Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-24

edge on tne flSul-uaAu uelI III icy IN
tendedS the body of Astrea-still
dressedsin the rich white India muslin
wrapper, now much torn and defaccd.
Her beautiful face was marble: her
rlissen}ng golden hair trailed in faded
splendor over her shoulders and bosom;
her violet eyes, under their snowy,
holf-closed lids, looked like orbs of
lead; one arm lay listlcss on her bosom:
the other hung lifeless over the edge OF
the berth.
Beside this form of death stood the
woman, Nictorine. still clothed in the
long flowing black robe. but with her
black mask laid aside, and holding i'll
her h&nd the sponge. saturated with
the murderous chloroform with which
she had again stupeticd her victim.
"There! that will do for the pres
emit" she exclaimed. as she stood con-
templating her tiendish work.
How long shall you bey inquired
the voice of the captain. in Il fierce
whisper from the head of the stairs.
IAN hour" answered the woman. in
the same key.
do not be longer. for we sail With
the first tide. And. mind-disguse. but
do not Glistigure her; it would spoil her
market"
II will not. will only darkcn her.
She will make a beautiful brunette.
Her eyes are Of such dark blue that.
with black eyelashes. eyebrows and
hair, and dark-brown skin. they will
equally charming as Il brunette: more
but the embrowning of the rind that
1n riO IF 70 fr,,it
closed Within" said the woman, with
a cynical laugh. Besides" she added.
chow could YOU possibly get rid of
fair woman? Who would take her un-
less darkcned hery'
mo one! You reason we'll. Perform
your part as we'll! Change her COM
plexion, but preserve her beauty"
"Sacredly."
"And finish your work within the
time specified"
'Yes, will; and do you be sure to
have the boat ready to take me back
to the island. The gallant bridegroom.
having lost his bride. must not also
lose his French cook. else will the CO.
incidence of their joint disappearance
suggest that the one has murdered the
other and fed, which would be great
scandal; or that they had bolted to-
gether, which would be a greater
laughed the woman.
II will have the boat got ready in
time. Victorine?'
"Monsieur!"
Lest l should forget to remind you
in the hurry of the last moment. re-
member that the next rendezvous is ut
the Balize."
Il will remember to meet you there,
Monsieur Never fear.'
The captain then disappeared from
the top of the stairs.
And the woman commenced her
dreadful task. First. she picked up the
wick OF the lamp, to raise stronger
light. Then she took a bottle Of pale
brown liquid from the top Of the chest
Of drawers. and poured some OF the
contents into tumbler. Then she took
a soft piece of flannel, and sitting
down beside the insensible girl. began
to dye her skin by dipping the cloth i'll
the liquid and gently washing her
face that soon changed from it's trans
parent lily fairness to that clear, ligh-
brown hue, peculiar to the complexion
of Quadroons. Her face, neck, bosom,
arms and hands were all made to as
sumo the color of the mixed race.
when this process was complete, the
woman replaced the tumbler and the
bottle, and took from the same stand a
large vial of some dark preparation,
labeled Eclipse" with which, by the
aid of small sponge. she proceeded to
saturate the golden hair of her victim,
which began rapidly to assume raven
hue. Hair. eyebrows, and even eye
lashes were treated in the same man
per.
And when this second process was
in it's turn perfected no one could have
recognized Astrea. Her dazzlingly
fair complexion was now Of clear
olive. Her clustering golden hair, and
her delicately penciled eyebrows and
eyelashes, were now inky black. In
a word, the radiant blonde had been
transformed into a brilliant brunette.
She had been rs beautiful as a sunny
ady before; she was beautiful as a
starllt night now.
The artist gazeG, we'll pleased with
her wor1. saying:
81 wonder what she will think when
she first looks at herself in a glass?"
Her reason will be disturbed by her
lost identity! And farther. what will
she think when she finds herself out at
sea. with none but strange faces
around her? should not be surprised
if amazement were to drive her mad"
Have you got through? We shall
scarcely have time to put you ashore
and bring back the boat, before the
tide will server spoke the voice of the
captain down the stairs.
IL have; it is feat accomplished!
Come down and gaze upon the magic
work! And tell me whether she were
more lovely as blonde or brunette?'
The captain crept softly down the
stairs and stood by his accomplice,
crtcizing her handiwork.
"She is exceedingly beautiful, even
now; yet, in my opinion, she was far
more so before you changed her COM
plexion. But this may be mere mat
ter Of taste. I, being swarthy as a
gypsy, naturally admire blonde women.
Blonde men, on the contrary, might
fancy this dark beauty. Besides. as
you justly limited, it was necessary. ftr
two reasons, to change her INTO u hru-
nette; first, to make her II -.ecogriZa-
BILE to her friends, and, secondly, to
render her saleable as quadroon.
You have done your work admirably,
Victorine."
"Thank you, Monsieur"
10 %hn ho0