Year: 1872

the summer. His mansion, built on an
eminence, was perfectly adapted to his
fortune. 1t was spacious building,
very elegant within and without, and
exhibited good style of architecture.
1t was about a hundred PAGES from the
village


Business obliged the Baron to take a
journey of few days, aud his wife, who
was very beautiful. remained at home.
He took with him two servants, and two
others remained with the Baroness. No
violation of the public security had ever
been heard of in that part of the country,
and as the Baroness did not belong to
the timid portion of her sex, the idea of
danger was far from entering her mind.
The evening after the Baron's departure,
as she was stepping into bed, she heard
an alarming noise in an apartment near
her chamber She called out, but received
no answer. The confusion and scream
ing increased every moment She was at
a loss to conceive what was the matter,
and hastily putting on her garments,
went to the door to discover the cause.
A horrible spectacle presented itself
Her two servants, half naked, we're ex-
tended lifeless upon the floor.


The room was full of strange looking
men; the Baroness chambermaid was
kneeling before one of them, and, in
stead of the mercy she implored, she re-
ceived the fatal stroke No sooner was
the door opened than two barbarians
with drawn swords rushed towards her.


What woman, or even man, would not
have been struck with terror, and given
up life and everything as lost?
A loud shrek of despair, flight of a
few PAGES, would probably have been the
first acts of many. The Baroness how
ever, conducted herself in different
manner.


land you have come at last?' ex-
| claimed she, in a tone of heartfelt Joy
and, advancing toward her assailants
with a haste that highly astonished
them, they lowered their uplifted weap
ons.


"And you have come at last ?" re-
peated she ''such visitors as you have
long wished to see.


..Wished?" muttered one of the assas-
sins; ''what do you mean by that =? But
stay, I'll-'


He had already raised his cutlass, but
a comrade averted the stroke.


"Stay moment, brother" said he !;
'let us first hear what she would have. !"


Nothing but what is your pleasure,
brave comrades. You are men after my
own heart. and neither you nor [ will
have reason to repent it if you will lis
ten for two minutes to what | have to
say"


Speak speak l'' cried the whole
company.


but be quick replied one of the
fercest; .'for we shall not make much
of ceremony


Nevertheless, | hope you will grant
me hearing. Know that although l
am the wife of the richest gentleman in
the country, yet the wife of the meanest
beggar cannot be more unhappy than l
am. My husband is one of the most
jealous and niggardly fellows in the
world. I hate him as [ hate the devil,
and it has long been the fervent wish Of
my heart to get out of his clutches, and
at the same time to pay off old scores.
All my servants were spies, and that
girl, whose business you have done SC
completely, was the worst of all. | am
scarcely twenty-one and | fatter myself
far from being ugly. If any of you
choose to take me along with you, III
accompany you to the wood or village
ale house. Nor shall any of you repent
having spared my life. You are in i;
well stored mansion; but it is impossi
BILE that you should be acquainted with
all its secret corners. These will show
you, and if do not make you richer b,
twenty thousand guilders, then serve MI
as you did my chambermaid.
Robbers of this kind are certainly vii
lains, but nevertheless they are men,
The whole inexplicable conduct of th
Baroness, added to her more than ordi
nary beauty, produced a powerful effec
7 on the men whose hands were yet reek


ing with blood. They all stepped aside
| and consulted in low tone for som
: minutes. The Baroness was then lei
quite alone, but she betrayed not tn


least wish to escape.


Lets dispatch her, and the gam


will be all up"


d She, however, scarcely changed co
t or; for the opposition of another voie
u did not escape her acute ear. One WI
: was probably the captain of the bandit
l. approached her.


He asked her twice or three tim,
n whether he might rely on the truth
IL what she said, whether she actual


wished to be released from the tyranr
, of her husband, and go with them; az
1t whether she was willing to assign he