Year: 1863

Madam Aubry lives in a solitary csatea'


not far from The town Of. The famil


consisted only of NJ. Aubry. his wife,


child about year old, and one mait


servant. In the town, every light


out by ten O'Clock, and of course th


most perfect solitude reigns at that hou


in their house, which lies off the road


and is completely hidden by trees. On


night last winter, Madame Aubry wa


sitting alone. reading. Her husband


had left her in the morning to visit |


friend some six or eight miles of, and


as he expected to bring home a con


siderable sum of money, he had taker


the usual precaution Of arming himsel


with pair Of pistols. At about 81,


O'Clock, the lady went up to her room


to put her child to bed. Her apart


ment was large room on the first floor


filed up on one side by an old-fashionet
chimney, and on the other by deeI


and spacious aleove, near which stood


her infants cradle. The night was g


gloomy one. cold and dark, and every


now and then a dash Of rain best against


the gothic windows. The trees in the
garden bowed to the wind, and their


branches came sweeping against the
easement; in short it was q night in


which the solitude of the mansion was
more complete and melancholy than
usual. Madam Aubry sat down on a
low chair near the FIRE, which by lis
sudden flashes, cast an uncertain light
over the vast apartment, throwing its
sn:iQue carvings and mouldings by
turns into brighter relief or deeper
shade. She had her child on her lap,
end had just finished preparing it for
the cradle. She cast her eyes toward
the alcove, to see If the cradle was
ready to receive its little occupant.
whose eyes were already closed. Just
then, the fire flashed up brightly, and
threw a strong light on the alcoye. by


which the lady distinguished pair Of
feet. cased in heavy nailed shoes, peep
ing out under the curtain in front Of the
bed. A thousand thoughts passed
through her mind in an instant. The
person hidden there was thief, per-
haps an assassiu-that was clear. She
had no protection, no aid at hand. Her
husband was not to return till eight at
soonest, and it was now only hslf-past
six. What was to be done? She did
not utter single cry, nor even start on
her seat. The servant grl probably
would not have such presence Of mind.
The robber probably meant to remain
quiet where he was till midnight, and
then seize the money her husband was
TO bring with him; but il he should find
that be was discovered, and that there
was no one in the house but two women,
he would not fail to leave bis hiding
place, and secure their silence by muir
dering them. Besides, might not the
girl be the robbers accomplice? Seve-
raj slight causes Of suspicion occurred
to her at once, and all these reflections
passed through her mind in less time
than we take to write them. She de-
cided at once what she should do, which
wss, to send the girl out of the room.


''You know that dish my husband
likes" said she. without betraying her
alarm by the least change in the tones
Of her voice. 81 ought to have remem-
bered to have it got ready for his sup
per. Go down stairs, and see about it
at once"


"Does not madame require my help
here, as she generally does?"


"No, no, l will attend to everything
myself. know my husband would
not be pleased, if he was to come home
after his ride. in such bad weather,
and not 6nd good supper ready"


After some delays, which increased
in the lady's mind that suspicion she
was forced to conceal, the girl left the
room. The noise of her steps on the
stairs died away gradually. and Madam
Aubry was lett alone with her child, |
with those two feet. motionless at their
post, still peeping out under the cur
tain. She kept by the fire, with her
child on her lap, continuing to caress
it and sing to it, almost mechanically. |
The child cried: it wanted to be put to
bed, but its cradle was near the alcove-I
near those dreadful feet, how could
she find courage to go near theml At
last, she made violent effort. "Come,
my child" said she, and got up. Hardly
able to stand erect, she walked toward |
the alcove, close to the robber. She
put the child in the cradle, singing it |
10 sleep as usual. We may imagine
how much inclination she had to sing.
When the child fell asleep, she left L, |
and resumed her seat by the FIRE. She
did not dare toleave the room; il would |
arouse The suspicious Of the robber, and
If the girl, probably his accomplice.
Besides. she could not bear the thought
II leaving her child, even if il was to
her own safety. The clock
Iointed TO seven. An hour yet, whole
lour, before her husband would comel
Ter eyes were fixed on those feet, which
hreatened her with death at any mo-
nent, with q sort Of fascination. The
leepest silence reigned in the room.
The infant slept quietly. We do not
NOW whether even an Amazon, in
ler place, would have been bold enough
Q try struggle with the robber.
Madame Aubry had no arms; besides.


he made no claim to valor, but only
Q that passive courage founded on re-
lection. which is far rarer of the two.
Every few minutes she would hear q