The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-10-04
The Pair Of Boots.

Madame Aubrey occupied with her hus-
band a large old house in the village o.
Daine. The house stood entirely alone,
Mt the foot of an immense garden, far
from neighbors, and had no other occu-
pants than Monsieur and Madame Au-
prey, their son, an infant of twelve
months, and domestic, recently admit
ted into their service.
One evening in the month of Novem-
Der, Madame Aubrey was waiting with
some anxiety the return of her husband,
who had been gone since morning to a
town distant n few miles from Dame.
His business was to collect debt, and he
expected to bring home a large sum OF
money. and his wife now remembered,
with feeling of uneasiness, that she had
seen him arm himself with pair of pis-
tolls.
II was about six o'clock, and Madame
Aubrey went to her chamber acconpa-
ied by the domestic, with the intention
If u ting the little boy to bed. This
mat lent. large and high, was situated
on th second fioor, looking into the gar
den.
ri, night was true November night
black and gloomy, with torrents OF
+, in. which beat continually upon the
windows.
Madame Aubrey sat upon a low ehair
in the corner of the fireplace, holding
upon her knees the little boy whom she
was undressing, while the servant at the
other end of the room, executed certain
orders for her mistress.
The baby had ceased his laughing play
and had already closed his drowsy eyes.
The mother threw her eyes toward the
cradle TO assure herself that all was pre-
pAred, at this moment the fire blazed
np suddenly and threw a strong light
nnon tue bed exposed by the little cur
tain. As Madame Aubrey looked, she
nearly fell from her chair; under the
bed, close to the cradle in which she had
been about to deposit her little child, she
now beheld two great feet, shod in coarse
brogans.
In an instant the sense of her situation
flashed across the mind of the young wo-
man as if shown by lightning. The. hid
den man no doubt was a thief, perhaps an
assassin-she was alone, without present
help or soon to be expected, for her hus-
band was not to return until eight or
nine o'clock. and now it was but little
past six. What should she do? How
should she defend herself
Madame Aubrey had uttered no cry
she had not even moved, but the servant
making the same discovery, might not
show the same prudence.
The thief probably intended to remain
in his present position until the middle
of the night, then to issue forth and pos
sess himself of the sum brought home by
Monsieur Aubrey. But if prematurely
discovered, and having no opponents
but two women, would probably make
his escape, first securing their silence by
death Then, who knows but the SEP
TaRt hexself was an aceomplice; sus-
picious circumstances, hitherto disre-
garded, returned with renewed violence
10 the mind of Madame Aubrey.
All these thoughts passed through the
mind of the young mother in less time
than 1 have occupied in telling. Before
many minutes had entirely passed, she
had decided upon her part in the terri
BILE drama. But she must get rid of the
servant.
''You know" said she, without the
least faltering in her voice, ''the dishes
which my husband prefers, and think
lie will be pleased to find good supper
ready against his return. / had forgot
ten to tell you about it before, but go
now and begin your preparations, and
bestow attention npon it,.
After some attempts at delay, which
doubled in Madame Aubrey an uneasi-
ness which she was obliged to conceal
the girl quilted the chamber. Her foot
steps died away upon the stairs, and
Jler mistress 70 und herself alone with her
child, and those two terrible feet, which,
half seen in the now dying light, seemed
rs immovable as the bedstead itself.
She still remained sitting near the
OH nney, with the baby upon her lap,
addressing to him almost mechanically
raressing words, and soothing him to
sleep, while her eyes never wandered
from the menacing feet. The little fell
low, tired of his position, began to cry
for the cradle and IFS soothing motion,
but the cradle was close to the alcove,
close to the feet. The Young mother
conquered herself by violent effort.
Come. then my little child" she said,
and rising from her chair, she forced her
fottering steps to be firm, and went to-
ward the alcove. Behold her close to the
ominous feet! She placed the baby in
the cradle. and with voice which all
] er resolution conld hardly keep from
trem bling, she commenced to sing her
Usual lullaby to the unconscious child,
and as she sang, the idea was ever in her
mind that each word might be her last.
At last the boy slept soundly, and the
mother returned to her seat by the fire.
The clock strikes seven. One hour
more and Madame Aubrey may expect
deliyerance. A deep silence reigned in
In the chamber. The infant slept peace
fully.
The half-hour strikes. The anxious
watcher could have almost sworn that it
sgas two hours since it struck last, but
no; she knows that the clock is faithful,
and still there is another weary half hour
before she may expect her deliverer.
Madame Aubrey took book of relig-
ious meditations from the ehimney-place
above her head, and attempted to read.
Vain etfort Her eyes wandered contin-
rally from the page.
Eight o'clock sounded, and nobody
Lad come. The supposition was then
correct; the unhappy woman gave herself
rp as lost. She was about TO seize her
child and fly from the room, when, a
noise resounded from the gravel walk
l'eneath the window. The eager listener
Si1Nl uOE tl8tTe " trust uef ears, size nau
Teen so often deceived; but now the door
Rolled upon its hinges and then fell
lseayily back in its place. A well known
step gaily assembled the stairs-the cham
Ter door opened and man appeared-a
man, handsome, strong and vigorous. 1t
Vas he! At that moment, had NJ. Aubrey
I'een the ugliest of men, the worst of
husbands, he would have assumed in the
eyes of his wife all the graces, all the
Virtues Imaginable.
lie had only paused below to take off
his dripping cloak and lay down his .pis-
tolls lie extended his arms and his wife
lushed into them. But immediately re-
covering herself she placed one finger on
J er lips, and with the other hand pointed
So her feet.
Fl. Aubrey would not have been worthy
of such wife, if he had failed in decis-
ion or sang .fi'oid. He gave a glance at
his wife, which said that he understood,
and said aloud:
"One moment, my darling, and will
return; have left my pocket book down
stairs, and / must show you my riches.
With these words he left the room, but
III moment returned, holding pistol
III his hand He examined the lock, APP
preached the bed, stopped down and
With his left hand seized one of the two
feet, the finger of his right hand resting
on the trigger of his pistol.