Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-04-15

treated more kindly than |, complete
stranger, save for the slight stamp of
genuineness which 'Tremome Il Lee
man gave me in this most elegant
aud beautiful home, every part of
which betakened the wealth and posi-
tion of the owner.
"A few moments later jacques came
to show me to my rom. With lin
gering glance, bade the youhg lady
good. might. 1t seemed to me that her
beautiful eyes were lilled with n shadow
of regret for our brief acquaintance
Her father followed mo to the court
without giving me several messages for
Mr.. Tremoine and other friends in De-
troit, all OF which | promised to carry
faithfully. Then, with IA c0urtly good
night, he intrus,ed me to the care Of
the waiting attendant:
MY apartment was handsomely fur
nished, In keeping with the rest of the
| house. IL was apparently back room
connected with one in the front of tie
house by heavy folding doors, across
which red crimson p0rtiere fell.
Jacques brought me pitcher of
fresh water aud some Clean towels, and
then, mumbling something in his unih-
telligible Creole French, no we'd him5e {
out.
Il examined the room carefully, l)ck-
ed all the doors except the folding one,
which | found fastened on the other
side, and went to sleep thinking what
a capital joke that WAS on Smith. who
wasundoubtedly reposing beautifully in
No. 10j, at the ST. Charles, unconscious
of the strange escapade had gotten
him into. | resolved TO write to the
young lady as soon as'I left the city, in
forming her Of my little deception, and
introducing the original Smith, whom
I was quite sure would fall head over
ears in love with her at first sight.
Poor Smith | was just mapping out
his future most beautifully, when
| Morpheus seized me and carried me off
into dreamland.
About midnight was awakened by
a slight noise in the room. A terrible
presentment took possession of me. |
, dared not move for second. My knees
trembled, the cold drops of moisture
stood Oh my brow l lay sh;vering as
though chilled by some actual, iey
touch fOr moment, then my healthy,
vigorous physique reasserted itself l
was no coward even TO myself. / rose
stealthly and crep: tothe light, turning
the full blaze on suddenly.
- change in the room startled me.
The heavy ,portiere was thrown aside,
the folding doors stood wide open. Re-
solved toipenetrate this mystery,l step
ped into the other room.
a cry of horror escaped me as | did
so. l stood in the middle Of the floor,
petrified, the very blood freezing in my
veins. There on the bed lay a
man with his throat gashed from ear to
ear, the red blood ooZing slowly upon
the white counterpane and the rich car
pet beneath. His wide eyes were up
turned to the ceiling, his white face
tranSlixed with the death agony.
For second l stood there as if froz-
en- to the spot, my senses reeling, my
hands cllnched IN a sudden agony of
mortal terror; then like fash of light
ming the truth swept over me, A ter
rible crime had been committed. The
responsibility was to be laid on me. In
the mOrning the police would come to
arrest me- What yestige of power
would have to disprove it ?
with a sudden, quick energy, born
of desperation, l went to my room and
dressed myself, leavingnot the slightest
trace OF my presence there. Assuring
myself that not card or aslip of paper
was left as clew to my ndentity,
took my boots in my hand and crept
noiselessly down the stairway.
when reached the door beyond the
curt | shrank back in dismay. | had
forgotten it would be locked and bar
red. entered the apartment where |
had b en- entertained the night before,
hoping to find a window unbolted. To
my surprise heard voices and perceiv-
ed light emanating from thereon ad-
joining. The door between was slight
ly ajar. | walked breathlessly across
the room and peeped through the crew
ice.
Horror of horrors +! What did see
there? The fine, ,courtly old gentleman
of the night before seated at faro
table, surrounded by montlep crowd
and my fine young lady, the brilliant,
sweet-voiced enchantreSs Of the dinner
table, dealing out faro blanks, opposite!
1T was enough. | turned away, re-
aIizing then that | was in NewOfleans.
had gotten into one of the worst dens
of the French city, and the beautiful
Creole was probably one of tho notOri
Gus characters h ii so often read of.
Il