2
THE CORNELIAN CROSS.
i
HENRI CARDONE was a young
French artist of distinguished prom
ise. His neat little domicile and bis pretty
little wife were situated in suburban Paris.
One early twilight in the month of Novem
ber of a certain year, as lie entered his
home, his wife ran unto him, twined her
plump arms around bis neck, bestowing a
full-blown kiss upon his responsive lips,
and immediately exclaimed, "Oh, dear
Henri t I had such a surprise, such au odd
visitor, this afternoon a man with such an
, inexplicable fancy that I have been waiting
these two hours for your arrival, and (be
stowing a playful cut thereupon) your
ears."
" And now the ears have arrived, Irene,
my pet, I suppose your merry tongue will
rattlo nway as merrily as a newly wound
up music-box ; and, once started, I shall
not have an opportunity to put a word in
edgewise until you bave run down com
pletely. But for this odd man, with the
' inexplicable fancy.' Did he, utterly re
gardless of the divine set of bis trousers,
go down upon his. knees and beseech of
you to fly with him to some intensoly rural
retreat, there to subsist upon moonshine
and his adorable moustache ? and was it
his inexplicable fancy that you should bo
accompanied by such little articles of avail
able value as this poor hovel might afford ?
Or, was he a wandering gypsy lord, who
predicted that you were to be the queen of
all proud France, instead of one humble
French heart ? And did he, just as ho was
about to surround your august brow with
the imperial crown, suddenly suspend it
and take an inexplicable fancy to have his
dirty palm first crossed with a crown of
silver? Or"
" There, there 1 do cease your badinage,"
said the pouting little woman, stamping
her Bmall foot impatiently. "You will
never become wise listening to your own
wisdom."
" Nor weary listening to yours, my
charming sago," laughed the voluble Hen
ri, caressing ber soft, brown hair fondly ;
" proceed from this on I am all ears."
" Well, let nil ears listen. At about
three o'clock this afternoon, as I was sit
ting intent upon taking the finest possible
stitches in the bordor of your finest cam
bric, there came a sharp rap at the door.
I hastened, opened it, and found myself
face to face with a man of middle ago, who
bowed politely and inquired if he were on
the Rue do Chalons. On being informed
that he was, he thanked me very affably,
and was turning to depart, when his glance
chanced to fall on this little cornelian cross,
which then, as now, was lying on my bos
om. He stopped short, gazed fixedly at it,
as though it possessed some terrible fasci
nation, turned first deadly pale, then livid
purple, and In a hoarse whisper articulated,
' Madame, you will pardon me, for it is no
ordinary curiosity that prompts the ques
tion, but might I venture to ask how that
trinket,' pointing a trembling finger at the
cross, 'came into your possession under
what circumstances ?"
" Well," queried Henri, in a low, in
terested tone, " what was my little wife's
reply ?"
" Your little wife told him, sir, that it
was a present from her husband, and that
it had been in her possession about four
years. How or where you came by it she
could not inform him."
" Then he departed satisfied ?"
"No, indeed."
" Then be inquired your name, age, and
profession?"
" Did he ? I do not know whether I
ought to feel complimented or insulted.
Did you tell him ?"
"I hesitated, and told him."
" I wish you had not hesitated, and then
nottold him. Something of moment may
Crow out of this curiosity. Hut it will not
matter. Then ho departed?"
" No : be stood absorbed in troublod
thought a few (minutes, as though weigh
ing a deep problem, and then said he had
taken a very strong and ecceutrio fancy for
the trinket, and asked if I would for a con
sideration part with it."
" What was your reply to that very bus-
ncss-like proposition ?"
" That, being your gift, I should much
dislike to let it go."
"Of course, that must bave terminated
the conversation ?"
" Of course, but it did not, though. It
became more pointed than ever." . .
" Well, well I I m eager to learn the
denouement," said Henri. " If I am not
at fault in my surmises, something will
shortly grow out of this affair that will in
terest a very wide circle. Give me the ex
act particulars. What followed?"
" He said he was wealthy and did not
value money ; and that he had conceived so
strong a desire to possess the cross that,
wild as the offer might seem, be would not
, demur at giving 500 francs for it."
"Five hundred, parb'eu The trinket is
not worth five francs," said Henri, excited
ly. "The man is either a lunatic, or
what I moio strongly suspect him of
being-" ' V
" And what is it possible for you to
more strongly suspect him of being?" ask
ed Irene. .
" A knave. Iu spite of the temptation
ot CCO francs, I see that you still bear your
oross. I would have thought the sum suf
ficient to buy up all the erossos in Paris
and all the women bearing them. How did
you resist ?"
