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 uncon-
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 IL
were accomplices of the first two, and
by q 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
into the distant country. Again I was
tempted to cry out, to call to the senti-
mel, but fear for Victoire deferred me,
VictCire, whose mother believed her
numbering sweetly ulder her little
white curtains.
"What should do? What could
DO? 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 glistening sheet of water,
the river Deule. I knew it well-a
deep, rapid stream, the running Of
whose current we even now could hear.
Undoubtedly the wretches were 60
ing to fling us into this sect ing vortex.
"This time 1 would have cried out,
but Victoire, mad with fright, chung so
tightly to my neck, clasping me with
auch force that my voice died in my
throat, my eyes closed and the cry was
GGrangled.
"How long time elapsed I 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, grimy chamber of a
low country wineshop, where crowd
Ct rough, coarse men were drinking,
swearing and rolling about lot of
boxes, barrels and packages, like mer
chandise.
"'Mme. Jervaise, Nine. Jervaiser
they shouted in chorus, as our bearers
set US down. Have you brought US
Nine. Jerpaise2', s:->-,>.,. ..@ =
"She is here" the bearers replied.
'ssTo work, TO work, then!@ We have
no time to lose. g.. ', '.- ,..
p" And the: chair door was thrown open.
"But scarcely had they caught sight
Of Nietoire and me, crouching half dead
in the bottom of the chair, when avid
E:itampede took place, heller SHELTER
rush for the outside. The lights were
| extinguished, the thud of feet was heard
pounding away into the night, and then
q deep, bloodcurdling stiffness.
"We were alone in black darkness.
LUCKILY had noticed the direction
C the door. To leap from the chair,
| }1S1AS ' 1ttO!IS LULU Iuo IldhO LILY way
TO it was the work Of 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 morning paper gave me the key to
the mystery of that hideous night in
| iCh fTTiotniro n bod hoo,, CO
I strangely involved. The article an
rcCrced the capture by the police Of a
' band Of smugglers who had installed
| themselves in I'll old, abandoned wine
! chop III the outskirts of Lille-a regular
magazine, IS it turned out, of contra
band goods, which they had struggled
in and cut of the city by means of a
inaIlikin representing sick old woman,
partly paralyZed. and which, mufled in
Nr2ps aud placed in a sedan chair, they
carried back and forth under the very
roso of the gendarmes without the
slightest fear of detection. .
IAN invalid ordered by the doctor
! TO tGke the steam baths,' they told the
officers CT tho law, by name Mime. Jer-
yaise. ,...
"'Mme. Jervaiser The name told
me I'll and explained everything that
hitherto had seemed mysterious and in
explicable in Our midnight adventure.
Happily for us our nocturnal escapade
had never Eeen suspected, and Victoire
= ind l caped summons to appear as
witnesses before the court of assizes.
All the same from that day to this the
| ttc7ght c. scd"n chair gives me goose
) G.sh Gown the Spine. "-Fron the
:, French in Cincinnati Enquirer. .. .
------- 81"
Tl,a ChrvEo ri ,o,,