Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-06-14
A NIGHT THIEF.

with youthful propensitles. 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-
tions. 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 a veritable museum, being
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
naturalization There were gazelles,
antelopes, Tibet goats, Nile ibises, rose
hamingoes, 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. 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.
"Oh, of robbers. They would fairly
revel here"
Robbers In this mansion filled to
The caves with guests and servants
Every body Knocked at the young wom-
IN, and old Dr. Cornabuc told horrible
stories about burglars and assassins un-
I'll Nine. de Lartigues, ashamed OF her
Numerical fears, was the first to laugh,
md when the retiring hour came she
mounted to her sleeping apartment Oh
the second floor supplied with a goodly
stock of heroism. Within short time
all the occupants of the chauteau were
IN the land of dreams.
How long Mmo. do Lartigues slept
she knew not She was awakened by
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 a form climbing
aoiselessly through the window. She
ried to scream, but her throat was
parched with fright, and she could not
after sound.
The man had entered the chamber
Then the poor woman hastily buried her
head beneath the bedclothing Half
lead with fear, she could hear her noe
ournal visitor going and coming across
che carpet with muffied 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 and
near nothing. Slightly treasured, she
recovered the use of her voice and start
d q series of shrieks, SO sharp, piercing
md terrible that in al instant the entire
chateau was turned topsy turvy. Every
body rushed into her chamber with
lights in their hands, M. and Nine. de
Rerdall at the head.
"What is it? What's the natter"
they cried.
She recounted her horrible vision
They would not believe her. She had
been dreaming. Who could have climb
ed into this chamber, SO high above the
ground, without ladder?
''Did you see him plainly?" asked
che marquis, with a touch of suspicion
in his voice
Gas plainly as see you, and it even
seemed''- She besitated.
"What?"
SIT seemed as though I could recog-
nize Dr.. Corabuc in his blond wig and
ladingote. P"
Every body laughed. What DR.. Cor
nabuc! A man of his age and character
scaling windows at midnight! 1t was
certain now that Nine. de Lartigues had
been dreaming. They tried to dissipate
her fear, and she was just about to per-
iuade herself that she had been the vic.
i'm Of an Authorization when she hap
oened to cast her eyes upon the bureau,
where she had left her jewels.
They were gonol It had truly been
colbert
The laughing Suddenly ceased, and
they looked at one another in ccnstcrna
ion.
All at onco another cry was heard,
piercing shrek coming through the still
ness Of the night 1t appeared to ema
nate from Miss Hawthorne's chamber
There was rush for her apartment,
and the English lady was found stand
ing in the middle of tho room, with
frightened eyes.
''There, there!' she cried, pointing
to the window "a man! He escaped,
but recognized him. +"
"Who was it?''
cdr. Coraabuc!"
The doctor again! This time nobody
laughed Cornabuc was looked for
among the persons who had been at
tracted by the excitement, but he was
not there. Ho was the only occupant of
the chateau who was missing.
Come, let us SO to tho Doctors
rooia," said the marquis, Knitting his
brows HE will doubtless solve the
mystery for us -
All followed Kerjlall, tho men half
dressed, tho women in their white night
robes, all carrying candles--a weird
procession. Upon the entrance of the
crowd, the doctor hurriedly wrapped
himself in the bedclothes, his wrinkled
countenance alone being visible over
the top, and this convulsed by anger in
to comical grimace. The candle light
was reflected from his bald pate, which
shone like old ivory. A-.--4-.-a