Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-12-11
! DROPPED OUT :.
; :. OF EXISTENCE.
a STRANGE AND TRUE MYSTERY
OF THE FRENCH CAPITOL.
a N q, u ~ % "A q q q q
was like scrap basket filled
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

DARIS was like scrap basket filled
to overhowing. From every part
OF the world people and their baggage
were being deposited in the attractive
catch-all offered them, and, except for
q continuous shifting of her contents,
in this state Paris was to remain for
months until the end of the exposition
came to straighten her disorder and
empty her out.
Among the many who arrived in Paris
at an early period of the exposition was
party of three Americans-a mother
and her two daughters. 1t was evident
that they had been accustomed to travel
much and independently, which might
be accounted for by the fact that they
had scarcely a relation to bind them to
one place and not relative to offer
them a protecting hand. They came
after dark and registered at hotel
There were only two rooms left, but
they were on the same corridor.
Madame might like the front room,
and the two mademoiselles would per-
haps be suited with the other, few
doors away" Thus said the clerk, and
dller SOint luspeCllCh INC lluNC
agreed with him.
1t is a very good room," the matron
remarked, leaning back in her chair
and watching her daughters, who were
busy with the contents of her satchel.
81 think, though, that l might enjoy it
more if | did not feel so wretched."
The young ladies reassured her with
the reminder that she was tired; she
had not yet become accustomed to the
climate; as for calling in a physician,
she had done that her first night in
every new city; suppose she try the
cure of long sleep this time. In fact,
they fully persuaded her of her foolish
ness before they left her for the night.
In spite of their convincing arguments
speculation as to their mothers health
was the first word uttered by the two
girls next morning, and they made
haste to go to her room.
A light knock brought no response
With a satisfied nod to her sister, the
younger girl oneneH the door softly and
-tiptoed into the room. The elder start
red to follow, but stopped with little
cry. ''We are in the wrong place!"
she said.
impossible" her sister replied.
This is the only front room there can
tbe on this side of the corridor"
But the room was certainly not their
mothers. Last night the hangings and
papering had been green, this morning
they were red; last night the furniture
had been of oak, now it was some dark
stained wood; last night the floor had
been carpeted this morning it was bare
except for few rugs; strangest of all,
last night they had left their mother
here, but now she was gone and the
Eoom was empty.
The two girls surveyed it in silence.
One of them went into the hall again
and counted doors. THE fifth one from
us" she asserted, ''just as we counted
last night" They looked out of the
window. The sun was shining on the
same great tree through which they
had seen the street lights the night
before.
a trim little maid was sweeping the
corridor, and of her they inquired anx
iously: 'Can you tell us where the
lady is who occupied that room last
night2"
20, ma a'mselle," the maid replied
crossing herself, mo one was in tha
room!"
81 left my mother there last night,
was the rejoinder.
"Ma'mselle must be mistaken" tn
maid insisted. mo person has slep
there for years. 1t is the order of i
proprietaire."
The two girls sent her to summon tn
proprietor TO the spot, waited for hin
impatiently, and interrupted his polit
greeting with the question if this wa
not the room he had given to their moth
er the night before.