Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-03-21

iards, and she still had one of them.
What had become of the other one
She might have lost it, and some one
picked it up. He had now in reality OBJ
tanned clew. He would, however, put
it to the best use, and having magnifed
his evidence, confront madame with it.
He reached Paris three days after the
murder of Monsieur Verefkin.
On his way from the depot to the pre-
lecture he directed the driver of the
fiacre In which he rode to drive through
the Avenue Villiers. AS he neared the
Verefkln mansion he saw opposite in the
shadow of the leahess trees the comrade
that he had left there. He drove by and
motioned for the man to follow for q
piece down the avenue. AS the man
came up he said somewhat nervously:
You have arrived just in time. I fear
the bird is about to fly. There has been
considerable commotion about the house
for the last twelve hours"
There was evidently no time to be
lost. He must hasten to the prefecture,
state what he had learned, obtain q war
rant, and return as soon as possible.
Leaving his comrade to watch he hast
ened to the prefecture. It was not long
before he returned with warrant, and
accompanied by the commiesary. They
rang, and the door was Immediately
opened, as though the Inmates were ex-
pecting some one. Without waiting to
be announced the detective, followed by
the magistrate, assembled TO nadame's
boudoir. When they reached the room
q queer sight met their gaze. Nine.
Verefkin stood in the middle of the room
surrounded by trunks half filed The
room was in chaotic confusion. AS they
appeared at the door madame stood as
one dumb. and deadly paIlor over
spread her features. From her appar-
emily Iifeless hands letter, half read,
had dropped. Quick as a flash of light
ming, V1lmont stopped and picked it up.
'Give me that letter." she shrieked.
"It Is mine; you have no right to read
it."
The last lines put aside any doubts as
to her commission of the crime. They
were:
q will meet you at the hotel (you
know the one). We are now free to love
one another as OF yore. You are brave
girl. I knew you would not stop at the
sight of blood. Come tome. VICTOR. !"
When confronted by the evidence of
the dealer at Lyons and the damning
evidence of the note she was completely
unnerved and wept like q child.
at was you, my love, that betrayed
me. Why did he write that note| she
sobbed
She was arrested and escorted to the
prefecture, where, surrounded by the
cold, damp walls, and hoping for
lenieRcy, she made full confession.
She was born in Florence. Her occu-
patton since early womanhood had been
that of an artists model While posing
IN the studio of one Victor Valiant, she
had fallen in love with the artist. He
was not long In accomplishing her ruin.
She still loved him. One day wealthy
Russian visited Valiant In his study, and
meeting with the beautiful model, fell
madly In love with her sweet face and
voluptuous form. He was repulsive to
her. Victor, who was poor, stuck upon
the idea of her yielding to the Russian,
ana extracting from him as much as pos
sible from his well-fiIled purse She
would have given her life to please the
man she loved. The Russian proposed
to go to Paris. She did not desire TO go,
but Victor had persuaded her to. He
had given up his profession, and lived
on the money she supplied him. Ii she
did not accompany the Russian, Valiant
would have to work. and that had be-
come distasteful TO him. She accom-
panied him to Paris after she had de-
manded that he should marry her.
They were married and went to Paris.
Here her concealed dislike for the man
SO much her senior increased. She alb
solutely despised him. She lopged to
be with Victor. By one stroke she could
rid herself of the man she loathed and
leturn to- her lover, and bring with her
untold wealth. For this purpose she
had gone to Lyons and purchased the
two poniards-to kill him with one, and
have the other in case she should be
suspected. She had endeavored to keep
them concealed. but the maid, Blanche,
had by accident seen one.
AS to the commission of the crime it
was simple enough. Monsieur Verefkin
was very regular in his habits. She
knew the exact time he would return
home on the night of January 9Th. Go
ing out by the back entrance, shrouded
by cloak and hood, she waited in a con-
cealed corner until he should pass to en-
ter the front entrance to the house. AS
he passed, she, with the dexterity of the
women OF her country. lunged the pom
lard into the back of her husband.
With moan he fell. She then returned
unseen. The rest is known. She was
tried, and owing to her confession len
iency was extended her. She was sent
to the galeys for twenty years.
CarIysIe on the American Settler.