The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-10-11


assert that some qualms Of this kind did
not now arise in the breast of the lancer,
who could not help supposing, from the
continued gaze of his opposite neighbor,
that he mvst have been former friend,
a fiirt, lover. The idea was distracting.
Jules determined at once to put an end
to his doubts; so, bending across the
table, after some preliminary observa-
ton to his staring neighbor, he observed,
with as much nonchalance as he could
possibly muster:
You appear to know the ladyT
81 think" replied the other, in a
grave tone, "nay, | am sure | do" and
then turned the subject.
This was anything but satisfactory to
the young soldier, for again the eyes of
The stranger were fixed upon his bride.
There is nothing more provoking than
a limited answer to question by which
we have previously determined to elicit
a full explanation. There is nothing so
painful as half-grounded suspicious
Jules found it intolerable, and conse-
quently pressed his inquiry.
care you quite certain you have seen
this lady before9'
GAS confident as that | now breathe.
| never forget face have once beheld.
1t is she, | am sure; cannot be mistak-
en-"
Chat is very strange! Where did you
know herr" And the questioner felt
that his happiness depended on the an
swer
"Thank God, | never knew herW
quickly replied the stranger, with a
shudder.
This was inded a perplexing answer.
The husband hardly knew in what light
to regard it. 1t is true, it relieved him
at once from all jealousy; but then again
it implied a mystery, and, from the
strangers manner, evidently a dreadful
one. What could it mean? He deter
mined to venture one more question.
"My question seems to call up some
unpleasant recollection. Will you ex-
plain it?
off you particularly wish it, | will,
although | confess | would rather drop
( the subject. At all events, | would not
wish to do so while she is present"
/ With this reply poor Jules was forced
/ to remain content, though he felt that
/ the rack itself would bring less torture
4 than the agonies of suspense. Presently,
4 to his great relief, the well satisfied
party began to break up. One by one
| the plethoric burghers left the room; but
! Marie stirred not. Jules watched his
opportunity to give her, unseen, signal
/ to retire. This she did; and in less than
! quarter of an hour more the lancer and
/ the citizen alone remained.
! "Now, then, sir" said the former, alb
ruptly turning round, "your promised
explanation"
/ The stranger paused ere he replied,
am perhaps wrong in thus satisfying the
curiosity of one whom Inever saw before,
and more particularly so when | tell you
that the anecdote am about to relate
involves most deeply the character of the
unhappy female who has just left the
| table"
The stroke of death would have been
/ less agoniziug than such an answer.
/ Jules brain seemed to burn like molten
! lead. He could scarcely repress his agi-
tation as he asked, with an almost sar-
donic sheer, q You were, perhaps, that
/ lady's lover?"
"God forbid" solemnly calculated
the burgher. "My tale is not of love.
But as you seem interested, will give it
you in a few words. | had a very dear
friend in Victor Rossaert. From youth
brought up together, our mutual con-
| fdence was unabounded. UnfOrtun-
ately, Victor found it necessary, for the
arrangement of some mercantile affairs,
to visit Geneva. Here, it appears, he
met a merchants daughter. Adelaide
I ,bn Il
lovely appearance soon won the heart of
the enthusiastic young man, and he wrote
to me in all the triumph of an accepted
liver.
81 cannot really see what this has to
do with the lady who was here just now"
I impatiently interrupted Jules.
q 1t has everything to do with her.
/ Listen and you will agree with me. Vic
! tor, by mere accident arising out of
4 jealousy of one of the ladies former
suitors, learnt that she whom he thought
so innocent, so good, had, long ere she
had seen my friend, forfeited here repu-
tation. There was madness in the
/ thought, despair in future life, but honor
demanded the sacrifice; and the broken
hearted young man, in letter addressed
4 (,
| declared his knowledge of her guilt and
/ his resolution never again to see her.
This letter written, he instantly started
Oft to join his friend at Dion. To this
spot she followed him, with view of
making him marry her. She seemed
suddenly to relinquish her purpose, and
entreated but to be his friend. As such
/ for several weeks she visited him. His
health gradually declined. In vain she
| tried to cheer him. He hourly sank;
and, feeling death fast stealing on him,
/ he wrote me. | started off soon after the
receipt of this letter, but it was, alas,
too late. When | arrived, my much
loved friend had been consigned to the
tomb, but not before post mortem ex-
animation had taken place, from which
it appeared that he had died of slow,
subtle poison. Suspicion Immediately
( fell on Adelaide Moran; she was iezed
and Intercepted, but she would neither
confess or deny. Circumstances were
scarcely sufficiently strong to Justly a
/ trial for murder She was, therefore.
I brought before the court for the minor
otfense, namely, that of forging a will,
by which it would appear that he left
her all his property. On this charge she
was tried and convicted. Mitigating
circumstance, however, were urged to
save her from the galleys; and she was
only condemned to stand in the pillory
and be branded on the right shoulder.
This sentence was to be carried into
effect the very morning of my arrival at
Dion. Impressed with horror, | at
tended near the scatfold. The lovely but
wicked woman was brought forth. Never
can forget that sorrowful face. Deeply
imprinted on my memory, it can never
be effaced. Judge, then, my surprise
when | beheld that very woman, that
identical female, the person who de-
stroyed my friend, this day seated in
yonder chair
jules started up. His eyes dilated
with horror; he approached the nara
tor, You are mistaken by an acct
dental Likeness; that lady's name is not
Moran, or Adelaide. Say you are mis-
taken, or the consequences NAV he dread