The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-10-24
A NIGHT THIEF.

There was large party at the Cha
teau de Kerdall, near Vannes The Mar
uuis dc Kerdall and his young wife had
Just returned from a tour of the world
on their yacht, during which they had
paid flying visits to Africa, America
and Oceanica, and they had celebrated
their home coming by gathering together
all their friends and relatives at their
beautiful country house.
Among the guests was old DR.. Cor
nabuc, an illustrious member of the
Academy of Metaphysical Sciences, SO
original, so absentminded, SO venerable
in his blond peruke and his costume OF
the fashion of 1850 Then there was
Nine. de Lartigues, an old school friend
of the marquise, a brilliant and coquet-
fish Parisienne And there was Miss
Hawthorne, an English maiden lady
with youthful propensities. And there
were many others, all Of whom found
plenty of amusement to their hearts
content at Kerdall.
Outside Of the ordinary pleasures CT
life there were some unusual attrac-
tons In the first place the host and
hostess had seen and experienced so
much that was novel and startling
that their conversation was always fas-
cinating. Then the rooms of the castle
constituted veritable museum, being
stocked with rare and curious objects
from two continents. And finally a
managerie had been created i'll one cor
ner of the park and stocked with the
various animals which NJ. de Kerdall
had picked up during the voyage and
brought back to France for purposes of
acclimatization. There were gaZelles,
anteiopes, Tibet goats, Nile ibises, rose
fiamingOes, opossums, beavers and an
Asiatic ape Of the mandrill SPECIES, as
mild as lamb, but as mischieyOuS as
all his kind An iron lattice cage had
been built for him close to the conser-
vatOry.
AS will be seen, the Chateau de Ker-
dali was veritable Eden, but this fact
did not prevent little Nine. de Lartigues
from dreading the isolated position of
the place among the wide expanse of
woods and fields.
81 should be afraid to live here all
the year round" she said.
Afraid of what, my dear?" asked
the marquise.
ooh, of robbers. They would fairly
revel here. -
Robbersl In this mansion filed tc
the caves with guests and servants
Everybody Knocked at the young wom-
an, and old DR.. Cornabuc told horrible
stories about burglars and assassins un-
til Nine. de Lartigues, ashamed of her
chimerical fears, was the first to laugh,
and when the retiring hour came sha
mounted to her sleeping apartment OF
the second floor supplied with goodly
stock of heroism. Within short time
all the occupants of the chauteau were
in the land Of dreams
How long Nine. de Lartigues slept
she knew not. She was awakened by a
rattling at her window, which she had
left half open on account of the heat
What was her terror when in the
feeble starlight she saw form climbing
noiselessly through the window She
tried to scream, but her throat was
parched with fright. and she could not
utter sound
The man had entered the chamber.
Then the poor woman hastily buried her
head beneath the bedclothing Halt
dead with fear, she could hear her noe
turnal visitor going and coming across
the carpet with muff1ed steps. 1t seemed
as though he must have removed his
shoes in order to tread softly. Bathed
with cold perspiration and her teeth
chattering she awaited the mortal blow
from the invader. But it did not come.
After about quarter of an hour she
timidly peeped out. She could see anC
hear nothing. Slightly treasured, she
recovered the use of her voice and start
ed q series of shrieks. SO sharp, piercing
and terrible that in an instant the entire
chateau was turned topsy turvy. Every
body rushed into her chamber with
lights in their hands, NJ and Nine d,
Kerdall at the head.
What is it? What's the matter?
they cried
She recounted her horrible vision
They would not believe her. She haC
been dreaming. Who could have climb
ed into this chamber, so high above the
ground, without ladder?
Did you see him plainly?'' asked
the marquis, with touch of suspicion
in his voice
LAS plainly as see you. and it even
seemed She hesitated.
"What?''
1T seemed as though / could recog.
nize DR.. Corabuc in his blond wig and
redingote.
Everybody laughed. What DR.. Cor.
nabuc! A man of his age and character
scaling windows at midnight 1t was
certain now that Mime. de Lartigues had
been dreaming. They tried to dissipat.
her fear, and she was just about to Der.