The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-05-07
ard. In spite of everything I was

"We will soon have long rest,' said
madame. as we were wh1rling along.
"You shall hear from the brother and
sister at home"
I was looking out of the window as
she spoke. AS I turned my face toward
her, I felt some one touch my shoulder.
I turned quickly. The stranger was sit
ting near US in the train.
His presence seemed so real to me that
I spoke out angrily:
If You please, sir"
Madame looked around
I knew, then, that whatever saw
whether man or evil one-Madame Rosis
was conscious of nothing. looked over
the faee-at the blue eyes and the gentle
mouth, down at the white hands and red
ring, without word.
Monsieur Rosis," I thought. ssBut
why does he follow madame ?''
We rode the day through with the fair,
immovable figure beside us, and the doc
tor in the next carriage. The one seemed
to counteract the influence of the other.
Nothing could harm me.
At night we came to our resting place
Here we shall find the ring,' said
madame, as we hurried out of the train.
:" It is like an inspiration. I feel it
through and through"
We did not go to hotel, but to house
near the outskirts of the town. I know
the coachmen of the fly stared at madame
when she told him where to drive us.
The night was very dark. Looking
around for my friend, I could not see
him, and I thought I was lost.
Warm as was the night, the place to
which we went was chilly. Madame had
fires started in the CRATES, and ordered
wine to be brought.
"Where are we ?" asked.
pardon me for not saying. This is
my home. No one dare intrude here"
No one? Was madame sure? AS she
spoke, the pleasant stranger, ghost
or man, came noiselessly in, and sat
down by the fire. He wore the same ex-
preston as when I had first seen him.
Glancing at his hand, ] saw the blood
red ring glowing upon his finger.
You do not drink ?" madame said, as
sat holding the wine glass. s'What is
it %
I pufdovn the glass with shudder.
Madame Rosis, I want to go home. {"
"This is your home. By day it is very
beautiful Tonight ! know there are
shadews-and .itsisscold. We can have
more fire."
s'That is not i'll want my sister. I
seem to be sitting here"
'Well, well-I will play to you. I
will sing"
She threw open the piano. Good
heavens, what a wall came from it as her
delicate finger ran up and down the keysi
Wild unrest, agony, despair, found voice
IL saI> I'll,
her little hands battered softly down, and
her voice broke out softly to the weird
Through it all could
pers from shadowy lips. The stranger
to hers, that in an unsteady light they
seemed to mingle and waver together.
Where was I? The atmosphere was
like that of tomb. Was I among flesh
and blood realities, or had I been drawn
into the charnel-house to expiate some
sin which I had committed? Sin, in
deed! What did know about sin?
ssDon't madame don't !" I cried.
'sYou are driving me mad! Let me go
in the name of mercy. let me go!
You need rest, spoke the madame.
.sYou are nervous. You shall go to your
room and have support there
She led me like a child. What could
I do?
Upstairs it was more cheerful. The
fire was fresh and the lamps gave out q
clear, steady light. drew sigh of re-
lief.
''You like it?" said madame.
ssHow can I help it?"
81 am glad. My room is opposite. In
the night, if you are awakened, you can
come to me. But think you will sleep.
I will send your supper to you in a mo-
ment."
I did not wait for supper. Thoroughly
exhausted, bodily and mentally, sank
upon the bed. I do not know how long
I slept. I started up suddenly from my
pillow, a fearful shrek entering through
my brain. It was madame's voice that
aroused me. In moment there was
sound of hurried feet in the hall, MUIR
muir of strange voices, and some one
threw open the door opposite mine. I
stole softly out and crossed the hall to
room. There was group of
strange people standing by her bedside.
A voice said, s'She is dead"
What is it-what killed her?" I
asked.
ST do not know Probably her heart
was diseased. some sudden IrlSnG Q1Q
it. The detectives have been on her
track for weeks"
'sThe detectives? Why?"
ssShe poisoned Monsieur Rosis, her
husband. That is the portrait yonder,"
said the physician.
gave one glance toward it. had lit
tie need to look at it, since the face was
SO terribly familiar.
'.She has escaped Justice some one
said, solemnly.
"Yousee mistaken, she has gone to
meet it. ?
"Seei" cried another, in startled
voice, s'she wore his ring again
looked down at the little waxen hand,
now clay cold. On the white forefnger
the heart of Monsieur Rosis glowed and
burned. 1t was plain to me, no matter
what others thought. Madame had died
Of fright when the ring was placed upon
her finger.
Her impression had been true. She
had that night found her ring, Let us
hope, too, that in Gods wide mercy she
found rest.
'sYou are an ojus, hidjus ijjit my
dearp said playful mamma to her
daughter at dancing school the other