" If I did not know that your slurs om
women and their crosses was said more in
humor than earnest, I would not give you
another word of information. I told the
man that the offer was very tempting, but
that I could not possibly accept it without
first consulting you."
"That was a noble reply, my darling,"
said Henri, drawing his wife close to his
side, bestowing on her an eloquent glance
and several passionate kisses. " Hereafter
I shall considor you cheap at 50,000 francs 1
What said old Croesus to your priceless
answer?"
"At first he appeared much discomfited.
After a little while he saiS he was going
into the country to remain one week ; and
that be should return this way, and if I in
the meantime gained your consent, or con
cluded to part with the cross without it, he
would make good bis offer. And then ho
bade me a reluctant adieu, went to a post
chaise that was waiting in the road, got
in, and drove off rapidly towards Chalons."
'Finally we have tho finale of act first,"
remarked Henri.
" Yes," responded the musing Irene,
toying with the object of so much discus
sion, which was in reality of but little in
trinsic value, and in no way remarkable,
excepting from peculiarity of design. It
was of a clear, blood-red cornolian, the up
right pillar being carved to represent a de
scending arrow, and the cross-piece a very
fine wrought imitation of wings.
" What attraction this bit of a thing,
which, aside from being your gift, I look
upon as worthless, cau possess to render it
so exceedingly precious iu the eyes of the
man, I cannot conjecture," continued the
puzzled Irene.
" I think I can furnish you with a clue
to the foundation of this extraordinary in
terest," remarked Henri. " What was his
general appearance ? That of a coarse, ill-
bred person ?"
"Far from that. Ho was quite tall, not
over fleshy, well dressed, and refined in
bearing and language. Ilis countenance
betokened much illness at some early pe
riod of his life or excessive dissipation."
" Should your cross-enamored friend call
again, and I should much doubt if ho ever
does," said Houri, " I am the person with
whom he must deal."
"Why with you, doar?"
"Because the object he is so extremely
solicitous to possess has a mysterious his
tory known only to myself."
" And that mysterious history affords a
key to the solution to the seemingly insano
offer of five hundred francs?"
" I apprehended such to bo the caso.
That cross wp found upon a spot whore,
but a few days previously,a revolting crime
had been committed. If my surmises are
correct, this strange visitor of yours was
tho author of that crime. If so, he and
that little red cross are old acquaintances,
and ho would readily sacrifice several times
the five hundred francs to compass its pos
session. Why? Simply because so long as
it remains in other hands than his own, be
is painfully conscious that it may at any
moment rise up iu judgment before him,
and cost him the more irreparable sacrifice
of his head."
" And you have kept all this dark mys
tery from me," complained Irene.
" I have, but will no longer. I have re
frained from making you acquainted with
the circumstances that aro associated with
my finding of tho trinket solely from a fear
that the knowledge might causo you to
conceive a morbid dislike to it, and, as it is
really a pretty toy, I like to see you wear
it. And now for the mystery. Do you re
member the murdor, six years ago, of a
nobleman of the name of Coiute do St. Ar
mando, in tho Rue de Germaine?"
"Distinctly," replied Irene. "All Paris
was thrilled with horror at the mystery and
barbarity of the deed. But what associa
tion can tliis cross have with that dreadful
affair?"
"An Intimate association. That cross
was found by me on the identical spot of
the murder, and but three days thereafter.
If you will closely rxamiue the underside,
you will observe a small drilled hole at each
extremity. From these holes I am led to
infer that it was worn by the unknown as
sassin on the fatal night iu question ; and,
furthermore, that it was wrenched from its
fastenings by the hand of the hapless
Comte in bis dying struggle. Naturally
enough, it full to the ground, where I found
it. To this day, in spite of the superhu
man efforts of a by no means obtuso police,
and the incentive of a fabulous reward by
St. Armaude's relatives, the murderer is
undiscovered, and the whole affair remains
wrapped in impenetrable mystery. After
all these unrevealing years, who shall say
that the coming together of this man an i
the cross is not the working of a retribu
tive fate ? Too well does the man of inex
plicable fancy know that the little toy he so
covets Is adequate, if it falls lnt proper
hands, to work the crtuiifixion of a great
scoundrel." ,
"Ugh!" shuddered Irene. "And I
have been wearing it ull this time, and ad
miring It, totally ignorant of the terrible
thing its blood-red color symbolizes. I can
wear it no longer. Hero" removing from
her shrinking neck the chain by whjch it
was suspended" I can now view it with
no Interest but that of horror ( and she
threw it nervously into ber huBbaud's lap.
" Why, you little fool I" said Henri, iu a
jocose tone, " are you going to faint ? Are
you afraid of it ?" It is just as harmless as
it has been, and just as beautiful."
