Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1899-02-03
NUMBER THIRTEEN.


HortenSe was betrothed 10 NJ. Moran.
il became necessary to celebrate the
occasion by a little family supper
But when Nine Verne had counted
them ali, she found. TO her horror. that
they numbered thirteen. She be
thought her to invite NJ Roden. the
cure, who had chriStened little Hor-
tense
So II. Roden was invited. and all
went well until two days before the
supper, when an unimportant young
cousin bethought him to break a limb,
and reduce the party again TO thir-
teen
The time was short but madame
made the best of IL. She invited the
music teacher. who accepted with de
light. Matters Were arranged once
more. when a message came to Uncle
Pierre which demanded his presence
elsewhere.
Again there were thirteen guests.
and but half a day remaining. Nine
Verne was equal To the emergency.
She sent note TO a deaf gentleman
of her acquaintance. begging him 10
come. And now all was well again.
The ladies We're adding the finishing
touches to their toilettes in the dress
ing room, when suddenly screams were
heard to resound through the house.
The maiden aunt, Nile. Rosine, had
caught her dress on fire. Ii was ex-
tinguished before she was hurt; but
the dress Was spoiled. her nerves up
set. and she could not and would not
remain to the supper.
Nine Verne was in DESPAIR Sud
denly she remembered her notary A
carriage was at the door. She tossed
on a hood and shawl and hurried in
to il.
1t was only five minutes ride to
the building in which the notary's
office was located-a many-storied edi-
flee, of which he occupied the second
floor.
On the first were situated the apart
ments of NJ. Moran-Hortense's be-
trothed husband. AS she hurried past
their door Nine. Verne glanced toward
them and saw a lady dressed in black
speaking to a servant. who. at the
same instant, shut the door in her
face.
Nine Verne, having mounted the
stairs was doomed to a disappoint-
ment. The notary was in, but he was
suffering from an attack of the govt.
However he could give her the direc-
ton, to a quortohzieme, who, if he was
disengaged. would be happy to hire
himself out for supper time.
As she reached the foot of the stairs,
however, she paused. A woman,
dressed in black. sat upon the lower
one rocking herself to and fro and
moaning She touched the figure upon
Is shoulder and said: MY poor child,
what is the matter?
II have come from the country: |
am an orphan; have no relatives; l
came to find a friend who promised me
everything: know no one here.
y,Ju Il
there anything f me but the riveri
Suddenly an idea flashed upon the
nadames mind.
at least you shall earn your sup
per" she said "Come with me-
She hurried the girl into the carriage
and drove away with her. explaining
as they rode the emergency in which
she found herself.
You will wear dress of my grand
daughters she said. "A black lace
which may be thrown over your own.
And with these words she led the
girl into her home upstairs into her
own apartment, where she adorned her
in haste and led her out to The table
the lovliest guest there-loviier far
even than the golden-haired Hortense.
Absorbed in her duties as hostess,
Madame Verne did not notice. as the
others did, strange thing that took
place as NJ. Moran s,ated himsef and
glanced toward the strange guesI As
their eyes met each turned deadlf pale.
ard st,. sae Nv seemed to hnd It imcsls
Once only did the strange girl }peak
In a whisper to Inn. Verne.
This is betrothal feast, mad me"
Eyes. my child
"Your granddaughter, the beautiful
,oung lady yonder, Is to marry Nj.
Octave Moran?"
Precisely: in two months
After this she said nothing more.
At last they were about to leave the
table, and the old grandfather arose.
He had something to say to the young
couple-kind admonitions to him who
was about to take her into his keep
Ing: but he ended thus:
But l give her to you gladly. my
dear Octave, for | know you to be an
honorable man; and l believe you will
give her heart as pure and fresh and
all unwritten as the one she gives to
you, a heart worthy of her acceptance"
AS he uttered the last sentence Oc-
tave Moran had slowly turned his face,
as though attracted by some mesmeric
influence toward the stranger Their
eyes had met and fixed in a strange
stare; the other guests We're all star
ing at them.
Suddenly Octave Moran started to
his feet and dashed out of the room.
There were thirteen at the table.
Something flashed into the hand of
the gale woman, at whom all gazed
and she fell forward upon the able.
When they lifted her they found a
dagger buried in her hear.
Death had been more prompt with
his thirteen than usual.
They found over her dead bosom that
night a miniature of Octave Moran. "A
lock of his hair. and a little golden
tress soft as down. and in her pocket
some letters That was all; but Hor-
tense never married NJ Moran.
The average number OF horses killed
l Spanish bull fights every year ex-
seds 5000. while from 1000 to l 200
bulls are sacrificed