A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1080, 12 October 1883, Page 4

A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.

LITERATURE.

( Concluded .)

In what a state I found myself on the thirty-sixth day it would not he easy for you to imagine. At last Rio de Janeiro was in - sight. I threw myself into a boat, sprang ashore, and ran to the telegraph office. * Break open door of small room ; wake up General’s wife.’ * * *. •• When the dissipated husband of the Gonend’s wife discovered that she, too, haa been out all night, ho gave the matter no 'more-thought than to use the favourable opportunity for another carousal. ‘ Is mad,ante home yet ?.. he nonchalantly asked, the porter, as he returned, the second morning.

‘No. sir,’ replied the porter. The affair did not trouble him, but it began to appear Strange. The third day went by and the. fourth came and no sign of the General's .wife. Her husband became uneasy. ; Ho sent to her relatives in the country. They had not seen her for years. Tlk* young than’s disquietude increased from hour to Hour. The fifth day he informed the police. Their search was vain. It was found that she had been to me that day, but they could go no further. Hundreds of patients daily went in and out of my office, in at one door and out another, which opened directly on the stnirs.

My people could not remember about her, the police could not think of searching my rooms, neither did it occur to my servant to force open the small room since 1 frequently locked it when I wanted to guard some valuable object of interesting study. So the disappearance of the General’s wife remained an nnsolvable riddle.

One. believes what one wishes. So, when four days were passed, the bus--band was convinced bis wife would never return. He said to bimselfj with a certain painful satisfaction. ‘ The poor , thing has killed herself. From love of me, no doubt.’ According to the marriage contract the wife’s wealth now belonged to him. A skilful lawyer at once arranged everything. The young widower inaugurated his monarchy by making such alterations in the stately old house as bis somewhat loud taste dictated. His wife’s boudoir was changed to a smoking room. In place of the dining-room a nuisenm of weapons appeared. The small blue parlour served as billiardroom. The carriage in which the General’s wife used to ride on afternoons was sold and replaced by a yellow English dog-cart. She had prided herself- upon simple, unostentatious livery ; her widower dressed his servants in red, gold embroidered uniform. One evening my servant was called to the door by a stout stranger suffering from dropsy who wanted me to cure him Just asJie was about to say I bad not been in Paris over a month, a messenger ran up the steps and handed him a despatch. My servant read, turned pale and cried—Quick, Quick ! Break open the door of the little room I‘ The dropsical man was so frightened at the outcry that he fell in a swoon. Without troubling himself my servant ran through the study, put his shoulder to the door of the inner room and burst ■it in. „ On the sofa lay the General s wife, covered with a thick layer of dust, tinder the combined influence of tears, rice powder and dost, her face, never pretty, bad gained the look of a caricature. She was an awful sight. My servant was familiar with the mysteries of catalepsy, so he wasted no time in blowing strongly in her face. She was not dead, but, of course, much emaciated. At last she opened her eyes and made a motion as if she would have dried her tears. ‘Dear doctor,’ said she in a weak voice. * I feel a little encouraged. I believe I have [wronged my husband. He has really passed the night at the club. I will hasten to embrace him.’ She arose and went to the door. My servant was so excited that no word passed his lips. She passed through the study. When the dropsical patient who had jnst recovered consciousness, caught sight .of her, he.cried in horror, ‘is this the state in which patients come out of the private room ?’ and fled as fast as he could. The house of the lady was not far from mine. She hurried home. At the door she stopped in wonder. Was she awake? This could not possibly be her plain house. The vestibule was decorated with gay frescoes, a confusion of glaring escutcheons and bizarre flowers.

Speechless with amazement she went op stairs, intending to pass through the small bine parlour to her boudoir. There was neither little blue parlour nor boudoir. In one was a billiard table, in the other a collection of pipes. The General’s wife sank into a chair to collect her confused thoughts. Suddenly she rose; she could hear voices near by. Laughter and signing met her ear. She hurried to a potiere quickly and resolutely lifted it. Horrible 1 Her husband sat with some ladies at a richly spread table. The servant at a glimpse of the General’s wife, who seemed to have risen from her grave, let plate and dish fall. The women fled with frightful shrieks: while the supposed widower, who a drunk a little more than was necessary, flung himself on his knees, and deathly pale, stammered—*lt is her spirit. Forgive me.’ * Leave the house,’ cried the General’s wife. 4 Lackeys, know your mistress, and chase this unworthy wretch from the house.’ The servants, who from fear had kept aloof, obeyed her command. As the sorely troubled woman with great satisfaction watched them execute her order, she saw my servant, who had followed her unobserved. 4 What bas happened ?’ she aske-d, 4 Madame,’ my servant replied, 4 you have slept for five weeks.’

‘ Oh, fool that I have been,’ she cried with a deep groan. ‘ When one has slept for so long a period one need never awake.’