The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-07-23

l0sge9e y Nseiess Cntnk
FRENCH TRAGEDY.
q lslIliii ~ lrysssry Of the Palati~l
CssAssen Lsontins.
sS ss In ths outskirts OF the town OF Be-
/ 1con, France, embowered in stately
and reached by neatIy-sraveled
this md carriageways. stands the
Chateau Leontine. tits deserted now.
IITheSwindows and doors are closed.
The harsh cry OF the lonely peacock
falls discordantly upon the ear, and
were it not that the butterflies skim
80 wearily over the waters OF the arti-
8ficinl pond that can be seen in the dis
lance, and that the grass is kept
trimmed and paths neatly tended, the
whole aspect would be that OF a
dreary and lonely place.
IWoyears ago the Marquis Gregoire
Leontine left the chateau, saying he
would never return, but also left be-
hind him strict orders that the grounds
should never be allowed to 60 to ruin.
The cause Of this resolve was a TRACE
dy which for q long while bafiied the
skill of the most astute Partisan de-
tectives, and was only discovered by
6 confession. Three years before that
time theM Marquis Leontine had brought
to the castle his newly welded bride,
Heloise. She was an Alsatian, a blonde
Of blondes, with long, sunny hair that
rlppled IN tumultuous waves over her
lair white shoulders and bust. Her
lips were full and ruddy, her nose aqu-
line, and her great. lustrous, blue eyes
had in them an alternate expression
OF laughing merriment and languishing
criticism that at once captured the
susceptible young Marquis Leontine,
and, although she was comparatively
poor. he laid hot siege to her heart
and won it after an ardent courtship.
The wedding took place in Alsace, and
after q brief wedding tour the young
couple came to the chateau at Besan-
con. There were grand times at that
e.coming, and for amonth ormore
the happy bride and groom were the
center os attraction. Each day claim
ed the attendance at some fete OF the
happy bride and groom, and the
stately beauty OF Heloise was the talk
OF all the country round about. The
Marquis was the happiestof men, and
his wife the most contented OF women
tor q woman is always contented
when she is the center of admiration.
Her devotion to her husband was
{ vvnsS SNsfyo yoJ< oil
mark of it was that at all times she
wore around her neck one ofths choic-
est OF the gifts he had bestowed upon
her before their marriage. This was a
large gold locket, set with costly stones,
IN the center OF which was her mono
gram set in diamonds and surmount-
cd with q coronet of opals. 1t was
held by a massive gold chain; and as
1t rested on her heaving bosom the
gems flashed and sparkled with each
pulsation. More precious to her, how
ever, was a medallion portrait OF the
Marquis, which was under the cover
OF one side OF tina locket. and lock of
mis- black hair under the other.
A year had passed, and there came
to visit at the chateau Henri Merville,
9 cousin OF Heloise. and his wife
Beatrice. Henri, although not a
handsome lnan-for his red hair and
gray eyes prevented all ideas OF good
looks possessed many charms of
manner, and proved an agreeable ac-
q1isiSion to thesociety at tthechateau.
His wife was somewhat ola nonentity.
She was pretty, after a fashion, de-
voted to her husband, and very Jealous
of hira.s
Henri and Heloise had known eas,
other from childhood. and Beatrice
would hardly have been expected to
be Jealous OF Heloise, but sometimes
there came a baleful look into her
dark eyes as she saw the two walk
ing together in the shrubbery, and
watched how friendly and confidential,
even tender, their intercourse seemed
to be.
y Six months had passed and the Mer-
villes were yet visitors at the chateau.
One day the Marquis had important
business to transact in Paris and
asked Aferville to accompany him,
adding that they would dine at the
club, return to Besancon by late
train, and have the carriage meet
them at the depot. The programme
was carried out, and shortly after IL
O'Clock at night the two men drove up
to the doorlof the chateau in excellent
spirits. .
Nine Meryille stood in the open
doorway awaiting them. Her face
was ashen pale, her manner nervous
and excited. She advanced hastily
20 Leontine, and asked huskily;
Have you seen HeloiseY'
Seen Heloise!' exclaimed the Mar
quis inssurprise. "Why, Henri and I
have just come up from Paris. How
in the name OF goodness could I see
her?''
: Be calm, Gresoire-you willrequire
ell your ccy,'r,,a ,,,s,e. &C., He!nise has ge,ae. y
Gone! Gone where? This is some
joke, | suppose. Perhaps she has
gone to visit some OF the neighbors. ("
Perhaps SO; but listen. She and
took a stroll in the shrubbery this
morning. lett her at noon to return
to the chateau. Since then nothing
has been seen of her.
My God!'' cried the Marquis, now
thoroughly alarmed and agitated;
what does this mean?"
Then, without uttering another
word, he seized q candle from the
hand OF one OF the attendants and
rushed to his Wife's boudoir. Every
thing was quiet; nothing had
been disturbed. There as no
letter, not a scrap OF
paper, not q word to him to tell him
OF her flights if such it had been.
Hastily decending the stairs he inn
mediatelv summoned all the servants.
Had Madame left any message2 No.
She had been seen walking in the
shrubbery with Nine. Merville in the
morning, but since then nothing had
been seen or heard OF her. Had en-
Quirles been made in The neishhor.