Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-07

the time of Montgoltier's balloons and Mes
mer's animal magnetism.
Hermann passed behind the screen, which
concealed little iron bedstead. He saw
the two doors; the one on the right leading
to the dark room the one on the lett to the
corridor. He opened the latter, saw the
staircase which led to the poor little com
paDion's parlor, and then, closing this door,
went into the dark room.
The time passed slowly. Everything was
quiet in the house. The drawing room clock
struck midnight, and again there was
silence. Hermann was standing up, leaning
against the stove, in which there was nc
fire. He was calm; but his heart beat with
quick pulsations, like that of n man deter
mined to brave all dangers he might have
to meet, because he knows them to be in
evitable He heard 1 o'clock strikes
then 2; and soon afterward the distant
roll OF carriage He now, in spite oi
himself experienced some emotion. Tine
carriage approached rapidly and stopped.
There was at once great noise of servants
running about the staircases, and con-
fusion OF voices. Suddenly the rooms were
all lit up, and the Countess three anti
Quated maids came at once into the bed
room. At last appeared the Countess her
self.
The walking mummy sank into a large
Voltaire arm chair. Hermann looked
through the crack in the door; he saw
Llsabeta pass close to him, and heard her
hurried step as she went up the little
winding staircase. For a moment he felt
something like remorse; but 1t soon passed
off. and his heart was once more OF stone.
The Countess began to undress before a
| looking-glass. Her head-dress of roses was
taken off, and her powdered wig separated
| from her own hair, which was very short and
quite white. Pins fell in showers around
her. At last she was in her dressing-gown
| and her nightcap, and in this costume, more
suitable to her age was less hideous than
before.
Like most old people, the Countess was
tormented bv sleeplessness. She had her
armchair rolled toward one OF the windows,
and told her maids to leave her. The lights
were put out, and the room was lighted only
by the lamp which burned before the holy
images The Countess, sallow and wrinkled,
balanced herself gently from right to lett.
In her dull eyes could be read an utter ab-
sence of thought; and as she moved from
side to side, one might have said that she
did so not by any action of the Will, but
through some secret mechanism.
Suddenly this death 's-head assumed a
new expression; the lips ceased to tremble,
and the eyes became alive. A strange man
mad appeared before the Countessl
1t was Hermann.
"Do not be alarmed, madam" said Her
mann, in a low voice, but very distinctly.
For the love of heaven, do not be alarmed.
1 do not wish to do you the slightest harm;
on the contrary, l come to implore favor
OF you"
The old woman looked at him in silence,
as if she did not understand. Thinking she
was deaf, he leaned toward her ear and re.
peated what he had said; but the Countess
still remained silent.
sYou can ensure the happiness Of my
whole life, and without its costing you
farthing 1 know that you can name to me
three cards -"
The Countess now understood what he re-
at was a joke" she interrupted. 81
swear 10 you il was only joke"
"No, madam" replied Hermann in an
angry tone Remember Tchaplitzki, and
how you enabled him to win."
The Countess was agitared. For mo-
ment her features expressed strong emotion;
but they soon resumed their former dull
ness.
Cannot YOU name to me, said Hermann,
three winning cards?
The Countess remained silent. "Why
keep this secret for your great-grandchil-
dren," he continued. 'They are rich
enough without; :hey do not know the value
of money. OF what profit would your three
cards be to them? They are debauchees
The man who cannot keep his Inheritance
will die in want, though he had the science
of demons at his command. l am a steady
man. know the value of money. Your
three cards will not be lost upon me.
Comer'
He stopped tremblinglv, awaitinga reply.
The Countess did not utter a word. Her
mann went upon his knees.
>'If your heartshas ever known the passion
Of love; if YOU can remember its sweet ecsta-
cies; it YOU have ever been touched by the
cry of new born babe; il any human feel
ing has ever caused your heart to beat,
entreat you by the love of ahusband,a "a lover,
a mother, by all that is sacred in life, not to
reject my prayer. Tell me your secretl
Reflect! You are old; you have not long to
livel Remember that the happiness of
man is in your hands; that not only myself,
but my children and my grandchildren will
bless your memory as saint"
The old Countess answered not word.
Hermann rose, and drew pistol from his
pocket.
flag |" he exclaimed, 81 will make you
speak"
At the sight of the pistol the Countess for
the second time showed agitation. Her head
shook violently; she stretched out her hands
as if to put the weapon aside. Then sud-
denly she fell back motionless.
"Come, don't be childish II said Her
mann. II adjure you for the last time; will
you name the three cards ?"
The Countess did not answer. Hermann
saw that she was dead