Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-04-01
A NIGHT THIEF.

There was large party at the Cha
teau dc Kerdall, near Vannes. The Mar
quis do Kerdall and his young wife haG
just returned from tour of the world
on their yacht, during which they had
paid flying visits to Africa, Americs
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, all old school friend
OF the marquise, brilliant and coquet-
fish Parisionne. And there was Miss
Hawthorne, all 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 of
life there were some unusual attrac-
lions. In tho 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 n vnri I,1a ,,,Yro,,,,, bo;,,,
stocked with rare and curious objects
from two continents. And finally a
managerie had been created in one cor
ner of the park and stocked with the
various animals which M. de Kerdall
had picked up during the voyage and
brought back to France for purposes of
acclimatization. There were gazellos,
antelopes, Tibet goats, Nile ibises, rose
flamingoes, opossums, beavers and an
Asiatic ape Of the mandrill species, as
mild as a lamb, but as mischievous 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. do Lartigues
from dreadihg the isolated position of
the place among the wide expanse of
woods and fields
II should be afraid to live here all
the year round" she said
"Afraid Of what, my dear?" asked
the maruuise.
"Oh, Of robbers. They would fairly
revel here. F"
Robbers! In this mansion filled to
the caves with guests and servants!
Everybody Knocked at the young wom-
m, and old DR.. Cornabuc told horrible
stories about burglars and assassins un-
til Mime. dc Lartigues, ashamed of her
fears, was the first to laugh,
and when the retiring hour came she
to her sleeping apartment on
the second floor supplied with a goodly |
stock Of heroism. Within short time
al the occupants Of the chauteau were
in the land of dreams.
How long Mime. de Lartigues slept
she knew not. She was awakened by q
'attling at her window, which she had
eft half open OH account Of the heat
What was her terror when in the
feeble starlight she saw form climbing
loiselessly through tho window. She
'ried to scream, but her throat was
parched with fright. and she could not
litter sound.
The man had entered the chamber.
Then the poor woman hastily buried her
read beneath the bedclothing. Half
lead with fear, she could hear her noe
urnal visitor. going and coming across
be carpet with muffled steps. It seemed
10 though he must have removed his
hoes in order to tread softly. Bathed
With cold perspiration and her teeth
she awaited the mortal blow
rom the invader But it did not come.
After about quarter of an hour she
mildly peeped out She could see and
ear nothing. Slightly treasured, she
covered the use Of her voice and start.
d series Of shrieks. SO sharp, piercing
nd terrible that in an instant the entire
hateau was turned topsy turvy. Every
ody rushed into her chamber with
ghts in their hands, M. and Nine. de
lerdall at the head
What is it? What's the matter?''
hey cried.
She recounted her horrible vision.
hey would not believe her. She had
cen dreaming. Who could have climb.
] into this chamber, SO high above the
round, without a ladder?
"Did you see him plainly?" asked
le marquis, with touch Of suspicion
! his voice.
"As plainly as I see you, and il even
emed"-. She hesitated.
"What?"
1T seemed as though could recor.
lie DR.. Corabuc in his blond WIG and
Everybody laughed. What! Dr.. Cor.
lbuo! A man Of his age and character
aling windows at midnight! It was
rts;n now that Nine. dc Lartigues had
zen dreaming. They tried to dissjpate
Y fear, and she was just about to per. ! I