The morning call., 1893-10-15
A MODERN ADVENTURES.

M. Bourget lately wrote novel, of which
the heroine is an adventures, known as
the Countess SteniO, whose wickedness is
so phenomenal that when il comes to the
knowledge Of her daughter the young lady
commits suicide. Critics have complained
that such creation was unnatural, but
genuine type of Nine. Stenio has lately
appeared in the flesh, and what is most
curious. though Europe was her battle
ground, she is an American.
Her real name is Amelia Haires, but she
had figured in her early youth on the
operaiic stage under the name of Nine.
ChloDie. and when an alias was necessary
to carry out her plots she revived her stage
coguomen. She operated partly in London
and partly in Paris. in both of which cities
she maintained splendid establishments
anu entertained the fast set among the
nobility and the plutocracy. Her chief
source OF income appeared TO be derived
from the blackmail Of persOns-men or
women-whom she beguiled into behavior
which would not bear the light; but an
other branch Of her business was Turing
rich old men into engaging themselves in
marriage TO her, and settling with them for
round sum under threats of suit FOR
breach of promise. According to the re-
ports, these pursuits yielded enormous
as standing very near throne" is said
To have paid her $4,000 hush money.
Others were let off more cheaply, but in
fast society, where she became known, a
man who had listened TO her siren voice
was regarded as having been let of easily
when her acquaintance only cost him a
thousand pounds or SO.
Her latest enterprise was suing an aged
and enormously wealthy baronet for
breach OF prOmise-a revival OF the Sharon
case. She failed in her suit, out Sir
Charles Russell, who had conducted the
Baronel's ease, laid before the police of
London and Paris the evidence he had
collected regarding her career. and the
authorities felt that she must be sup
pressed. The difficulty was that she had
supplied herself with such ample stores
of ammunition in the shape of letters, ana
the afiidavits of ber accomplices. that it
was extremely dangerous TO drive her to
bay. A trial might involve scandal, be-
smirching some OF the highest names in
France and England, scandal in COM
parisUn with which the baccarat affair
would seem a zephyr and the Panama reve-
lations a mere bit of gossip.
The police laid their plans shrewdly.
They collected evidence which would in-
sure Nine. Chione's conviction by jury
of crime which is punishable by many
years Imprisonment. This, with admira-
BILE candOr, they lad before the lady, in
forming her at the same time that she was
under surveillance, and that escape was
possible. Then they offered her COM
promise. She must either stand her trial
en- this evidence, with every prospect of
spending her last years in Jail. or she must
surrender every particle of documen tary
evidence in her possession, sign a confess
sion OF the various games which she had
played. and leave England and France, not
10 return. Nine. Haires-ChiOnie was rich;
she was over 40; she was perhaps weary of
the long battle she had fought with the
world she accepted the terms offered her
by the police. packed her trunk and left
England.
Whittier did she go? 1t is odds she
returned TO her native country. The
chances are two to one that she has
enriched the United States with her
presence. She may be in New York; she
may be in Washington; but IN both places
the police will have received full accounts
of her from their European confreres, and
il she becomes obtrusive she will be likely
TO receive unexpected and unpleasant Gomi-
ciliary visits. Chicago, perhaps, would be
a safer and happier hunting ground. By
taking a new name and fine suite of
rooms at fashionable hotel, and by
spending money freely. she might get into
society there and might resume operations
in field which though not virgin is still
fruitful; and should any of her entangle-
ments prove unsatisfactory she could easily
get divorce and 90 elsewhere.