Year: 1877

I shuddered at the thought. How
this man had got into the house /
could not tell. ne must be friend
of one of the servants, I coniectured.


MY hand was upon the key of the
door. when the handle with sharp
click, betrayed me.


l heard a quick step across the apart.
ment. A moment decided me.


l must feign somnambulism.


In another instant tho door was
opened, and ], with my eyes fixed wide
open, entered the room.


The thief started back with smoth.
cred exclamation of surprise.


dared not look at him, but walked
straight past him to the bureau. and
spoke the following words disjointed-
ly.


II lost my key here. Where can it
be?,'


The man walked over to the other
end of the room, where an overcoat
was hung on the back of chair, and
began to search the pockets.


had in that moment time TO regard
him.


| could hardly forbear a cry ; for in
this room, trying to rob my mother
and myself of our jewels, was Mon.
sieur Mention.


He returned to the bureau (where l
was still fumbling to find the key, } and
forced one into my hand.


1 then pretended that had found
what l wanted, and, turning round,
left the room.


I have often wondered since then
why l did not raise the house, but.
truth to tell, my movements on that
night were quite mechanical; my fac
ulties seemed to have gwen way under
the unnatural tension to which they
had been subjected felt sort of
stupor, and hardly knew whether I
was asleep or awake. l returned to my
bedroom, and looking at my key as
placed it on my dressing-table, saw
that it was that Of the front door of
our house, which Monsieur Mention
must have taken from my father 8
study after we had all retired for the
night.


Then returned to bed, leaving a
thief down stairs ransacking the place.
After about quarter of an hour
heard stealthy step ascend the stairs.
| closed my eyes, and as I did so my
door was opened, and again I under
went another examination by the light
of the lantern.


Presently heard my prosecutor 20
over to the dressing table. There was
no article of jewelry there; so if that
was what he wanted, he was disap-
pointed. Soon he withdrew from my
room, and descended the stairs once
more. l heard nothing more. I can.
not say slept, but the heavy stupor
which had been creeping over me
deepened into complete insensibility,
and l remained in that state till morn
ing. It was my habit to wake with
out being called by the servant, but it
was late when I arose the following
morning, and I was informed by the
maid that my father and mother were
at breakfast. l could not wait till
was dressed to tell my adventure, so
threw on my gown, and hurried to the
breakfast room. I opened the door.
My fathers back was turned to me,
and my mother was facing me. She
looked up, yes, and, with terrific
scream, rushed toward me.


My father evidently thought. as
did, that she was deranged, till he
looked at me, when he in his iturn ut
tered cry of surprise and horror.
My parents both dragged me to the
chimney.piece, above which there was
a looking-glass. It was then my turn
to exclaim. When | took down my
hair to brush it the night before, it
was black as jet; now it was streaked
with gray.


The work of years had been accom-
plished in one terrible night!


An explanation was asked, and an
explanation given; after which my
mother left the room, and in a few
moments returned, bringing with her
the key of the bureau.


"You must have been dreaming, my
love- shessaid "evidently not thing
has been touched. Our jewelry is as
safe as it was this time yesterday"


swell, where is Monsieur Mention :"
I asked.


"In his room, undoubtedly" an.
swered my father. So saying, he went
from the room, but quickly returned
with pale face, and in his band a
note hastily written in pencil.


"Read it aloud" he said, handing it
to my mother, who took it, and read as
follows:


My Very Dear Friends: write to
say farewell to you. We shall never
meet again. When you read the con.
fession l am about to make, you will
think yourselves we'll rid of one who &C.
cepted your hospitality and then turned
traitor.


Yes, am poor, despicable wretch.
You, my benefactor, remember that
last evening asked you to help me in
money matters, which you said you
could not do, and you know l had asked
you several times before, and you had
declined but yesterday night you
said you had given me my final answer.
I then grew. desperate (though to your
face fair enough), and determined to
steal the money from you, il I could
get it in no other way.
Earlier in the evening-before our
conversation in your study-you may
remember that your daughter (who,
by the way, never seemed to like or
trust me) was seated at her bureau,
looking at some jewelry. An idea
seized me that If could only get pos.
session of these jewels-for some of
them were very costly-1 could sell
them at a price which would not only
pay my debts, but would leave me
enough beside to enable me t9 get
clear out Of the country,