The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-27

by becoming deputy, she could lead a
very agreeable existence amid select COM
pany, and eventually make a capital
match for her daughter. That is why
she had decided upon becoming Madame
Barberon.
Madame Perreau was not foolish wo-
man. For all her love for snowy dresses,
luxuries, and amusements, she lrad good
deal of commercial shrewdness, and never
acted without reflection. I suspect that
before accepting DIR. Barberon she bad
taken his moral measure and satisfied
herself that she should be able to man.
age him; whilst he, after studying the
widow, must have made up his mind that
it would be good for him to be ruled by
such person. Vain men, who are gen.
orally moral towards, deficient in will
power, feel the need of a strong, womaniy
Judgment to rely on, and DR.. Barberon's
first wife had failed to afford him such a
prop. She was weak, and let him have
his own way, even when it was detri-
mental to him; Madame Perreau, who
was not woman to be bullied, would
oblige her husband to exercise a self-con-
troll which would benefit his interests:
and so there was no reason why they
should not be happy together.
Under these circumstances the charge
of murder brought against DR.. Barberon
fell upon the widows schemes like thun-
der-bolt.
| believe all the town had been talking
over the affair, before the least rumor Of
it reached Madame Perreau; for / saw
her walking about in public on Barber
on's arm several days after the latter was
aware of what was bruited against him.
Every morning, when it was fine, the
widow and her little girl used to 60 to
the Casino to take their sea-baths; in the
afternoon they returned very smartly at
tired, and sat on the terrace overlooking
the beach, while the band played. Bar
beron was always with them. He may
have hoped that the evil wind would
blow over, and that he would thus be
spared the pain, from which his vanity
shrank, of letting Madame Perreau
learn that he was accused of an odiou>
crime. However, on the day he was sum-
moned before the Public prosecutor, he
could keep the secret no loner. He called
on the widow and explained in what
predicament he stood; and even as he
poured out his angry tale into her hor-
rifed ears, police officer arrived with a
mandate ordering Madame Perreau to
appear before this Procureur to undergo
interrogations on the morrow. All this
took place about couple of hours before
DR.. Barberon came to the club where oc.
Cured the scene already described.
! left the cllA twenty minutes after
Barberon; and M. Farcy accompanied
me. We lodged in the same quarter Of
the town, and our way lay past the villa
which Madame Perrcau rented. As We
approached we perceived that the house
was in great confusion. Lights CLEANED
in all the windows; servants were hurry
ing to and fro; and there stood fly al
the door with some luggage already pilec
on the roof.
That woman is about to do silly
thing remarked Farcy, stopping on tn,
pavement. III she bolts, she will harm
Barberon and herself, too. think II
20 in and warn her
She may not like your interference,
| observed, taking my British view 0
duty towards ones neighbor
Women require advice in thes
scrapes,' replied the barrister; 'womel
act in panic without foreseeing conse
quences. Come in; don't let us argu
when it is a question of doing kind
ness
Maitre Farcy was burly, impulsive
rather slovenly man, from forensic habit
was always on the side of those whom
Justice yexed. He had defended hun
dreds of prisoners, and, being always ar
rayed against the Public Prosecutor, ha'
come to look upon that functionary a
his natural enemy. l do not think tha
he was actuated in the present instanc
by any desire to play part in what h
foresaw might be cause celebre, (thougl
of course, to provincial advocates sucl
causes are a godsend) but he knew Mad
anne Perreau, and liked her. also kne,
her, and followed Farcy into the house
feeling sorry for the widow, and some
what curious to see how she would bea
herself 1t was eight o'clock, and no
too late for paying visit, according t
) French etiquette.
The fist thing we saw in the fron
halt was little Aglae muffled upi wrap
and crying bitterly. She sat forlorn o
a portmantcau with no one to attend he
for the servants were racing about wit
; boxes and parcels. We passed int
r the drawing-room, and found Madam
Perreau in travelling dress and bonne
packing things feverishly into dressin
: bag. Her features were discompose
, from fright, and her mind was so f:
!. away from her occupation that she picke
f up things without looking at them, stow
ing trihes and valuabies pell-mell. SI
glanced up as we entered, and, readin
!. sympathy on our faces, let hands drop
e her side and moved her lips in nervol
twitchiDg; then she tottered to cha
and burst into tears, hiding her face
4 her handkerchief. 'Oh this is dreadful
0 she sobbed. what am | to do? Ha,
+ you ever heardof such thing as this a
n cusation of murder?