The Osceola times., 1883-06-09
A WOMAN'S AMBITION.
Fromthe French

In the village OF Genslc, France, on
the afternoon Of May 4, 1854, might have
been heard the Ginning of the village
bells, indicating that wedding was in
progress. Three months before, Justin
Bertrand, a young man, having received
a leave of absence from the regiment
had returned to the village where he
first saw the light Of day. At a large
mansion bordering on the outskirts of
Gensac, Susanne Gillette, a young Eng
lishwoman, had been employed as gov
crness for some time.
On their first meeting Justin hal fal-
len madly in love with the beautiful Su-
same, and she, not being opposed to his
attentions, after a short, bat to Justin a
blissful courtship, gave her hand to her
ardent suitor.
The marriage ceremonies We're per-
formed amid the usual village rejoicing.
The newly welded pair took bridal
trip to Paris. The country girl had new
or seen the capital city before, and her
wonder aad amazcment may be well i'm
agined. The perverse instincts slumber-
ing in her were awakened by the luxury
and gaiety Of the immense city, and Su-
srnne swore to herself she would be rich
some day.
few months after their return home
and after they had settled down to the
monotony of domestic life, Susanne gave
birth to a son.
The joy of the father was unboundcd
but this JOY, strange to say, was not shar-
ed in by the mother.
He shall be called Philip. after my
dear father" exclaimed Justin, in costa
cies.
Things went on at the Bertrand home
in an indifferent manner until the end
of the month of June, 1859, when Sus-
anne desired to go to IIavre, under the
pretext that sea air was necessary for
her health. In this her husband did not
oppose her. Taking her child, she de-
parted, and was never seen by her hus-
band again. Before leaving, however
she had promised to send her husband
word of her safe arrival. After waiting
a sufficient length of time and receiving
no missive, Justin determined to hasten
after and ascertain the cause At the
moment he was about TO start a note was
handed to him With trembling hand
he broke the seal. 1t contained these
words:
81 have left you-forget me-"
The distracted husband, crazed with
anxiety and grief,started for Paris swhiih-
cr he was sure his Eaithless wife had
flown, and determined, if Susanne refls-
ed to return, at least to obtain possession
of his son, whom he so dearly loved. He
secured the great city in vain.
No trace of the missing woman could
he found. A small fortune had been left
him by his father, and this being nearly
expended in the search, he was obliged
to follow some vocation to enable him to
gain livelihood
After Thoroughly discussing the subject
in his mind he determined to follow the
detective profession, inasmuch as in this
pursuit he would be most likely to oh
tain some information relative to his
child.
He had already despaired of regain
ing the love of the woman who was his
wife. So it was only his son for whom
he looked now.
Years rolled on, and still the unhappy
man did not give up the search.
Often was he reprimanded by his SUI
periors for not following more closely the
case to which he was assigned. II was
because he had been in pursuit of some
phantom clue that he had imagined
would restore to him his son. Case after
case, notwithstanding, he had worked
up with remarkable sagacity. The name