The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-07-08


er and weaker. The physical struc-
ture of man." continued the surgeon,
lis renewed every seven years. There
fore, in seven years from now, if you
have patience, the legs of the dead
man which we grated on you will
have entirely disappeared; the limbs
that will have replaced them will be
entirely your own, subject to your will
and permeated by your own mental
impressions"
THUS, in an evil hour l was in
duced to continue the lamentable as
sociations. Oh, Louise! Louise! Fair
saint in Heaven, thy young life was
sacrificed to my folly
Here" said the lady, the stranger
was compelled by his emotion to pause.
He covered his face, and there was no
sound but that made by his choking
sobs.'
"'Pardon me. LADY, he resumed, re-
gaining his self-control I can never
think of that fatal night without weak
ly giving way to unavailing tears. For
her l had lived and hoped. There was
no dream of my future in which she was
not the central figure, and yet it was l
! who caused her death. No, not 1
no-never! But the hideously wicked
grated limbs.
- swear that ! knew nothing of the
events of that night till | was awakened
by the sound of voices and the flashing
Of lights. | found myself standing in
the chateau of CampaZany. 1t was the
dining-room. There was a black mask
on my face and a bag of plumber at my
side. | knew well what it meant. The
lights and voices were approaching. 1t
was the marquis and his servants ap-
preaching. Desperately | rushed to the
windows. They were securely fastened.
must have entered elsewhere. | turned
TO dash through the door opposite to
that by which the marquis and the
others were entering. They saw me and
pistols were leveled. | saw a white
figure spring between me any my pur-
suers ! heard a voice cry Henri
Henri! 1t is you but you are Innocent"
Pistol shots rang out; there was wild
shrek. and, looking backward, ! saw
my love lying dead-dead-dead, her
fair hair dabbling in her blood. With
the laugh of maniac, | fed away
through the darkness.
"'What happened in the years that
followed ! know not. | was dominated
by one impulse-to fly from the scene
of horror which was always in my MEM
orv. What ! did. how | lived, have no
knowledge. Quite probably my limbs
took advantage of my mental intirmity
to involve me in the crimes for which
they thirsted Quite probably large
part of the time which is a blank TO me
was spent in prison. | know not. At
length my mind began to assert itself
again. | was no longer dazed; sanity
had returned.
II found that | was living in Ameri-
ca, in the city of Chicago, the inhabi-
tant of a room in low tenement house;
an eX-convict, a man whom the police
feared and watched; whom the Grim
mails admired. Dreadful awakening,
with what terror did | realize my posi-
ton. Thinking to escape | came here
to New York. but, as you see, the evil
influence still continues. In an un-
guarded moment. | have been abducted
from my home and borne here to pose
before YOU as a criminal and a wretch.
Lady. this is more than can bear.
'''Again the stranger shed tears.
looked upon him with the deepest pity.
His tears, his youthful beauty, his frank
speech, all convinced me of the absolute
truth of his narrative, which. though
surprising in some respects, was not
more 50 han some tales which juries
accept as truth.
- believe you,' l said not only DO
believe you, but l will make others be-
lieve you. You have but two more years
in which the evil grated upon you can
continue. Go free tonight. Strive on
against misfortune, and if in an eN-
tremity you need friend, call upon
me-
1.-The noble face of the count was il
Illuminated with thanlfulness. Heaping
blessings upon my head, he departed
and l saw him not again nor heard of
him till l received letter telling me
IIldJ lie WIS III PRISON hclC dlu uCSll GU
to see me-
"'Ah!' said /, you wish to see him?'
81 do, indeed; | desire to comfort
and strengthen him, and, above all,
to give him this pie. The seven years
of evil domination are almost over, the
wicked individuality Of the grated
limbs has gone, and with it the
strength. The count, above all things,
now needs building up. In a few days
l will tell his story to the press, to the
governor. l will get him released and
will send him back to his estate in
France as happy as man with such a
history can be-
$50 saying, she produced from a par
eel she carried huge pie.
well, it was a little irregular. to be
sure, but the appearance of the lady
and her simplicity were too much for
me and | passed it in. Then she had
FIVE minutes conversation with Hand
some Charley in my presence, and went
away looking satisfied, while ! sat
back in my chair and laughed to think
how easy it is to pull the wool over a
woman's eyes"
VI.