, told him that she ac-
cepted this offer. The letters were soon writ
ten, the contents of Franks purse (Some $500
or S40O) were placed in her hands, and within
an hour the beautiful governess and her trunk
had vanished.
Starvation In Brazil
\ melancholy story Of restitution, famine
l.. 4.