“The Lady of the Key.”

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 34, 6 July 1870, Page 6

“The Lady of the Key.”

One of the Paris journals announces tho death, at Versailles, of a Russian lady who appeared in the drawing-rooms of Paris in 1848 and 1849, and was nicknamed the “ Dame de la Clef,” She died, aged 45, in the most complete solitude. It is said .that her husband, who was much older than she, came to her for a week or two every six months, and wont away again no one knew whither. All was mysterious about this “ Lady of the Key.” Last month the husband did not return as usual, but a letter came announcing his death. The widow survived him a few days only, and it is supposed she allowed herself to die of hunger. Whether true or not, the following is the story that was whispered about her when she appeared in Paris, young and beautiful, twenty years ago. It was said her husband surprised her in a little country house which he possessed near Moscow, at the moment she was hastily shutting somebody up in a wardrobe. One of the servants had betrayed her. The Muscovite Othello turned the key twice in the lock of the wardrobe, took it out, then told his wife to follow him. Outside the villa, a few paces off, a travelling britska stood. More dead than alive, the unhappy woman obeyed. When the husband had placed her in the carriage, and given an order in a low tone to the coachman, he said to his wife, “ Keep this key. I have forgotten something, and will return.” He then returned to the •house. He returned according to his promise, and, as the carriage descended the hill, the poor woman saw the flames issuing from the windows of the country-house and taking full possession of it. She fainted away, and, on regaining her senses, perceived that a gold chain was riveted round her neck, to which the little key of the wardrobe was attached. She wished to kill herself, but her husband threatened her that if she committed suicide he would reveal her misconduct, and cover her and her family with dishonour. She was therefore condemned to live, and her strange necklace excited much curiosity in Paris. Her tyrant at last allowed her to retire into a quiet retreat on tho express stipulalation that she would not attempt to de stroy herself during his lifetime. His death released her from this condition ; but she had languished more than twenty years, having tho witness of her guilt continually before her eyes. It is a curious story : wo wonder if it is true I —Pall Hall Gazette.

I To! I moat/* Pill*. —A. certain curalfor Dropsy. —Charles Hutchinson, Esq., of Burghorsdrop, C.G. H., was for fifteen months a sad victim to this complaint. So bad was he at one part of the time, that water actually oozed throughjthe pores of his skin, and thrico a day change of apparel became necessary. Every time his doctor called he expected to find him dead, and in fact gave his friends no hope of his recovery. His sister, who had derived groat benefit from the use of Holloway’s Pills, bogged him, as a favor to her, to try them. Fortunately for him, he did not refuse, and they soon produced a change for the better. In four weeks ho was fclioKSighly rid diVosnler and i* good spirits.