The monster had still sufficient life to speak: he raised himself on one arm, and looking on them all, thus spoke: "I am at last justly punished. By the splendor of my riches, I have induced many a beautiful woman to become my wife; but as soon as I discovered the least deviation from truth, or disobedience to my will, she suffered death. I put Fatima's veracity to the test, by obtaining her promise that she would not open the door of the blue closet; and by leaving the key with her, she broke her word, and the key, which has the property of preserving the stains of blood, until it be rubbed with a peculiar oil, afforded the evidence of her guilt. By the same means I knew that she had disobeyed my orders, and broken her own promises. These two faults had incurred my revenge. She has had a narrow escape; yet I hope she will in future never break a promise, disobey those to whom she promises submission, nor give way to the impulse of improper or forbidden curiosity."
He grew faint; and having uttered a few prayers for forgiveness, he fell back, and expired.
During the day, all the friends who had been invited arrived. They were told the occurrences which had happened; and such of them as chose it, saw the horrid proofs of Blue Beard's cruelty.
Fatima shortly afterwards had a day of great rejoicing; she not only gave a magnificent entertainment to her relations and friends, but the poor, for miles round, were collected together to partake of her hospitality: and on this occasion every face glowed with smiles of happiness.
Fatima's former days had showed her the sufferings and privations of the poor; and now she had the power, she determined to better their condition. With this view, instead of the miserable hovels usually inhabited by the labouring poor, she had annually several comfortable and pleasant cottages built, and to each one she added, a large plot of ground. To every labouring family upon her extensive estates, she gave one of these cottages, and where there were a family of children, she added to this gift a cow, and a few sheep. By this means, she enabled them, by their own exertions, instead of occasional want, always to secure a humble competence; and in a very short time, every person upon her estate was rendered happy, and became her firm friend.
PHILIP J. COZANS,