The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-11-14

- ~ reiief that his sufferings were over. and n
:. one seemed able to realize fully the grea
y, 20 loss that the ducal house had sustained.
10 The doctors confessed themselves com
\, pieteiy baffied and unable to account TO
4 the sudden and fatal turn of the child
:, apparently slight illness. The story of tn
!; white Lady and her deathly kiss wa,
nrmly believed in by the servants. anC
: ahuohg tne more responsible members o.
the household it seemed to gain credence
. Inc whole occurrence seemed to m,
monstrous and impossible, and I half be.
neved IL all horrible dream, but there
. was the dead child before me-a sad
. reality. Late in the afternoon had stolen
the bed whore he lay. As looked Mt The
quiet, rigid form, the conviction seized me
with strange force that this child was
not the heir of Beroldstein-treachery
might so easily exist where misfortune was
Traced 60 supernatural influences.
Inc little face, marked and drawn as II
IRON a burn, gave no idea of how the child
had iooked In health-the limbs seemed tho
same, and the light curling hair was like
toderic's, but still my eyes were dry, and
couid not mourn over this mysterious
cnangeling. Something within me rebeIlel
against the mockery of the ducal coronet
anu ricn lace adjoining the deathbed of a
poor little stranger.
toid no one my suspicions-I had, alas.
no proof-and to lull my excitement went
out into the gathering darkness, paving
,lttie heed to the distance walked. At
stasC, Ieehng weary-I was miles away
from the castle-I was about to return
wnen saw light glimmering from cot
tage window within a few steps from
wnere stood. was surprised to find a
mouse In that lonely spot, for had been
' vo.a mat that portion of the moorlands
habitation. As the idea of short rest
was not unwelcome 1 looked through the |
tninly curtained window, and saw that n !
talir dark woman bending over a steaming |
saucepan on the stove and a little child in /
ragged clothes making friends with a /
shaggy dog were the only occupants Of the |
was about to make my arrival known
wnen second look at the child, whose face
was turned full towards the window. made
me pause suddenly. Was dreaming. or
were those really little Roderic's blue ewes
!ooking up with the frank wide-open gaze
mat knew so well? The soft golden curls
mad been cut off, and the coarse rustic
CLONES were good disguise, but | knew
my young charge too well to be deceived. |
Like mad woman, L flew back over the
long, dark road to the Schloss. 1t was uotpl
saIe TO let my investigation go farther
alone; so seized on the first servants ii
Iound-Max, the coachman, and the maid
Lisetee, whom had Northumberland, civ
ing them hurried account of what 1 had
'een, l led them back to the lonely cottage.
we made our way in unceremoniously
enough. AT the first glance the room
eemed vacant, and my heart sank: but
ne next moment we discovered the baby
lsieep upon pillow in dark corner The
nan gathered up little bundle and bore il |
Q the light; the baby awoke and looked
.ltn sleepy, hazy eyes at the d;sturber of
rs u. rest Even then saw no look of recog-
i:lon on she servants faces. Could / be
mistaken? The thought was misery.
But, becoming fully aroused, the little
MD sat up and held out his arms to me,
aiming in baby language an old friend.
IL Is our young master-I have no long,
any doubt" the man said instinctiyely
Look TO; the mark of the dogs bite on y
is Knee, to make sure" put in Lisette.
embling with excitement
nad not thought of this before, and was
lankfui for the girls suggestion. AS at
Ipecied, we found the three little prints tn
ade by the dogs teeth in the baby's ten
II nesh. At this additional proof of INV ab
,rling's identity / fell upon my knees and
bbed for pure delight thanking from the
pths OF my heart the mysterious Provi- oh
nee that had directed my steps to the on Oh,
ISOLATE cottage. ca'
AT that moment the woman whom had
~ on my hrst visit entered the room, and wv
seeing US ! shall never forget.
hat-who," she began confusedlv:
Max interrupted her by saying coolly:
we have come to relieve You of the care
enis child; he is needed at the Castle,
ere he belongs"
,uttlng the little boy into my willing
rs, ne whispered few words to me to =,
effect that was to go back with ali
ed ana send two or three men to re-
e MS guard over the suspicious prem
n hour later the Schloss Beroldstein 4
the scene of the greatest excitement. -
news spread like wildfire throughout
whole neighborhood that the yonnc
Sc nad been restored from the dead. g
ssea Ittie koderic in his own clothes,
e him his toys on the hearthruy. and
brought his grief-stricken mother to
at the pretty picture. shall not at.
Ps 70 describe how the house of mourn
changed to one Of rejoicing. A last -
striking proof that the young heir had
q rned was the unfeigned delight with
n little Amalie welcomed back her -
her. '0A "ei
e dark woman of the cottage was put
II arrest, and with very little hesta.
made statement to the following
.: she, Anna Freitschler, had come
, weeks before from Thuringia to
lus1ein with the lady known as Nine. OcEN
'oeth. She had brought with her her dc
, oy, ons year oid-a pretty child III
IN health, fair and blue-eyed, but at -
time much disfgured by illness'
ioctor had said that the child was other
70 travel, that he might die anv ago
and she, Anna, had not wished to poun,
!; .ne Journey; but Nine. Elizabeth two i
wen her large sum of money, with tn,
; and sba be;n !, sne would bring the decla
zen able to resist the offer. She was
req to give promise to live alone in
o'sase that Nine. Elizabeth would Pat
or whence She came AZ e Sha wa" J;5 sne about
ior what reason she had been sent tours
wnat purpose she was destined to Mic
sne was only content that the prom pat,
'o me was paid her at regular inter la'
Inc oaby grew much worse and |
e shocking to look at, with its face
scarlet mask. One night when Anna
u lt very near its end, Nine. Eliza
'ressed In white, came alone and on
cOftaUa-har = il |