National Republican., 1884-11-01
THE LADY OF THE TURRET
CHAMBER.

-
THE LADY OF THE TURRET
CHAMBER.
Virginia ". johnson, in Hdrper's Weekly
Three young heads peeped over the
wall of the terrace, watching the slow
approach Of post carriage along the
winding road. These heads belonged
respectively to Mons. Alphonse Rivoire
and his sisters, Delphino and Angelique,
while Mile. Baud hovered in the back
ground.
Mons. Alphonse was youth of IL, with
. bullet head, shaved in the military
fashion, an olive complexion, heavy black
eyebrows. and . highly humorous physi-
ognomy. His sisters wore short frocks, in
deep mourning, and the high black ruffs
lent piquancy to their pretty faces.
"The lady who had taken the turret
chamber arrives to-day" said Delphine,
with swiftpess of conviction in keeping
with her sparkling eyes and jet-black
hair, braided in long tress down her
back.
"Is she youneT demanded Mile. Baud,
her brown fingers knitting rapidly.
How can one toll that through the
roof of post carriage? Her dress Is
black" said Angelique, q schsrming blonde
of 10, with golden hair, the bloom of a
tea rose in her check, and candid blue
eyes.
"Ciell She must be q widow" OK
claimed Mile. Baud, with the ready ami
mostly of an "old girl" for that bowitch-
ing class.
I should like to be q widow" mused
Delphine. "One could wear such ravish-
ing toilets and caps. A widow Is always
interesting at the mass in her veil of
Grape"
Mons. Alphonse lighted . cigarette.
"A lady In the tower" he said, mock
ipgly. How truly romantic She should
find here knight to assume her oolors as
. badge of honor
At this moment two. persons approached
from opposite directions. DR. Speiser
strolled along the terrace, wearing blue
glasses and wide hat; his countenance
had morose expression, and he hugged
several political journals under his arm.
Prof Defoe, with an entire bush in his
hand, green can for botanizing slung
over one shoulder. and several FURNISHED
beetles attached to his coat by means of
pins, descended the hill, crossed the draw
DIluRt, anu SuItTtu tut CAstte.
The three young people gathered about
DR.. Speiser with voluble observations on
tho approaching carriage. He brought
his blue spectacles to bear on the vehicle,
but 1t was entirely without kindred en-
thusiasm.
"A lady, you say? Who knows what
Ihe may prove to be In our peaceful house.
hold? We 1.-Two in evil timer, my friends,
and in the throngs of SwiBs hotels 1t Is
best TO ask no questions"
Mile Baud shrugged her fat shoulders.
Mon DieuW she retorted, with good
humored vivacity. "You make the blood
run cold in ones veins. Are We to believe
that our neighbors are all conspirators,
and our vis-a-vis st table plotting the
dethrOnement of kings with the salad ?"
DR.. Speiser raised a thin forefnger i'm
pressiyely. Madame, I once had conf
denco in humanity, before the war"
Mile. Baud dropped her knitting, and
stamped on the gravel with one plump
foot. '"The Pruuians |" she Missed through
her strong white teeth, ~ mock at them"
DR.. Sneiser did not heed this feminine
ebullition of patriotism. He was man
prone to detect under-currents and cross
purposes In life, and u deep meaning in
seeming trifes. Years of self. Danish hnient
from his homo had shown him the seam y
side of life, aud prolonged residence in
Switzerland had revealed to him so many
startling incidents, in the throng of
different nationalities frequenting the
beautiful land, that he might have
Iivalled Boisgobey and Gaborian in the
with the same gifts. He laughed in dry
fashion and rejoined: ~ have lived, un-
suspecting, amidst o band of thieves, of
which . so.called Polish countess was one
link Of the chain. in the best suite of the
hotel, and tho porter who polished my
boots the other extreme. What would
you say il / told you 1 had seen tourist
lower q package of papers out of tho
window in the moonlightP
"Perhaps they were lovo letters-the
poor man." suggested Mademoiselle Baud,
once more smiling, as she resumed hor
knitting.
Monster Alphonse winked ono ey at his
sisters.
DR.. speiser regarded his companions
with u gloomy mien.
Are you writing to-day. monsieur 2"
inquired Madsmoiselle Baud, softly.
"Yes, madame. i do not permit my
brain to rest idle" he replied.
"Ah, what thing IL Is to possess in
tellect-rare powers of penetration !" said
madsmoiselle, with that tact peculiar to
the French woman of all classes, in sooth-
self love, above all, masculine vanity.
The police have just seized quantity
of poisonous fungi in the Geneva market
place." said Dr. Speiser, forgetting the
badiuagG of the previous moment, as his
interlocutor intended ho should. II am
giving the affair all my attention. Last
week was dining in alarge hotel. Very
good. A dish Of wild mushrooms circu-
lated at our table d'hote. l addressed
my neighbor in a loud tone, and asked IL
ae had read the account of the seizure in
he Journals. The company listened.
Aud afterward, pray you? Not one
person Of any nationality ceased to eat
the mushrooms on their plates for my
warning"
'Is 1t an indisestion" inquired Al.
phonse, airily.
1T is a duty" responded DIR. spoiser.
Ssverely.
'SThs carriage spprOAchss," cried Del.
phine.
The chateau, once . medieval strong.
hold, and now hotel, was situated on
peak of tho Savoy mountains above
Geneva. The cArriage orept along the
dusty road, and tho occupant gaEed on
wide expanse of valley, veiued by the
river Arvs, while IAko Leman extended
In blue sheet to the inists of tho horizon.
The lady In the cArTiAge beheld all about
her the bold grandeur OF Alps, the fresh