Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-11-23

"A DARN CI1AHlER, DEA LING With
A DARK NIGHT. DARK MEN, AND
DARK ERRANDS.
The rain that had threatened during
the day broke over the city at night,
IN an almost unparalleled tempest.
The lightning played about the spires
OF Notre Dame and other churches, SO
tNat many beads were told and prayers
offered for the safety of the city, in
hope of warding off the vengeance OF
offended Deity. But there were many
abroad that night on unholy errands
who feared rather the devil and his
crew of demons than the thunder-bolts
of Heaven. 1t was the age of mystery
and the Black Art. and many there
were who, not satisfied with offerings
made within the sacred edifces,
sought how they might likewise pla-
cate and win the power and influence
of His Satanic Majesty, Monsieur
Diable. p
Whilst the storm was at it's height,
about II by the clock, the figure of a
mar carefully cloaked against the rain
and recognition might have been OBJ
served making his way along a street
in that famous Tor rather infamous)
part of Paris known as the Quarter
Bonne-Nouvelle. He fought his way
inch by inch against the force of the
wind and rain. At times when he
reached the partial shelter of a wall
or projecting corner, he halted a mo-
ment to gain his breath or rearrange
the cloak that the wind tried to de-
prive him of. He finally turned into
a small street, the Rue B~eauregard,
that was almost deserted. He came
to a portion that seemed to traverse a
vast vacant space, void of all habita-
lions save one. This one exception
was a large mansion set back some dis
lance from the street, it's yard filled
with trees and surrounded on all sides
by a high stone wall.
A feeble light secured from the force
of the wind overlooked a narrow open
ing in the wall, which was filled by a
barred gateway. The man stopped be-
meath the light, which was Ingenious
ly arranged SO as to throw a shadow
on whoever stood Immediately below
it. He hesitated a moment, and then
pulled at a knob in the wall, which
evidently communicated with a mys-
ferrous bell, for in a moment another
light appeared in the hands Of an
ugly, cross-looking 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
perfuous, so he made his way rapidly
toward the house without waiting for
his guide, knocked, and was immedi-
ately admitted. The brightness of the
interior %contrasted so strongly with
the darkness of the night outside that
the man was dazed for a moment. He
was led into a small waiting-room and
left to himself, amid a %pTofusion of
gorgeous furnishings that seemed
strange in this deserted part of the
city.
But there was reason for his finding
hi" surroundings strange and terrible,
for he was within the walls of the
most infamous home of crime and vii
lany in Paris. 1t was nom 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
youthful beauty; the wife, long
ing for freedom from a rich but dis
tasteful husband, or finding here a
rendezvous with her lover. All classes
of the %aristocracy came as petitioners
at the shrine o, this arch-priestess of
hell. Officers of the army desiring
the death of those outranking them;
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
q lovers coldness or neglect; another
some secret essence to preserve her
youthfulness against the ravages
wrought by the life of fashionable de-
bauchery in which all lived.