Year: 1869




The lips were white with passion rather
than fear, and the lady stood before me
like lioness at bay. Even then 7 could
not help but note the splendid beauty of
this grand lady. Tall and slender. ewes
black and flashing almost lurid now. the
spectacle she presented, standing there in
the middle of the apartment, was more the
appearance of a queen than a hunted GRIM
inal.


''I must" replied. 81 do not doubt
your innocence; looking in your face, it is
strange that any one could couple it with
guilt. But [ am constrained to do nv
duty, madame, however inimical it may be
to my feelings"


"Will you allow me to change my dress?"
she said, in tone almost pleasant. The
hard lines around the mouth had relaxed.
and the passionate glow on the face gave
way to pleasant smile


Certainly, I will wait for you here


81 wish also to send messenger for
friend; will you permit him to pass ?"


Certainly"


This was my first interview with Euginia
Cormille. I had seen her here for months,
the leader Of our gayest and most fashiona-
bic society. In her splendid mansion she
dispensed the most profuse and elegant
hospitality.


ASpanish lady-a widow she had rep
resented herself-and had been a resident
here almost year. No one ever suspected
her of being aught than what she seemed,
until one day was ordered to arrest her as
murderess.


1t was now alleged, said Mr.. f., that this
young beauty was no other than the woman
who had poisoned her husband in Havana,
and fed with all his wealth. An immense
reward was offered for her apprehension,
and the circumstances that had come to our
knowledge, pointed her ont beyond all
doubt as the person we we're in search of
Yet had the person who recognized her the
evening before at the theatre advised us to
be careful lest she should escape US. I
laughed at the idea. Mr. I, and myself
We're surely sufficient to arrest lady. We
were old enough in the ways of cunning to
defeat any such attempt. When the lady
left me, [ stepped to the window, and
said to Mr.. l., who was waiting at the door:


1.-The lady desires to send messenger
for friend; suffer him to pass. -


Almost at the same instant the door of
the apartment the lady had entered opened,
and youth-apparently mulatto boy
came out and passed hurriedly through the
room into the hall, and from thence into
the street. 1t was, no doubt, the messen-
ger, thought, and I picked up book and
commenced reading. Nearly an hour
passed, and still the lady did not make her
appearance, nor did the boy return. The
friend she had sent for must live at some
distance, thought, or the lady is unusual
ly careful about her toilet; and so another
hour went by. At last grew impatient,
and knocked at the door.


''Madame, I can wait no longer"


There was no reply. / knocked repeat
edly, and at last determined to force an en-
trance. Strange fears harrassed me; 7 be-
gan to suspect [ knew not what. 1t took
but moment to drive in TIE door, and
once IN the apartment, the mystery was re-
vealed. The robes of the lady lay upon
the floor, and scattered over the room were
suits of boys wearing apparel, similar to
that worn by the mulattO. On table was
a cosmetic that would stain the skin to a
light. delicate brown.


was foiled, for surety; the lady had
escaped in the disguise of a messenger. I
should have detected the ra1se; felt humil-
lated, and determined to redress my error.
[ knew she would not remain in the city an
instant longer than she could get away. I
hurried to her bankers, but found she had
drawn the amount due her an hour before.


'Who presented the check?" I asked
the clerk


ga mulatto boy. It was made payable
to bearer"


There was yet chance. The French
steamer left within an hour; it was possible
she would seek that means of escape. !
jumped in cab, and arrived there ten min
utes before she left the wharf, Just in time
to assist an aged, decrepit gentleman into
the cabin. There were few passengers
none of them answered the description Of
the person sought. stood on the wharf
watching the receding vessel until it disap.
peared. | was IN the act of turning away
when hackman approached me with the
remark:


''Mr. F., did you see that old man on
board; he had long white beard, and hail
that fell on his shoulders?"
eyes"


''Well, sir, there's something curious
about him.


''Why?"


''Why, sir, when he got into my carriage
he was mulatto boy, and when he got out
he was an old man p'


will not repeat the expression [ used
then-it was neither refined nor polite---fo1
[ knew the vessel would be far out to sea
before. she could be overtaken. [ was foil
ed by woman. Nor could help reioic
ing, now that the chase was over, that she
! had escaped.


| Innocent or guilty, there was a charm
about her none could resist. The spell o.
her wondrous beauty affected all who ap
preached her. It fingers in my memory
yet; and l could not have the sin Of -hel
blood upon my conscience.