The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-11-11

not her husband. al least lis love.
But the carriage bore them on; they
reach the railroad station 'Chemin de
Midi" and in few minutes are rushing
on with all the power 81 steam.
Meantime, weary and full Of thought,
Henri Vergennes comes from a long ses-
sion in the courts back to his home.
Madame is OUT said Jeanette, but
she has left a no:e for you On your desk
in the study.
Henri scarcely hears what she says; he
is absorbed in a difficult. law question, and
if he had thodoht at all about Esteiie, 1t
would be to think it was relief that she
was not there to Interrupt. Taking out
cigar, he laid down on the sofa in his stu
dy,and opening his briefs, began to read the
difficult point over again.
Jeanette was the first person who in
terrupted him. The dinner was ready.
And madame!"
! She had not returned.
Then Henri remenb ered what Jeanette
had said, and went I'D to the desk. There
his eye fell on the wedding ring, and the
few words written beneath told him all.
For few minutes be stood, not stunned
by the blow. but recalling as be gazed on
the ring all the events Of the last three
years. The love that had laid dormant
in his heart all arose with It's strength and
passion. and, as he thought, bis conscience
told him how he had neglected her, how
for the last year this young, beautiful, low
ing wife had been a nothing to him in
his home.
One look he gave up at her portrait
that smiled down on him, then throwing
himself into chair, he laid his head on
the desk beneath hn, and wept as man
weeps il his lie but once, tears that are
the very hearts blood.
At last, weak and exhausted, he looks
up once again, lie gazes or tho portrait,
and feelings of pity and tenderness came
over him. He has forgotten his own sor
rows; lie thinks of her only 20 her whom
he Lad sworn to shield from all evil, till
death should part them. 1t might yet be
time to save her; she was forever lost to
him, bat perhaps he might rescue her
from disgrace, from the long life of wretch
edness that must inevitably tie her fate.
He does not waste time in seeking in
formation; bat, like good lawyer, goes
at once to the right source to the Rue de
Jerusalem there one Of the French de,
tective Office will soon put him on the
track, tell him ALL
Meantime on goes the train, night has
come and the fugitives, the first emotion
over, have began to get anxious as to pur-
suit. They may be traced to the railway
station, to eyade pursuit they deem it bet
ter to stop a. small station, resuming
their journey south rext dav by later
train, SO that if Henri shall have left Paris
in search of them, be will have had time
10 take one Of The trains that starts in the
night.
With feeling o. security, next morn
ing they re-entered the train. They have
been undisturbed; yes, Estelle has left
Paris, her home, her husband, her cares
forever. Twenty -four hours and they will
be on the Mediterranean, safe from all
pursuit.
But all at once there is strange com
motion, a violent shock, ssudden scream
that is the concentration of the agony of
hundreds, and then EstelIe remem bers
nothing.
When next she opens her eyes and gees
round her, who is it their glance encoun-
ters? Her husband yes, Henri Vergen-
mes, and with a shrek she turns aw av.
Then she tries to recall what has hsppen.
ed she tries to account for his presence
there, bat in vain, her brain is still full o.
confusion, and dull pain numbs all her
faculties. 1t is Henri's voice rouses her
at last. lie Genes towards her: he is
leaning over her.
"Estelie," he says, ''can you rise; it
is necessary we should reach Paris to
night.
'paris You" murmured Estelle.
j. Do You remember notliing?"
why are YOU here" said Estelle, ev-
adng the question.
g. | will tell you ALL was on the train
in (which YOU were, when-'
"Ohn' exclaimed Estele, 81 remem-
Der now the horrible crash, the screams
oh ! where" but here deep color came
into her pale face, and she buried her head
in her pillow,
Octave Seran is dead,' said Henri, il.
a cold, calm voice "you, | believe, are
unirjured; | am not here to reproach you,
this is not the sine, but to save my honor
and yours. Your flight was known to
none; You must return with me i; your
guilt will be thus forever hidden to all but
me, and | shall keep the secret for nv own
sake"
What If will not return p
" | have not thought of that, because
you Will return"
VIII you take faithless wife back
again beneath your roof?"
Rise, Estelle, am your hush nd
will be obeyed, and answer no more vain
questions; we must be in Paris tonight :;
we must be together tomorrow at broth
er's wedding; there is no time to lose ::
the train starts in an hour. In an hour |
shall come and take you. Be ready"
EsteIie, as soon as she was alone. threw
herself down on the oed, and wept bitter
~ : she had the crime Of murder on her
conscience ; yes, Octave had died for her !;
Why had she not died, too? AT that mo-
ment 1t seemed to her she had never loved
any one but Octave. For Henri she had
the most supreme contempt Forgive a
taithless wife forgive her take her back