The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-09-15
u of al IN <.,sa.ns PoveU. Govt Report, Aug III 1852
R9y!a!:,.:!! q! Bssi9s BsM5:7
ABSOLUTELY PURE
ABSOLUTELY PURE
A woMAN'S NERVE.

genius ~ss still 10 the sscen ispt. In spite
Of her tihy y, srs. She had msried the
famous Cb.r'es Mathews. the younger
ool, a short time before and xss visiting
Paris 10 his company. TIE chief object oi
their visit was TO secure peril rmefs Ter
play. the preparations iCr Which we're
thou IN progress at oue Of the large Lon
4 don theatres. 81 the time un1er their uniI
tad msnsqement. The selection fell prin'
cipally upon Mathews beesuse bis vile
vas temporarily disabled by an uulueky
spraiu Of the ankle. She was contned to
their hotel in the Rue Saiut Honore.
One evening she was alone IN the small
but elegan salon adjoining her apartment,
her wait,pg maids we're within call, and
.he could nov and then hear in one OF the
further rooms the playful bark OF her
King Charles spsnitls, Flock and Floss,
which slssys accompanied her on her
travels. Tsking up . morning paper, her
attention became absorbed in the first ar
ticle on which her glance aligbted. for II
sas upon subject thst bad kept oil Paris
in excitement for days.
A mum Der Of robberies had taken place
in quick succession. whose perPetrstor
had not been discovered. II was evident
from certain characteristics common TO all
the crimes, that they we're the work OF one
man. His isvorite, and, indeed. only
method, hsd been to secreie himself IN
close proximity to some fashionable and
wealthy lsdy's sleeping apartment, and
then to POSSESS himself Of her jewels and
other yslusbles ait-r che hsd lien asleep
When his victim happened t. awake he
had not hesit ted TO use violence TO pre-
vent her giving an alarm. The only clue
to the robber lay in the knoslsdge that be
had but two fug rs on his left banda
circum,tsnce that had been noted by one
lady who had the nerve to simulate un
consciousness, while secretly observing
his operst tions in her b1udoir. A panic OF
fear was said tl exist among such ladies as
vers noted for the number and value Of
their jewels; and scarcs,tic comments
we're passed upon the in' ffectiveness of
the police authorities.
Madame Vesiris was woman OF excp,
tionally strong nerve, but she could not
! restrain a little timorous thrill, when hsv'
| ing finished the article, she limped across
the salon to t1e door Of her boudoir. IN
tending to summon htr maids and retire
for the nig Il
Before entering her boudoir, however.
she turned TO txtingash the wsI lights of
= csndelabrum that had been left burning
in addition to the small shaded lamp by
which she had been reading. The csnde'
lsbrum stood upon 3 bracket, throwing
out the shadows Of the int rvening pieces
OF furniture, especially the large table at
which she had been sitting, in pretty
stroue relief, inasmucb as the shaded read
ing lamp in the middle OF the table shed
its lesser luetre in = q small cir umscribed
circle. As she cast a final glance over the
room she was suddenly filled with fear ON
petceiylne, cast upon the floor. directly
across ier fooistool, the unmisiakabIe
shadow Of mao cronching under tue
table at Lich she had been sitting. Sue
remained perfectly quiet, but her terror
was increased hundred fold as she saw
tr thought she saw. the image OF hsud
that possessed but two fingers. She was
convinced that the mysterious criminal,
whose deeds had 30 excited the city. was
living concealed there. and bad so lain
probably in contact with the very folis o'
her dress, the Ell tire evening
!, Having come to this conviction through
swift and dreadful train Of reasoning.
Madame yesttis remained for momeLt
almost peiri6ed. Her jewels we're not d
for their splendor and co,tlness. and she
was known always to have them 10 cas'
lket Of her bedside upon II tiiipe, aud since
her arrival 10 Paris II bad also become
pr.tty we'll knoxn that she Was 10 the
habit OF retiring comparatively early,
while her husband duties kept him away
from the hotel until . late hour. Her
msids slept AZ the further end OF an ont
side corridor and thus. for considerable
time she was viituslly alone upon the third
door Of the hotel. OF course the robbe'
had made himself acquainted With the cir
cums,snces, and wss waiting bis oppt rtu
nifty 10 enter upon bis course OF pilisst
and violence. possibly to end 10 murder
These thoughts ard conclusions hashed
through Msdsme y,stris miud With ter
rible rspidiiy. Then. by tremendon'
effort OF will, abe not only recovered b'i
,p,rspidity aud coolpe,s, but also formed
plsu 10 er ric,t. herself and outwit ,h'
: fobber.
without ,I,ine uishing the light, she be
s.n 10 carol light operate sir. she re
,umed b,r seat. and touched the silve
,pring b. II 90 the table. With which sb'
"a, In the habit Of summonsug one OF be
u.ids. Tbis sciion sl1ne cost her Rfes
psns Of fear; for II The spspiels should &C
con psny the msid. they would doubles
=, opce spuf ont The concealed robber
VITO might then attack hsr without delsy
lFertunats however. the msid Sho res
, poudei 20 ber call was ne' Accom psnle'
\ by the 6oss.
Adele. said Madame Vestris. 10 The -
,.bIishusnt Of Monsieur yefnse, the iess
e.. suIl open DO you thioks
Oh, yes, nsdsuel rsplied the nsid.
,s saiuresy night. When oil The shops kst