The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-04-26

81 never saw you before, and lam
not ut all anxions to clear mp this ridicu-
Ions mistake" said she.
II will recall your recollections.n
Like flash he tore off his disguise.
ssJustin," she murmured; 1.-THE dead
come to life! What do you want Of me?"
s sW What do ! want?' he asked, With
tinqe of sorrow in his voice. Il want
:"What If should refuse t. give him
up?" 49,,
from your heart" And advancing men.
acingiy toward her, as if to execute his
threat, he stopped, ard as though touch
ed by sweet recollection Of happy days
gone bv. he murmured; "Susanne, give
me back my son and l will forgive al
the evil you have done me-"
II do not want your pardon. All I
asked is that you leave this house and
never modest me more: for If you
II will not move until 1 have my son.
You base woman, now believe you to
be the accOmplice of q mur-"
An internal smile contracted Susanne's
pallid lips. 5tr..
"Your son!" she said in harsh voice.
"You want to know him?"
''Tell me where ne 10, ana swear
will leave you forever"
with the blood of Madame de Brahal on
his head. He was her groom"
Bertrand's lips trembled. and he had
not strength to answer. Then gathering
sufficient strength together, he left the
wretched scene and fastened to the pre-
lecture. 1t was the work ofan instant for
him to reach the cell where his boy was
Bursting in upon him to the amazemeEt
of the keepers, Bertrand clasped the
young man about the neck and broke
out in eobs of joy. $685. ~:
"Philip, my boy-my son! I have
found you at last!'
The young man was dumbfounded.
"What does all this mean?' he asked.
ut means that they shall never take
you from me again. My boy, do you
not know your Ather?" faltered Bert
rand.
"Mv God! Are you my father?" asked
the youth, with an apparent tremor in
his voice.
''Swear to me that you did not murder
Madame de Brahal, and that it was that
base woman Madame Rhodes"
"Sir," said the young man, raising
himself to his full height, "she il my
mother"
A sob only escaped the wretched
man.
m y boy! My son! I will prove
your innocence in spite of yourself. You
are the victim of some plot. My boy
Philip could not commit a murder
"Do not, father, Let me die. My
mother! my mother"
But the detective was gone. Straight
way he fastened to the Office of Mon
sieur lie Project. To him he told his
doubts, neglectiDg, however. to disclose
his relationship in the matter. He re-
ceived permission to work up the case.
In the guise of tradesman he obtained
admission to the house of NJ. de Brahal.
As he approached the house lie was met
by young maid, apparently the maid
of the late madame. Her eyes were red
from weeping.
"You seem troubled, my dear m ID
amoiselle What has happened?"
Monsieur, if only dared" she said,
glancing suspiciously around.
"Speak, child. am not an officer of
the law, and you need not fear"
''They have arrested Philip. I know
he is innocent. That night he did not
he did not-pardon me, monsienr-he
did not leave me-" said the girl, blush
ing crimson.
A smile fitted across the face of the
detective.
''Then who has done the deed?''
asked Bertrand.
''They have. Monsieur &c Brahal did
not leave Paris. saw him pass through
the low dark hall ON the other siGe of
the house on the night of the murder.
As be neared the door of madame saw
something flash in his hand"
my God, child, why did you not
speak before?"
"Monsieur," said the trembling girl.
II was afraid they would kill me, too.
But, monsieur, you will save him--save
my Philip"
"Be brave, child and trust me-" said
the detective.
fastening to the prefecture, he OBJ
tanned warrant for the arrest of NJ. de
Bralla!. Officers were sent to arrest him.
When he arrived at the prefecture his
indignation was unbounded.
"Who dares charge me with the muir
der of my wife,"
II do" said Bertrand stepping for
ward. ut is useless for you to deny.
My wife, Susanna Gillette, your accom-
plice, has confessed ALL"
This was risky game, but the blow
went home. M de Brahal falteriDgly NUT
tered:
ESQ much for trusting womau."
The dreariness of solitary confinement
had its effect upon the blood stained
man. 1t was not long before, seeing
that death was inevitable, he confessed
and told the story of his crimes. Had
he known that Susanna had remained
true to him even to the last,
the world might have been deprived
of this bit of criminal experience.
NJ. de Brahal had first seen Suzanne
Gillette while in Paris on her bridal
trip. He had fallen madly in love with
the beautiful English woman. He had
followed her to her country home and
had often met her clandestinely and fin.
ally persuaded her to leave her home
and husband and fly with him to Paris.
At that time he was possessed of an i'm
mense fortune, with which, as he told
the unsophlsticated Susanna, he would
purchase the whole French capital for
her: When they reached Paris
NJ. de Brahal and Susanna
lived in regal splendor and
luxury for fifteen years. He gratifed
every WILL VI iCuSdune . until his purse
could no longer stand the constant drain.
Then. toward the end Of the year 1873,
an idea struck NJ. de Brahal. If it were
successful his purse would be replenished
three fold, and happiness in being able
to grant all ..Susanne's desires would be
his.
A young widow Of immense wealth
was then living in the Rue DIES Invalides
Madame Rica by name. If he could
only marry her, then bring Susanna in
to the house as housekeeper. between
them Madame Rica's time on earth
would be quite limited. Buttl,e young
man, Susanne's son, what was to be done
with him? Presto! When the crime
was committed it should be fastened on
him. Susanna did not love Phillip, and
NJ. de Brahal hated him. Being man
of fine personal appearance and elegant
address, he was not long in gaining the
affections of the unsuspecting widow:
Things progressed rapidly and III June,
1874 Madame Rica became Madame de
Brahal. They lived apparently very hap.
PLY for about six months. NJ. de Brahal