Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-07-13


evidently communicated with mys-
light appeared in the hands of an
ugly, cross-loolting dwarf, who alter
nately scowled and leered at the
visitor as he let him in.
The flashes of lightning rendered
the services of the dwarf's torch SUI
perfiuous, so he made his way rapidly
toward the house without waiting for
ately admitted. The brightness of the
interior contrasted so strongly with
the darkness of the night outside that
the man was daZed for moment. He
was led into small waiting-room and
left to himself amid a profusion of
gorgeous furnishings that seemed
strange in this deserted part of the
city.
But there was reason for his finding
his surroundings strange and terrible,
for he was within the walls of the
most infamous home of crime and viii
lany in Paris. 1t was none other than
the house of La Voisin, the celebrated
sorceress, poisoner, infanticide; the
Locusta of her day; the Toffana of
France. Hither came the husband
seeking to be rid of an aging wife by
spell or poison, in order to espouse a
more youthful beauty; the wife, long
ing for freedom from rich but dis
tasteful husband or finding here a
rendezvous with her lover. All classes
Df aric natifinnarS
at the shrine of this arch-priestess of
hell. officers of the army desiring
the death of those outranking them;
magistrates, ministers of state-all
met on one common level of hideous
crime.
Here, too, came the first women OF
the court in their sedan-chairs; duch-
esses, ladies-in-waiting, countesses,
princesses, to gain their hearts de-
sire, with all the faith and earnest
ness worthy of a better cause Now
one craved a love philter to overcome
a lovers coldness or neglect; another
some secret essence to preserve her
youthfulness against the ravages
wrought by the life of fashionable de-
DdutHeIy Ill WHICH all llNeu.
In this den of infamy was celebrated
the impious Black Mass, wherein the
liturgical ceremonies of the Christian
church We're travestied and degraded
by devilish ingenuity; in which chill
dren one and two years old were sacri-
feed to Satan as at a heather festival.
There, too, came Madame de Monte
span, and in an elaborate service, with
impious priest and desecrated altar,
rendered full homage to the Prince of
Darkness, craving his aid to win for
her the love of the king, the confu-
sion of her enemies, and the gratifica-
tion of her desires.
Within a small waiting-room, the
visitor awaited his turn to interview
the mistress of the establishment. He
removed his cloak and hat and stood
revealed to an observer as young
man of 25, tall, with dark hair and
black over-arching eyebrows which
seemed to scowl continually. His face
was smooth, save a few hairs on the
under lip, which he pulled at nervous
ly as he stood or walked up and down
the floor of the apartment. His eyes
were deep-set, and cleaned with the
light of the unquenched fires of dark
desire within their depths. His cheek
bones rather accentuated the deep
seatedness of his eyes; a sensuous
mouth betrayed the vOluptuary, while
a receding chin gave a mixed impress
sion of instability and waywardness.
A finely curved aquiline nose showed
good birth, and hands, white and well
cared for, demonstrated life of idle
ness and pleasure. A certain air of
ease and lack of self-consciousness in
all his movements indicated associa-
ton and even familiarity with those
in authority. On the whole, he seemed
a fair sample of the well-bred courtier
of his day
At length, just as a distant clock
chimed II, door opened and another
dwarf appeared, and approaching him
asked for his name
lie Comte de Miron," was the re-
ply made in low voice.
Again the dwarf disappeared, but
returned shortly, and motioning to the
young man, led the way into the ad-
joining room.
Here were found the same rich
hangings and priceless tapestries
High carved chairs, their seats banked
up with varicolored silken pillows,
were arranged against the wall on
three sides of the room. A dim light
came through the center of the ceiling
from an unknown source, and was
suffused throughout the apartment by
means of glass prisms. forming a soft
ened yet serviceable glow. In the mid
die of the floor stood a small foun-
tain of translucent marble, whose tiny
jets of perfumed water rendered the
air as agreeable to the nostrils as the
other furnishings attracted the eye.
The musical cadence of Lutte, played
by hand invisible, always soft and
low, but sometimes dying away to the
finest attenuation of sound, greeted the