The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-11-05

this affair that Will l4teresI d xG'
wide circle. Give me;fthe exac
particulars. What followed% n -.
Gle said be was wealthy and d!e :
not value money; and that. he hat
conceived so strong'a desire to pos
sess the cross that, wild as the otte
might seem, he would not demur a
giving 500 francs for it, :" ..a., ;1... b
Give hundred, parJleu! Tht
trinket is not worth five francs,
said Henri, excitedIy.." ," "The man !:
a lunatic, -7- v. j.., ~, .','.,,. ',',.,,.
81 told the man that the i.offel
was very tempting, but thatI coule
not accept it without first consult % su1t
ing you" -
"fhat was noble replys my dar
ling" said Henri, drawing his wife
close to his side, bestowing on bel
an eloquent glance and several pas
slonate kisses. "IIereafter I shal
consider you cheap at $4,000 francs
What said old Croesus to your
priceless answer?".
cat first he appeared much dis
comftted. After a little while lie
said he was going into the country
to remain one week; and that he
should return this way, and if [ in
the meantime gained your consent,
or concluded to part with the cross
without it, he would make good his
offer. And then he, bade me re-
luctant adieu, went to postchaise
that was waiting in the road, got in,
and drove Oft rapidly; towards Cha Cha
Ions" a.t4c.; r,!f4., 49,. b ..,..n,i,
eFinally we, have the, finale OF
act frst,"! remarked Henri. a'a ,..,.... .,. 3.
yes. responded .tbe musing
Irene, toying with the object of so
much discussion, which was in real
ity of but little intrinsic value, and
in no way remarkable, excepting
from popularity Of design. t7wa
of a clear, blood-red cornelian, the
upright pillar being carved to rep
resent a descending arrow, and the
crossIiiecea very fine wrought i'm
itation Of, wings. "I,.A ~ ~ = -, 'l, l,
E,s.HWhat attraction this bit of a
thing, ich,"7aside from being
your gift, I lookrupon, as worthless,
can possess to render it SO exceed
.ihjg1y precious in the, eyes Of the
man, [ cannot conjecture" .contln-
ued the puzzled Irene. .,..n1 -..4.
81. think L can furnish youwith a
clue to tie foundation of this Elk
tiraaordihafy interest" ~ - remarked
Henri. "What was his, general ap-
pearance?I = That .,ot a coarse, ill.,
bred person?'1.T -ar..aT hrr ai..
Gar from" that. He"was quite
tall, not over Aeshyo7welb! !dresseds >
and refined in bearing and language,
Ills coSuntenance betoEened7 much
illness at some early period Of his
life, or e excessive (: dissipation .''4r @r - !.
"Should your: cross,enamored
friend call again, and I should much
doubt if he ever does,''' said Henri,
II am the person with:7whom he
must deal.h '1,il "rnyi ,W "a n
"Why with you, dear?'' -i''!,:s .'.,:,
"Becaase the object he is SO ex-;
tremely solicitous to possess has a
mysterious history known only to
myself ' ~... .E,'.o'h, "Na
"And that same mysterious his.
tory affords a key to the solution of
the seemingly insane offer Of five
hundred francs ?".}it@tl - l. -" p!
'.I apprehend such to be the case:
That cross was found upon a spot
where, butAa few days previously, a
revolving crime had been commit
ted. If my surmises are correct,
this strange visitor Of yours was the
author OF that crime. If SO, he and
that little red cross are old acquain-
tances, and he would readily sacri-
flee several times the five hundred
francs to compass its possession.
Why Simply because so long as 1T
remains in other hands than his
own, he is painfully conscious that
it may at any moment rise up IN
Judgment before him, and cost him
the more irreparable sacrifice OF
his head" -. ....: 3..
-"And you have kept all this dark
mystery from me- complained I'ln
Irene. ....r.,.,.. ....... ... ..,r.......
81 have, but will no longer. |
have refrained from making you ac-
,oIuiainted ,Ii with the circumstances
that are associated with my finding
cf the. trinket, solely@from "a fear
that the knowledge might cause you
to conceive a morbid dislike to it.
and, as it is really pretty toy, ]
like to see you wear it. And now
for the mystery. Do you remen'beel
the-murder, six years ago, OF a no
bleman of the name of Comte az
St" Armande, in the Rue de Ger
maine3'' -, ,.'i .s;,,st 2 .. ..,..... -
: Ss';Distirctly, "rep1ied Irene. Al
Paris was thrilled with horror a
the mystery and bapbarity of th'
deed. But what association can thi:
Eoross, = have with that dreadful at
fair ?'f:i j. .e ." ..r:' A..,. .,a.'i e..
can intimate association: Tha
cross was found by NEON, the iden
! tical spot of the murder, and bu