Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-09-27

Julie was out. The servant told u
very indefinitely that madame woul,
probably dine out, and that she i'll
tended to spend the evening at IN,
theater
BY my faith, exclaimed DauIau
rler at this bad news, we are in luck
and L am going straight to the CAT,
Chapins.'
LETS go by the avenues. It's a,
short as the Rue de Pierrefonds.'
" That is what we did. Scarcely hat
We advanced fifteen steps in the curset
avenues, black as coal thanks to tn,
fog, which was thicker than ever, wher
L lost sight and sound of my frient
Dulaurier. l don't know whether h,
turned to the right and l to the left, o.
the reverse, but it is certain that W.
were separated as If by the wall of China
L called him, No reply. Wlthou
thinking any more about him, anG
knowing that l would find him again a
the Cafe Chapins, l continued my
dangerous walk. All at once 1 stepped
against something strange, which had
no apparent form, and stopped to lool
at it closer. Was it dog, stone, ol
hun an form? 1t moved. l examined
1t opening NY eyes wide. 1t was 4
a tree, covering like beggar, seeming
not to feel the cold, or to fear the soil
tude. nor to notice my presence.
"'What are you doing there, madam
said, Are You ill?"
mo she replied in FAINT voice.
"This is not the weather for sleeping
in the open air"
"'Here or anywhere else, what does
it matter?"
"'At night, a woman all alone is ex
posed to disagreeable adventures
continued, moved, don't know why,
by this eccentricity, and at such q
time
Any time is good for me, she said.
Nevertheless, if you will permit
me, madame replied with certain
warmth to accompany you home, viii
offer you my arm
Willingly she said.
''She rose Immediately. / offered
her my arm, but she did not accept it,
and walked by my side. L admit that
this first part of the adventure alre ady
puzzled ME somewhat, and instead, ol
suffering from the cJId, which l feared
for her, felt, Eot without astonish-
ment, several drops of perspiration
forming on my forehead. Impressed
with the strange encounter, my mind
WAS confused and unsettled. My ideas
were foggy as well as the air. What
was this woman? Was she really d
woman? Ii so, would Ienjoy an agree
able surprise when l should see hei
face? Would it not probably De as
sweet as her voice?
"At the end OF i've n.lnutes she stop
ped. 1 could not tell anything about
being uneasy for minute approached
her.
"'This is my house, she said. viii
it please you to Gnterr
Although 1 was far from excepting
such proposition, made In the calmest
tone, nevertheless l accepted with
alacIity. anxious to carry the affair TO
the end, no matter what should happen,
and, moreover, / determined not to
leave her before having seen her face.
The stranger advanced toward her
house. The shrlll ringing OF a bell re-
sounded within and the doors flew open.
On each side of the door stood a SER
want i'll mourning livery, holding a
torch of lighted wax. Naughty as a
queen, she entered before me and
beckoned NE to follow her. By the
light of the torches L observed that she
wss completely clothed III black and
that .hlck veil covered her face.
'''You know me, my dear friend, and
you know that the devil himself could
not frighten me. Well, 1 confess to
you, and with all due humility, thet L
felt slight shudder run through me.
But took courage and entered. The
apartment into which / was introdu ced
was magnitictntly furnished. Rugs
covered the inlaid door and prevented
the sounds of footsteps from being
heard. Casting my eyes on the clock.
| motto d that it was about 20 strike
twelve. At sign from their mistress,
the servants went out as quiet as gh"sts,
alter having lighted several wax candies
as large as those of churches, the flick
ering and dull flame OF which, however,
sent forth only faint light around us.
Il WAS alone with her. That Was
what Was waiting for, and really she
did not make me wait long. After
motiouing me to sit down beside her ON
the sofa, she raised her veil. L was
dazzled at the sight of her face, and all
NV uneasiness and fears seemed TO me
imaginary before that brilliant appari-
tion, scattered III an instant. angel,
a demoI, if you will, but superb
woman 1 lost my senses. Now do
YOU want me to tell you what passed
between us? / know nothing about 1t,
on my honor only remembered that
pressing her hand III mine L felt the
same sensation as III touching marble.
remember that her eyes, SO soft, were
fixed and motionless, and yet she looked
at me with an aIr of interest so natural
or Of pity so profound that L, taking IL
for love. fell at her feet. L cannot tell
YOU how long remained IN that posi-,
tlon, bat was willing to stay there all
the rest of my life, for felt that L was
DIVING of happiness, and unknown trans
ports were waiting me beyond this
world. ALI at once l heard the CLOCK
strike twelve. This sharp noise seemed
funereal In silence.
Il quickly rose without knowing why;
turning MY eyes towsrd the fireless
chimney, l saw the mirrors be-
coming covered with black CLOTH
the hangings being darkened like the
mirrors and the candles gradually gong
ont Dazed by this phantasmagoria,
looked for my unknown companion
Gone The servants-gone L sPrane
forward. The street door opened be
tore me and rushed out of thst dlaboi
zeal den wtthot being able to explain V
myself how l entered it, nor why Nae
Just left 1t. ro
..Feelirg that 1 was persplrlns pro
! fusely. | wanted to wipe my foreheau
bnt could not find my handkerchief
The fresh air having restored me 10 IN,
senses and being anxious to lnvesueat,
1,ooan,ant which Was beyOnt