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

Three days after this fatal night, at 9
o'clock in the morning, Hermann entered
the convent where the last respects were to
be paid to the last remains of the old
Countess. He felt no remorse, though he
could not deny to himself that he was the
poor woman's assassin. Having no religion,
he was, as usual il such cases, very super
stitious; believing that the dead Countess
might exercise malignant influence on his
life, he thought to appease her spirit by at
tending her funeral.
The church was full of people, and it was
difficult to get in. The body had been
canopy of velvet. The Countess was re-
posing in an open coffin, her hands Joined
on her breast, with dress of white satin,
and head-dress of lace. Around the
catfaluue the was family assembled, the sery-
ants in black caftans with knot OF ribbons
on the shoulder, exhibiting the colors of the
Countess coat of arms. Each of them
held q wax candle in his hand. The rela-
tions, in deep mourning-childreD. grand
children, and grandchildren-were all
present; but none of them wept.
To have shed tears would have looked
| like affectaton. The Countess was so old
that ner death could have taken no one by
| surprise, and she had long been looked upon
Is already out of the world. The funer-
al sermon was delivered by a
| celebrated preacher. In a few simple.
touching phrases he painted the final depart
ure of the just who had passed long years of
contrite preparation for Christian end. The
service concluded in the midst of respectful
silence. Then the relations went toward the
i +,1r 10 A fha,,
| in long procession, all who had
been invited to the ceremony bowed,
| for the last time, to her who
for so many years had been q scarecrow at
their entertainments. Finally came the
| Countess household among them was rc-
marked an old governess. of the same age as
the deceased, supported bv two women. She
| had not strength enough to kneel down. but
tears flowed from her eyes, as she kissed the
hand of her old mistress.
In his turn Hermann advanced toward the
| coffin. He knelt down for a moment on the
| fagstones, which were strewed with branches
of yew. Then he rose, as pale a,
death, and walked up the steps Of
the catafalque. He bowed his head. But
suddenly the dead woman seemed to bt
staring at him; and with a mocking look
she opened and shut one eye. Hermann By
sudden movement started and fell back
ward. Several persons hurried toward him
| At the same moment, close to the church
door, Lisabeta tainted.
Throughout the day, Hermann suffered
from a strange indisposition. In quie
restaurant, where he took his meals, he
contrary to his habit, drank great deal o
wine, with the object OF stupefying himself
But the wine had no effect but to excite hi
Imagination. and give fresh activity to tn,
ideas with which he was preoccupied.
He went home earlier than usual; lay dowr
with his clothes on upon the bed, and fe
into leaden sleep. When he woke up i
was night and the room was lighted up b,
the rays of the moon. He looked at hi
watch; it was 2:45. He could sleep no more
He sat up on the bed and thought
of the old Countess. At this mo
ment someone in the street passed
the window, looked into the room, and ther
went on. Hermann scarcely noticed it; bu
in another minute he heard the door of tn,
ante-chamber open. He thought that hi
orderly, drunk as usual, was returning from
some nocturnal excursion, but the step wa
one to which he was not accustomed. Some
sThe figures and fashions Of the mazurka ar,
reproduced in the cotillon Of Western Europe
| -Tfdnstdtor.