The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-02-03

we were both SO frightened that we had
neither the strength nor the courage to
attempt anything. Victoire had uncou-
sciously thrown herself into my arms.
Her warm breath famed my cheek. Her
| little hand held fast to mine. No matter
what threatened us, it was something,
at least. to have gained this happiness;
we would die together, her last sigh on
my lips.
"For these men-we were sure of it
were accomplices Of the first two, and
by previous arrangement they had
been engaged for the carrying off and
concealing of the dead body. Deceived
by our joint weight, they believed they
had it. and we, instead of the murdered
victim, were hurrying away through
the shadowy gloom.
"True, so we were, but where were
we hurrying? Where were we heading,
as the men trotted on with swift, untir-
ing steps, at times almost run? What
were they going to do with us-their
sinister burden?
presently we saw that we were
passing one of the city gates leading
tempted to Cry out, to call to the senti-
mel, but fear for Victoire deferred me,
Victcire, whose mother believed her
slumbering sweetly Llder her little
white curtains.
"What should do? What could
90? was nearly distracted.
"By this time we were clear of the
suburbs, but still swept onward An
ether Tightening of the sky, and I saw
ahead of US a glistening sheet of water,
the river Deule. l knew it well-a
deep, rapid stream, the running Of
whose current we even now could hear.
Undoubtedly the wrctches were 60
ing to fling US into this sect ing vortex.
"This time would have cried out,
but Victoire, mad with fright, clung so
tightly to my neck, clasping me with
such force that my voice died in my
throat, my eyes closed and the cry was
Gtrangled
'How long a time elapsed 1 never
knew was brought back to conscious
Less by the chair striking the ground.
They had set it down preparatory to-
| yes, hut where, where? Decidedly not
in the river. 1t was room, on the con-
trary, the dirty, grinly chamber of a
low country wineshop where a crowd
Ct rough, coarse men were drinking,
swearing and rolling about a lot of
boxes, barrels and packages, like mer-
chandise.
"'Mme. Jervaise, Nine. Jervaise!
sihey shouted in chorus, as our bearers
set US down. Have you brought US
Nine. Jeryaise2' -a>-,>.-
"'She is here" the bearers replied.
"tTo work, to work, then! We have
10 time to lose. -
And the chair door was thrown open.
"But scarcely had they caught sight
Ct Nictoire and me, crouching half dead
! in the bottom of the chair, when avid
stampede took place, a heller SHELTER
rush for the outside. The lights were
cxtinguished, the thud of feet was heard
pounding away into the night, and then
u deep bioodcurdling stiffness.
"We were alone in black darkness.
"Luckily had noticed the direction
6 the door. To leap from the chair,
seize Victories hand and make my way
80 it was the work Of q second. The
clouds had not deepened, the rain had
ceased, and by the purest miracle we
found the road back to the city. By
daylight we were safe at home.
ga fortnight later perhaps an article
in a morning paper gave Inc the key to
the niystCry of that hideous night in
which we (Victoire and y had been SO
I strangely involved. The article an
rcCEced the capture by the police of a
' band Of smugslers who had installed
themselves in cn old, abandoned wine
chop in the outskirts of Lille-a regular
magazine, as it turned out, of contra
band goods, which they had struggled
in and cut of the city by means of a
ina.,ikiu representing a sick old woman,
partly paralyZed, and which, muffled in
Wr2Es aud placed i'll sedan chair, they
carried back and forth under the very
rose of the gendarmes without the
rliSLtect fear of detection.
"'An invalid ordered by the doctor
to t&le the steam baths, they told the
officers Ct the law, by name Nine. Jer-
yaiGe.
NINE. Jervaiser The name told
me I'll and explained everything that
hitherto had seemed mysterious and in
cXplicable in Our midnight adventure.
Happily for us our nocturnal escapade
had never been suspected, and Victoire
ind l escaped summons to appear as
witnesses before the court of assizes.
All the same from that day to this the
| tLc.7ght C a scd@n chair gives me goose
! G,sh Gown tie spine. From the
, French in Cincinnati Enquirer.
| The ChrysGnthemuIn.
! Whe:, tie plant was introduced. about