The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-05

the way!
Nowhere. We go directly to Rio de
Janeiro. "A thirty six days voyage lies
before u.s." A steamer went much slower
in those days than now.
Thirty six days. l cried. mechanic
ally. mo trifle that, captain; q long
time-a very, very long time, indeed"
looked thoughtfully at the play of
the waves. A dark present:ment sud
denly troubled me. 1t seemed to me- as
if had forgotten something.
But what could l have forgotten?
What-what had slipped my mind?
Suddenly groaned aloud. Like light
ming it had flashed through my mind.
The generals wife! 1 had forgotten the
generals wife--the generals wife in a
complete catalepsy-the generals wife
locked in the little room which my peo-
pie pever entered. the key of which l
had carried with me.
"Captain,"I cried, lifting my hands
imploringly, II must instantly send
telegram"
The captain took two swift steps side
wise and fixed his eyes on me in singu-
lar way. He evidently believed that l
had suddenly gone crazy.
Il must-I must telegraph, captain,
1 insisted. have forgotten the gen.
erals wife, who is asleep. Do you hear,
captain? She is asleep"
In the devils name, what do you
mean?" cried the captain, impatiently.
"Ii you left her asleep she must have
wakened by this time" He turned his
back, laughing hoarsely, and ordered
two sailors not to lose sight of me.
need not say what terrible day 1
passed. Sleeping or waking, always saw
the dreadful picture of the poor woman,
sunk in sleep, lying on the sofa from
which she could never rise.
In what state I found myself on the
thirty-sixth DAY it would not be easy for
you to imagine. At last Rio de Janeiro
sprang ashore, and ran to the telegraph
Office. Break open door of small room /;
wake up generals wife" When
the dissipated husband of the generals
wife discovered that she, too, had boon
out all night, he gave the matter no more
thought than to use the favorable oppor.
tunity for another carousal.
"Is madame home yet?" he noncha-
lantly asked the porter, as he returned
the second morning.
mo, SIR" replied the porter. The
affair did not trouble him, but it began
to appear strange.
The third day went by and the fourth
came and no sign of the generals wife.
Her husband became uneasy. He sent
to her relatives in the country. They
had not seen her for years. The young
mans disquietude increased from hour
to hour. The fifth day he informed the
police. Their search was vain. 1t was
found that she had been to me that day,
but they could 60 no further. Hundreds
of patients daily went in and out of my
Office. in at one door and out another,
which opened directly on the stairs.
My people could not remember abou.
her, the police could not think of search
ing my rooms, neither did it occur to
my servant to force open the small room
since I frequently locked it when I
wanted to guard some valuable object Of
interesting study. So the disappearance
of the generals wife remained an un-
solvable riddle.
| One believes what one wishes. So,
when four days were passed, the husband
was convinced his wife would never re-.
turn. He said to himself, with q certain
painful satisfaction: The poor thing
has killed herself. From love of me, no
| doubt"
According to the marriage contract the
wife's wealth now belonged to him. A
| skillful lawyer at once arranged every
thing. The young widower inaugurated
his monarchy by making such altera-
tons in the stately old house as his some
what loud taste dictated. His wife 3
boudoir was changed to . smoking room.
In place of the dining room q museum Of
weapons appeared. The small blue par
lor served as billiard room. The carriage
in which the generals wife used to ride
afternoons was sold and replaced by q
yellow English dog cart. She had
prided herself upon simple, unostenta
tious livery; her widower dressed his
servants in red, gold embroidered uni
form.
One evening my servant was called to
the door by stout stranger suffering
from dropsy who wante me to cure him.
just ~ be was about TO say l had not
been in Paris over . month, Q messenger
ran up the steps and handed him .
dispatch. Ny servant read, turned pale
and cried:
Quick, quick! Break open the door
of the little roomw
The dropsical man was 90 frightened
at the outcry that he fell in.o . swoon.
Without troubling himself my servant
ran to the study, put his shoulder to the
door Of the inner room and burst it
in.
Al