The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1897-03-24

NO c!eW was Ouidi however,, TO the
mystery save that II bottle of chloroform
was discovered On maaafne's mantel-
shelf taken from u little medicine chest
of which Elise held the key and of
which she could give 10 account, Ma
dame had intrusted the charge Of the key
TO Elise, lest in of nervousness
or forgetfulness she might chance to
take n wrong dose.
lyon are all Il pack Of idictsl' cried
madame wratbfuliy. wait till my
nc phew returns. lie Viii lie Lhle TO t.nd
out something"
For Armand had been absent fer /,
few days and wlote that his return wa
yet delayed.
my faith, my good aunt" be said,
after hearing her tale, wien he at last
arrived aud inspecting %curiously the
bottle of chlcrofcim, "it locks as if
rome one wanted 10 get rid CT you.
Have you made your viii in favor of
our fair cousin: But. no: perhaps it is
only that young ladies like jew elry."
"Elisei" exclaimed madame in bor.
for. 1T is impossiblei"
go VII VI CUuIstl TespCuutu DtT
nephew, struggling his shoulders.
"Nannette perhaps" murmured ma
dame. But the loss of her beloved ring
bad sorely preyed upon her temper. and
with awakened suspicion in her mind
Elise and the little maid had a sorry
time OF it..
Z Then Francois suddenly took courage,
and coming to madame declared his
passion M begged her permission to
address her lovely charge.
"a. thief. perhaps" said madame
sourly. "Bnt, no." she added, ashamed
of having let slip the word.
who dares say that-of one so good
and beautiful" he asked f%ercely. 81
know it is that black hearted nephew Of
yours. 1t is he. Ync-you, madame,
are too kind to believe such slandersi'
Perhaps it is, Nunnette." she muir
INJURED, frightened Mt his fierceness.
Find me my ring and you shall have
my consent. Without that-begonel'
The Young man departed somewhat
discouraged, bat NOT utterly cast down.
Who could tell what lucky chance fate
might have in store for him? By the
way he MT Nannette. weeping bitterly,
what is it, little one?' he asked
kindly. {.
sob. madame is angryl Madame will
send me ny ay from NY beautiful young
lady-a,id I cnnuot telli''
"Wha is it you know. petite?" he
urged gently. Perhaps at this very mo-
inent sorna .clew to the mystery lay
within his reach.
"Oh, the poor Young ladyi" cried tho
child. sobbiDg. II love herl I would do
anything to save Ter pain"
Tell me, ma bonnie"
"Will you help? Will. you find out?''
Questioned Nannette, h~esitating. at
WINS the black ghost!"
1.-The black gkostr' echoed Francois
in amaze.
Yes she went ON hastily, the re-
lief unburdening her secret too great TO
be. resisted. 1.-The night. the ring was
taken l could not sleep. | woke and
crept down from my room. IL wanted
to be near the dear young lady. but ]
was ashamed to have her see me. So
when / saw her coming toward me with
a light in her baud l hid behind q cur
tain near madnme's door. She wore her
nightdress, With a loose gown abont
her, and she had a candle in her hand.
Her eyes were wide open and staring.
but she did not seem to see. She looked
as if she were blind or asleep. Then she
turned into the room where the medi-
OF 20 chest stands. took tut " bottle and
locked tile door Of the chest again. !
looked behind her, and far down the
corridor | saw a black ghost all muffled
up in a mantle. and it pointed to ma
dame's room. And, oh. she went in and
held the bottle to madaine's nose and
slipped the ring of her fingerl And she
came ont again and went down the cor
rider, aud then I slid down behind the
curtain and tainted and could not re-
member anything till the dawn came.
when l crept back to my W ROOM"
But" said Francois sternly, lyon
said You knew nothing. You lied then,
or you are lying now"
YES" cried the child, sobbing
afresh, II lied then. | was afraid they
would hurt my dear young lady. But
now-now l swear Ly our Blessed Lady
l am telling the truth. 1t was the black
CHEST that nlade her 90 it. She did not
know. She looked as il she was blind
You will not let them hurt her"
1.-THE black pLostl" murnured Fran
co.'s to himself. ut is Armand st.
Fnure, +" he added %snvagely. He wonln
fight him ard force him to confess the
knayery lie had practiced. But it mus
I've on some preiext which should nor
involve Elisu'H name.
And yuu huva told me the truth