"I do not fear it," replied Irene, shrink
ing from it nevertheless. " I am not that
foolish. But I dislike it. Its innocont
charm is lost to me forever."
After weighing the matter in his mind
until the specified week had nearly elapsed,
Henri suddenly and sngoly concluded to
acquaint the prefect of police with the
story, in all its bearings, real and supposi
tory. That astute functionary proved to be
an intelligent and patient listener, and was
only too glad to detail two subordinates to
further a scheme that promised to result in
the capture of the criminal who had suc
ceeded in eluding the pursuit of justice.
Early in tho morning, a week subsequent
to that on which the supposed criminal had
called, Houri sent Irene into the city on a
visit to some friends, with the explicit un
derstanding that she was not to return un
til he came for lior. Following close upon
her departure came tho arrival of two gen
darmes, who were fortnwith secreted in her
but recently vacated bedroom, thereafter
to make their entree in the presence of the
expected stranger or not, as bo might or
might net criminate himself in the inter
view with Henri,
All the preliminary arrangements boiug
mado, our artist detective took station at
the window, and behind his closed blinds
became a silent and intense watcher. He
was a brave and resolute man ; but, never
theless, an occasional, misgiving flitted
across his mind. The business before him
was of nn extromely hazardous nature.
Should the supposed criminal prove to be
the real criminal, h is capture would be
likely to be preluded by a desperato en
counter. If fatal, fatal, to whom? Henri
thought of this, then of Irene, and closed
his eyes. Then ho thought of the gen
darmes in the next room, sot his jaw, and
in a spirit of grim defiance put all forebod
ings from him. Morning, noon, afternoon
and evening glided by with no result.
Henri yawned with impatient discourage
ment. His allies took to the bedroom floor
and played cards early in the forenoon.
Hitherto the excitement of the chase had
been quite strong enough to sustain Hen
ri's interest. But now would the expected
not come at all ? A brief consultation with
tho officers, who adhered to the opinion
that he would come, and was much more
likely to make his appearance within the
next three hours than at any time previous
during the day,especially if he was a rogue,
and was not lacking in the usual cunning,
braced Henri somewhat. Lighting a lamp
for the quondam gamesters, and another
for himself, ho camped on tho lounge. He
had got but comfortably settled, however,
beforo a resonant rap on tho streot door
brought him instantly to his feet. School
ing himself to meet tho probable crisis with
quiet deliberation, he leisurely procecdod
to tho door and opened it. From Irene's
graphio description ho had no difficulty in
recognizing his visitor. The expected man
of tho cross stood before him. His heart
gavo a tremendous thump against his
breast ; but his voice was steady and quiet
as he saluted the stranger with " Good
evening, sir."
" Good evening, sir," responded the
visitor, scrutinizing Henri closely. "Is
the madanie at home?"
"My wife is tho lady to whom you refer,
I presume," said Henri. "Sho is absent
on a visit. Cau I serve you iu anything ?
Will you not stop in, sir?" Henri throw
the door wide' open, that tho man might
see the room was vacant, and hence might
imagine him to bo alono.
" Ah 1 you are the husband of tho lady,"
remarked the stranger, who, after peering
in, walked in.
" I have the honor. Pray bo seated."
" I will trespass upon your hospitality
but for a few moments "
" No trespass, I assure you. Solitudo is
not the best of companions."
Without removing his hat the stranger
took the proffered chair. " I can tarry but
a short time," he said. "Probably your
wifo has informed you of an offer she re
ccived a week ago, for a small, fanciful cor
nelian cross that was in hor possession ?"
" Yes, she did mention the matter to me,
and we both wondered at the strange fancy
of the man, and the excessive price ho
offered."
"Well," replied the stranger, with a
forced laugh, the fancy cannot matter to
you ; and as for the price, If you get it that
ought to satisfy you on that point, I am
the man, and I renew the offer."
"Ah 1 No, certainly not, the fanoy docs
not concern us, of course not," and llonri
eyed the strunger keeuly. " But you know
that unusual occurrences will set the least
curious of mortals to surmising."
" Of course, of course," said the stranger
with strong tymptoms of , uneasiuesB,
" People cannot help thinking ; that's what
brains were made for. But to the point ;
if you still possess the cross, and will ex-
change it for tho sum offered, that sum is
yours. Your answer ? You will excuse my
seeming abruptness ; I am pressed fur time
and cannot dally."
" I hold you perfectly excusable," said
Henri, drawing tho coveted cross from bis
pocket, and noting tho eager flashing of
the stranger's eyes as his gaze fell upon it.
