Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-03-13


Of the dead Grandmamma Carruther
stood vase Of very fresh and limo
cent young roses.
II would that I could remain and full
fill the destiny Of a woman Of you
house, Madam Grandmamma," whis
pered to her lovely and smiling por
trait on the wall opposite. II am tn
last of the ladies Carruthers, but
have a forfeit of that destiny, and
must 60 out In the night again u
mans attire to death that will tea
asunder the tender flesh that you hav'
borne. Goodbye!
Then I made commencement Of ,
very rapid packing-in one Of those
bags which I had purchased from th'
kind gentleman in the city Of New
York-of what raiment I knew woul(
be suitable for man in very hurried
travelling. I put into it the two suit.
Of clothing for wear in the daytime
but discarded all Of my clothing fol
the pursuits of pleasure.
"You must make great hurry, Thiel
Roberta, for it draws near midnight
and that is the hour that the train de
parts to the north" I cautioned my
weeping self. "At that hour you &C
forth into the world alone"
And then what ensued?
Very suddenly I heard the noise Of
car being drawn to the curb in FROM
Of the house and the rapid steps Of
mans progress along the pavings Of
brick to the front door, at which ht
made . loud ringing. In not a mo
ment was the good Bonbon at my dool
with knocking.
'The governor is here to see you, Mr.
Robert" he informed me.
"What shall you do. Roberta. mar
quise Of Gree and Bye% I asked OF
myself. "How Is 1t that you can be
able to support the cold reproaches he
will give to you while requiring that
you stay to bring dishonor to your
uncle, the General Robert? You are
caught in a trap as Is an animal"
And then. as I covered there in my
agony, very suddenly that terrible dare
devil rose within me and gave to me
q very strange counsel. As it was
speaking to me my gaze was fixed
upon the robe of state of the beautiful
grandmamma.
every well, then, that great Gouver
neur Faulkner can give his chastise'
ment and lay his commands upon the
beautiful and wicked Roberta, mar
quise Of Cree and Bye, in proper per
son and not have the privilege OF
again addressing his faithful and de-
voted comrade Robert, who is dead. /
the Marquise Roberta Of Gree and
Bye, will accord to him an interview
and, In the language Of this United
States, it will be some interview
With which resolve / turned to make
an answer to the faithful Bonbon at
the door.
Where awaits his excellency the
Gouverneur Faulkner" I questioned
to him.
"In the hall at the bottom Of the
steps," he made reply to me.
ATTEND him into the large drawing
room for a waiting and make all OF
the lights to burn. Say to him that
will descend In very small space OF
time," commanded.
Eyes, sir" he made reply and de.
parted.
And then in my wickedness I began
to commit q desecration on the mem.
Ory Of my beautiful and honored
Grandmamma Carruthers. I walked
to that glass case in which reposed
that gown of the beautiful fowered
silk and took 1t therefrom and laid II
upon a chair above the soiled riding
breeches Of corduroy I had 80 lately
discarded. I opened the carved wood.
en- box on the table underneath and
took from it the silver slippers and
the stockings Of silk, also the lace fan
and the silver band for the hair. There
upon I walked to my mirror and com.
menced to make a toilet Of great care
but Of great rapidity.
Ny frst action was to take down that
lovelock and with the oil Of roses to
lay It In its accustomed place upon my
cheek, which burned with q beautiful
rose Of shame and at the same mo-
ment with some other emotion that ]
did not understand, which emotion also
made my eyes as bright as the night
stars out In that Camp Heaven. The
silver band held closely the rest Of my
mop and gave 1t the appearance Of the
very close coiffure which is the fash.
ion Of this day, and one very sweet
young rose I put into It just above the
curl with an effect Of great and wicked
beauty.
The coiffure having been accomplish
ed, the rest Of the toilet, from the slip
pers Of the cloth Of silver to the edge
Of fine old lace, now the color Of rich
cream, that rested upon my white
arms and shoulders, was only a mat
ter Of few moments, and then stood
away from my mirror and beheld my.
self therein.
"You are as beautiful as you are
wicked, Roberta, marQuise of Gree and
Bye, but you 60 to your death in q
manner BETTING q grande dame Of
your ancient house Of France, whose
daughters once showed the rabble how
to approach q guillotine costumed in
magnificence. Descend for that cold
knife to your heartw And, so speak
ing, I picked up my fan and made my
way through the hall to the halfway Of
the wide steps. At that point q com
motion occurred.
'Lordee! It's the old lady come Il
ha'ntr exclaimed my good Bonbon
and with groan he fed into the dark
ness in the back regions Of the house.
And 1t happened that his loud cry
brought q response which came to me
before I was quite in readiness for 1t
As I reached the last step Of the wide
staircase under the bright light I raised
my eyes, and, behold, the GouverneuI
Faulkner to whom had descended fol
the purpose Of mortal combat stood be
fore me! i;ps.
And was 1t that cruel and wicked
and cold Gouverneur Faulkner whs