Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-17
THE SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, AUGUST II, 1884,

Madame Jansen" she said. cate O'Clock
/ knocked as usual, but could get no an
swer. l tried again at 7, but no answer;
this time | knocked so loud that people
came out of their houses to see what was
the matter"
1 rose quickly, and left the house. When
l got into the street, l found that a neigh
boring locksmith had been summoned;
requested him to open the door, and that
done, to force the chain, which was fast
ened on the inside. We entered the room
on the ground floor. The scene before US
is not easily described. Wardrobe and
cupboaxd had been dragged away from the
walls; the bed taken TO pieces; the mat
tTess and pillows strewn about the floor;
the large mirror between the windows
was hanging by one loose support, and
threatened every instant to come down
with a crash. Strange things, indeed, had
happened during the night. The floor was
strewn with thalers and in the midst of
this confusion lay the old soldiers cloak
beside a bag from whence the thalers had
come. The lOcksmith bent down and pick
ed up the cloak. Arigid form was huddled
beneath it, the lifeless body Of the little
old womanl
The winning, graceful child who had
| wound herself round my grandfather's
heart imperishably, the fascinating young
woman, redolent with health and beauty as
in the picture up stairs, lay at my feet
in hideous deformity, friendless and I'M
mOurned.
After the funeral an official visited the
house for the purpose of inspection. In
the cellar, and behind the wainscot even,
quantities of valuables were found; but
the red silk purse with the strange gold
pieces had disappeared for ever.
The new will not having been signed,
made me feel anxious as to the validity Of
I H. s.,I. 81
| Madame Jansen to sign. AS might have
been expected; vigorous attempt was
made to invalidate the codicil, but that at
tempt happily failed.
Public opinion, which had long been adj
verse to the institution in whose favor the
original document had been signed, seized
upon this incident with avidity. The insti-
tuition was subjected to arigorous exami-
nation. A committee of citizens was APP
pointed to report upon its administration,
| and, as result, thorough reform was
determined on. The idle vagabonds who
had hitherto infested the public highways
were restricted within proper boundaries,
and, as time wore on, its pensioners dwin-
died to about six brave men who richly
deserved it's bounties.
Now that fortune smiled upon Matilde,
the world smiled also, and of her many
admirers one only held alo0f. Nothing
would induce MIN TO come forward. Ma
tide, as penniless girl, he had loved.
To him, Matilde as an heiress was quite
different person. But / knew the story,
and, as l had been. instrumental in max
ing her wealthy, / resolved to help her to
marry the man she loved.
contrived, one evening, to bring them
together at our house.
1t was summertime. The air was soft,
and the sweet moonlight Lit up the garden
where l had climbed the apple-tree, to pay
my first visit to Madame Jansen. [ took
Matilde's hand, and led her to the foot of
the tree.
'Look - said. ''Yonder is the ballroom
where, if she had lived, you would have
met your husband"
F'My husband?'
eyes" And told her exactly how it
all happened. "If she had lived, Matilde,
you would never have married the man
who still loves you with all his heart and
SOUL"
''And who is hep
81 will send him to you"
Before MatiIde had time to stop me was
gone.
In due course the old house was reopen
ed. The faded curtains were replaced by
gorgeous hangings. The bats and spiders,
much against their will, were driven to
seek shelter elsewhere.
Matilde and her husband-the happiest
people in the tOwn-are still living, and
can verify my story if need be.-Tenlpte
Bar.