Deciding to thrust tho probe homo at onoe,
he deliberately added : " Another reason,
other than want of time, may exist to oc
casion your abruptness, my friend want
of confidence."
" What, sir 1" ejaculated tho man, start
ing up in a threatening, apprehensive way.
What do you mean by that remark?"
"Listen, and I will tell you," replied
Henri, fully convinced that ho was. on the
right track, ' as his visitor Indecisively sat
down again. " Listen, and I will toll you
what I mean. This cross, for which you
have taken such an inexplicable fancy,
came into my possession under very pecu
liar circumstances circumstances that in
vest it with extraordinary interest."
Pausing a moment to note tho effect of his
language, Henri fixed his burning eyes on
the stranger's. Speaking slowly and em
phasizing every word, he coutinuod : "I
found this cross on the 3d of January,
1849, on the Rue do Gormaine, on the very
spot on which three days previous, the
Comto do St. Armando had been brutally
murdered."
During the utterance of the concluding
words of the above, the countenance of the
listening man underwent a most appalling
chango, and dreadful, indeed, as though he
had heard the sentence for his immediate
execution pronounced. The muscles of his
face twitched convulsively, his under jaw
fell, and his eyes rolled in their sockets as
though following the fantastic evolution of
some horrid gobliu,
The paroxysm lasted but for a moment.
By a superhuman effort of tho will he re
covered his faculties, sprang to his feet, and
with tho demoniao fury of a madman,
dashed at Henri, hissing between his teeth,
D you, the telling of that talo is your
death-knell."
Just as his muscular hand closed op
pressively on Henri's throat, ho was vio
lently jorked backwards, and found himself
in the tenacious clutches of the two gen
darmes. "So ho! my fine fellow !" ejaculated one
of the officers. " We are altogether too
dooply concerned for the future welfare of
your soul to permit you to perpetrate such
a crime. You have - done bad enough al
ready to bring you to hanging, and that is
quite sufficient for our purpose."
The foiled villain glared suddenly from
one to tho other, and mado no attempt to
escape.
"That is right," remarked tho officer
who spoke before. " Take it easy shows
you to be a philosopher and a man of com
mon 8011B0."
The prisoner coolly folded his arms and
stood silent.
" Monsieur Ciirdone," continued the
officer, "as your friend seems to tako kind
ly our interference with this little plau to
avoid you a long resting spell, you will, with
equal disinterestedness, provide us with a
ropo for his benefit? Unluckily, we came
from town and forgot to bring tho profes
sional bracelets an unintentional over
sight which, I assure you," addressing the
prisoner, " we deplore even more than you
yourself can. Iu fact, wo were rather un
certain of having the pleasure of your com
pany on our return,"
" Nor will you have that pleasure,"
grow led the hitherto quiescent captivo,8ud-
denly striking out with his two poworfnl
arms, upsetting the officers, kicking over
the table on which stood the light, and
leaping out into tho darkness. As he van-
ished, a bullet hissed by either ear, but he
escaped unhurt.
Tho report of the pistols hurried Henri
back into tho room from which he had gone
iu quest of a rope.
" Quick !" exclaimed one of tho officers.
" The devil has outwitted and escaped us.
We must be after him at once. It is Leone
Hi cine, tho most reckless and ferocious of
tho many cut throats who infested Paris
six years ago. He most miraculously dis
appeared about the time of the St. Ar
mando murder, and the department had
given him up for dead. We must not allow
him to have his length for a moment. Our
first niovo is to lodgo information at tho
three heads of the police department. Ho
1h an astute dog of infinite resource, and
tho wholo force on tho scent will hardly
Bullico to capture hiin."
Breme was eventually taken. But so
adroit was ho that he contrived to remain
at large for three weeks after his escape
from Cardono's house. Ho was tried, con
demned, and executed for the murder of
St. Armando, several witnesses being found
who identified him, and testified to having
seen fastened to his shirt bosom on tho
evening of the murder that blood-red cross,
Irene was never afterward persuaded to
wear it. It hung over the mantel iu hor
boudoir, and many an evening visitor has
been beguiled by Ilunii with a recital of
the two dark episodes in its history which
are embodied in this story, and have de
parted shuddering at its sanguinary hue.
, CiT" Abuer Beers, a wealthy and obsti
nate resident of Newton, Conn., refused to
pay a school tax that he considered unjust
ly largo. He was locked up in jail, but
when it was ascertained that one of the be
quests of his will was $3,000 to the town
schools they let hiin out as soon as possible.
Important Notice !
Having laid in a very heavy
stock of
WIIN TER
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only 10 Cents per yard and
other goods in proportion.
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Winter
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F. MORTIMER,
New Bloomficld,ra.
November 19, 1873.
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