The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-10-28
A BRAVE WOMAN.

In spite Of the high opinion which we en-.
tertain Of feminine courage in general we
must be permitted to doubt whether you all,
ladies, feel yourselves capable of initiating
on similar occasion the heroine of the fol-
lowing little story, which we can recon-
mend to your attention asentirely true:
Madame Aubrey occupied with her hus-
hand a large old house, in the village Of
D This house stood entirely alone
at the foot of an immense garden, far from
neighbors. and had no other occupant than
Monsieur and Madame Aubrey, their son, an
infant Of twelve months, and domestic, re-
Gently admitted into their service.
One evening in the month of November
Madame Aubrey was awaiting with some
anxiety the return of her husband, who had
been gone since morning to a town distant a
few miles from D His business was
10 collect a debt, and he expected to bring
home large sum Of money, and his wife
row rampmhprad. with n feeling Of uueasi-
ness. that she had seen him arm himself with
a pair Of pistols. It was about six O'Clock,
and Madame Aubrey went to her chamber
accompanied by the domestic, with the in
tention Cf putting her little hoy to he'd
This apartment large ana high, was situated
on the second floor looking into the garden.
The Oaken woodwork. turned almost black
with age, the OId-fashioned furniture Of
grote-que form and gloomy color, and some
family portraits in ancient dress and severe
countenarcps, gave to She room somewhat
Of forbidden aspect. \ deep aicove, beside
which was placed the cradle Of the infant,
occupied nearly all the side Of the room op-
posite to the fireplace. The curtains were
drawn across the front, but one corner, hav-
ing caupht upon some article near, was rails
ed sufficiently to show the foot of the bed
stead, made Of the same dark wood with the
rest Of the furniture, and carved in the curl
Gus figures and grOtPSque lines in which the
artisans Of hundred years back were wont
10 indulge.
The night was a true November night
black and gloomy, with torrents of rain,
which beat continually upon the windows.
( The trees of the garden, bent by the force
Of the wind, from time to time drew the fin
ger like ends Of their branches across the
glass, making a fantastic and melancholy
concert, in which mingled no human voice
no sound which promised human aid, should
the want he ever so urgent.
Madame Aubrey sat upon low chair in
tne corner of the fire place, holding upon her
knees the little boy whom she was uudress-
ing, while the servant at the other end Of the
room executed certain orders of her mistress
A blazing wood fire, aided hy lamp upon
the mantle shelf, threw a strong light upon
some objects, left others in intense shadow
titful plram, which caused them to assume
gru'"sque AID unreal forms. The haby had
ceased his laughing pay and had closed his
druwSy eyes The mother threw her eyes
toward th'' cradle to assure herself that all
was prepared at this moment tn fir blazed
up suddenly and threw strong light upon
the corner Of the he'd exDused by the lifted
curtain As Madame Aubrey looked, she
almost fell from her chair; under the bed,
close to the cradle in which she had been
about to deposit her sleeping child, she now
beheld two great feet, shod in coarse bro
gans. In ar instant the sense of her situa-
tinn flashed across the mind of the young
woman as if shown by flash of lightning
This hidden man no doubt was thief per
hapS an assassin. She was alone, without
help present or soon to be expected. for her
husband was not to return till eight or nine
O'Clock, and it was now but little past six
What should she do? How should she de
feud herself?
Ma lame Aubrey had uttered no cry-she
had MT even moved, but she feared that the
servant, making the sam 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 possess himself Of the sum
hrouehC home by Monsieur Aubrey. But if
prematurely discovered, and having no Op-
ponentS but two women, he would probably
make his escape, first securing their silence
bv their death. Then who knows but the
servant herself was an accomplice-suSpi-
ciOus circumstances, hitherto unrcgarded
returned with renewed violence To the mind
of Madame Aubrey All these thoughts
passed through the mind of the young moth
er in less time than / have occupied in the
telling. Before many minutes had elapsed
her calmness had entirely returned, AID she
had decided upon her part in the terrible
drama. But she must get rid Of the servant
"You know" said she, without the least
faItering Of her voice, you know the dishes
which my husband prefers, and l think he