The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1905-12-29

-" ~ = biptiithtg ubu tuTn
pulled az n knob In the wall. which
evidently communicated with q mys-
terlous bell. for In n moment another
Hight appeared 10 the hands Of an
ugly. c~rnss-iooking dwarf. who alter
naiely scowicd and ieered At the
visitor NJ he let him In.
The nnsbes OF lightning rendered
the services Of the dwarf's torch su-
perfluons. 80 he made his way rapidly
toward the house without waiting for
his guide. knocked. and was Immedi-
ateiy admitted. The brightness of the
Interior contrasted 40 strongly with
the darkness ~ the nirht outside that
the man wa dazcd for n moment lie
vas led Into a small walting-room and
left 20 himself. amid n profusion ~
gorgeous furnishings that seemed
strange In this deserted part Of the
city.
Bu, 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 VII
lany In Paris. II was rome other than
the house OF In Voisln. the celebrated
aorcercsS. %poison"r. infan,icide. the
l.ocusia of her day: the Torana ~
France. Hlthor came the husband
spell or poison. In order 10 cspousc n
moro youthful beauty; the wife. long.
Ing foe i,~siom from n rich but dis
tasteful husband. or finding here u
rendezvous with her lover. All classes
~ the n%risiocracy came rs petitioners
NJ the shrine 81 this arch.priestcss of
he'll. Officers Of the army desiring
the death of those %outisnkinE them;
magistrates. ministers Ct Hiaio-all
met en- one common level OF hidcous
crime.
Here. too. came the frat om Of
the court In their sedan-chairs. duch-
osses. ladies-in.walting. oountcsses.
prineossos. 10 gain their hearts de-
sire. with all the faith aud earnest
ness worthy of n better cause. Now
one craycd n love phil,er to overcome
a lovers coldness or neglect: another
some secret essence To preserve her
youthfuln.fs against the fayages
wrought by the life Of fashionable de-
bauchcry IN which all lived.
In this den 81 infamy was celebrated
the impious Black Mass. wherein the
liturrical ceremonies Of the Christian
church were %travestied and degraded
by devillsh ingenuity. In which chill
dron M and two years old were sacri-
feed to Satan as NJ a heather festival.
There. too. zane Madame de Monte
span. and In an elaborate service. with
lmpions prlost and desecratcd altar.
rendered full homage Il the Prince OF
Darkness. craving his aid 90 win for
her the love Of the king. the confu-
sion Of her enemies. and the gratihca.
tion Of her desires.
Within n small waiting-room. the
visitor awaited his turn TO interview
the mistress 81 the establishment. lie
removed his cloak and hat. and stood
revealed To nm observer NJ n young
man Of 25. tall. with dark hair and
black ovcr-arching eyebrows which
seemed TO seowl continually. His face
was smooth. save y few hairs on tho
under lip. which he pulled ut nervous
~ az he stood or walked up and down
T. Nv AN'N VI ~ altA AAA'hAH ~ WV
were deep-set. aud cleaned with the
ligh, Of the u%nqucnch.d fires OF dark
I desire within their depths. Ills check
bones rather n~ccontuatcd the deep
s~eatedneSs of his eyes. a ensuous
mouth betrayed the v%oluptuary. while
n rcccding chin gave n mixed imprcs.
sion Of instability and waywardness.
a incly curved aquillnc o showed
good birth. and hands. white and we'll
cared Tor, demonstrated n life Of idle
ness aud pleasure. 4 certain air Of
ease and lack Of circumstances In
all his movements indicated associa.
ton and even familiarity with those
In authority On the whole. he seemed
q fair sample Of the well.bred cour,icr
II his day.
A. length. Just as n distant clock
dwarf appeared. and approaching him
asked for his name.
"Le Comic de MIron." was the re-
ply made In a low voice.
Again tho dwarf disappeared. but
returned shortly. and moilonlng To the
young man. led the way into the ad-
Joining room.
Here were found the same rich
hansings and priceless tapestries
High carved chairs. their seats banked
up with v~aricolorod s!lkcn 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 n soft
ened yet scrviceable glow. In the mid
die OF the floor stood a small foun-
tain ~ 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 n lutte. played
by "A hand invisible. always soft and
low. but sometimes dying away TO the
finest attenuation OF sound. greeted the
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