The daily gazette., 1878-07-10
Some Marvellous Exploits of a
Woman in 81. Louis.
INvENT1SG SITUATIONS THAT SEEMED
TO COMPROMISE THE MEN WHOSE
MONEY SHE CoYETED-IMPER-
ILLING A MARRIAGE
ENGAGEMENT.
From the st. Louis Journal.

From the st. Louis Journal.
Armande Duplisse, alias Cecile Ber-
tram, alias Mary Seafton, alias Hattie
Downes, alias &c, &c., is one of the most
skillful blackmailers 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 mer-
chant, and she displayed such knowledge
of household affairs that Mr.. j. and his
wife voted her priceless treasure. She
had been there about week and the lady |
of the house went on visit to friends in |
the country. One night Mr.. j. went
home late, and assembled to his bedcham-
ber to retire for the night. While turn
ing down the gas, he heard noise from
behind the bed. Drawing aside the bed |
curtains he saw his housekeeper, clad
| only in light chemise, lying on the out
side of the bed. Before he could recover |
his presence of mind the woman sprang to |
the floor, and winding her arms around |
him, held HIM in vise-like clasp and be- |
gan to kiss and hug him. He struggled
to free himself, and seeing this the woman
uttered a piercing scream, followed by
shrek after shrek. The household was
aroused and minute later every servant
was in the room gazing in amazement at
the suggestive spectacle. Mrs. Seafton
was lying prone on the floor in dead
faint, her dress torn in several places, and
her hair disheveled, and Mr.. j. stood
looking at them aghast. The woman told
a story about suddenly waking and find
;r0 haroolf Nh ;c a,Y,brooa II, bie
room. The appearances were conclusive
and the beautiful housekeeper quit the
house the next morning $500 richer.
Another and more successful attempt
at blackmail by this woman is of more
recent occurrence. As before, the wo-
man, armed with frst-class letters of
recommendation, and this time under the
name of Armande Dupisse, obtained a
situation as governess for respectable
family consisting of husband, wife, a
grown son, two grown daughters, and a
little girl. Miss Duplisse was SO quiet
and gentle in her drmeanor, and gave
such evidence of culture and refinement
that the family believing the story that
she had told them about her once wealthy
and aristocratic connections, treated her
as their equal. One of the daughters was
engaged to be married, and her suitor
came, and to him the governess was pre-
courtesy was due TO her as 10 the other
J ladies of the family. Upon this the
, young gentleman took kindly interest
in the beautiful governesS, and frequent
ly sought her company. One night after
the rest OF the family had retired, the
young man, Frank, went to the library
] to get book to take TO his room to read.
, The gas was turned low, and as he enter
ed the room he saw white form on the
/ divan. Drawing nearer, he saw that it
was Miss Duphsse. Her head was bow
ed on the cushion of the sofa, balf con-
cealed by her arms, and 1t seemed TO him
that he could hear her sobbing. He call
ed to her by name. She started in cen
g fusion, and put her handkerchief to her
+ She gave some plausible reason for her
Q presence in the library, but showed no
= inclination to 60 out of it. Frank asked
n her the cause of her grief. She looked
l. up shyly; then sitting up, her eyes glar
IS ing almost fiercely, her breath coming
e short, her bosom rising and falling anf
n seeming to swell with an intense emo
r ton, she told Frank that she loved him
= Frank was astoHnded at tbs, and re
monstrated. with incoherent words. III
2 passionate accents the woman told hin
n how intense, how consuming was hel
e love for him, and yet he was to bt
,e another's Oh, that thought alone wa
v
z, sat there as in a dream, listening to ohli
l. beautiful woman confessing her love fol
l. him. So well did she act her part tha
n Frank discovered that it was day and thu
household asure only when servant
e. passing in the hall, saw the library doc
h ajar and the faint glimmer OF light, ant
W pushing the door open, saw the couple
Is uttered an exclamation of surprise, ant
il hastily retreated. That the servant tol.
Id her young mistress, Franks betrothed
-e of what sh. had seen in the library, ther
as is no doubt, for the maiden instant1
s. sent for him and demanded an explana
of ton. Frank told the truth, but sh
Ii would not believe him. He sent for tn
of governess TO confirm his story. Instea
of Of doing so she fell on her knees, bel
" ging forgiveness. but, oh, she love
IL Frank so. This confirmed the maiden
i'll suspicious, and, with her eyes suffuse
C. with tears, she left her lover and th
governess alone. Frank implored tn
a. woman If she loved him to set him arigh
al in the mind of the family. But she shoe
,e- her head sadly, and murm ured that
ie would be too great q sacrifice; and eve
p If she could bring herself 20 make th
n sacrifice, where could she gof She ha
of no money, no friends. Upon his que
en- ton az to whether she would go II b
SIS gave her money and letters Of introdu.
IS; ton to friends whose influence woul
te procure her a Eenteel and remuneratis
an position, Miss Duplisse hesitated M
ns ment, and then, seemingly by n great e
us fort, told him that she accepted this o
M fer. The letters were soon written, u
he contents Of Franks purse tsome $500
ill $4O0) were placed in her hands, and witt
ch in an hour the beautiful agoverness an
tut her trunk had vanished.