The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-07-16

| kAuV on WG00l0x WAS infant.
Yes. Time had winss; and 90 he went,
And summers feet pursued the spring,
All. open the golden coin IL spent 4
The empty purse q useless thing,
And empty hearts no tribute bring
An, Inc! where 10 my old content?
A FRENCH TRAGEDY.
The Dreadful Mystery Of the Palataal
| Chateau Loontiue.
In the outskirts of the town of Be.
eancon, France, uncovered in stately
trees and reached by neatly-graveled
paths and carriageways; stands the
Chateau Leontine. tits deserted now.
The windows 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.
fetal pond that can be seen in the dis
tance, and that the grass is kept
trimmed and paths neatly tended, the
whole aspect would be that of q
dreary and lonely place.
Two years ago the Marquis Gregoire
Leontine left the chateau, saving he
would never return, but also left be-
hind him strict orders that the grounds
should never be allowed to 20 to ruin.
The cause of this resolve was TRACE
dy which for q long while baffled the
skill of the most astute Partisan de-
tcctives, and was only discovered by
a confession. Three years before that
time theNiarquls Leontine had brought
to the castle his newly-wedded bride,
Heloise. She was IN Alsatian, a blonde
OF blondes, with long, sunny hair that
rippled in tumultuous waves over her
fair white shoulders and bust. Her
lips were full and ruddy, her nose aqu-
line, and her greAt, lustrous, blue eyes
had i'll 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 u brief wedding tour the young
couple came to the chateau at Besan-
con. There were grand times at that
homecoming, and for month or more
the happy bride and groom were the
center OF 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 happiest OF men, and
his wife the most contented of women
tor woman is always contented
when she is the center of admiration.
Her devotion to her husband was
marked OH all occasions, and one
mark of it was that at all times she
wore around her neck one of the choic-
est of the gifts he had bestowed upon
her before their marriage. This was O
larRegold locket, set with costly stones,
In the center OF which was her mono
gram set in diamonds and surmount-
ed with coronet of opals. 1t was
held by massive gold chain; and as
it rested on her heaving bosom the
gems flashed and sparkled with each
pulsation. More precious to her, how
ever, was medallion portrait of the
Marquis, which was under the cover
Of one side of tho locket. and lock of
mis- black hair under the other.
A year had passed, and there came
to visit at the chateau Henri Merville,
cousin OF Heloise, and his wife
Beatrice. Henri, although not q
handsome lnan-for his red hair and
gray eyes prevented all ideas Of good
looks-possessed many charms of
manner. and proved an agreeable &C
QUESTION to hesaciety at the chateau.
His wife was son,ewhat of q lonentity.
She was pretty, after a fashion, de-
voted to her husband, and very Jealous
of him.
Henri and Heloise had known each
other from childhood. and Beatrice
would hardly have besn expected to
be Jealous of Heloise, but sometimes
there came 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 he.
Six months had passed and the Mer-
vi!les were yet visitors at the chateau.
One day the Marquis had important
business to transact in Paris and
ASKED Aierville to accompany him,
adding that they would dine at the
club, return to BssapGop by q 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 door OF the chateau in excellent
spirits.
Nine. Mervilie stood ia the open
doorway awaiting them. Her fqcs
was ashen pale, her manner nervous
and excited. She advanced hastily
to l.sontine, and asked huskily:
"Have you ssep Heloise?"
"seen Heloise!" exclaimed the Mar.
quis in surprise. "Why, Henri and I
have just come up from Paris. How
in the name OF goodness could I see
her?"
BE calm, Gregoire-you will require
all your courage, Helaise has gone"
Gone! Gone where? This is some
joke, | suppose. Perhaps she has
gone to visit some OF the neighbors."
"Perhaps so; but listen. She and I
took 10 STROLL in the shrubbery this
morning. / lett her at noon toreturn
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 altering another
word, he seized q candle from the
hand of one OF the attendants and
rushed to his wite's boudoir. Every
thing was quiet; nothing had
been disturbed. There rs no
letter. not a scrap Of
paper, not u ~ssd to him to tell him
OF her flights il such it had been.-
Hastily defending the stairs he inn
mediately summoned all the servants.
Had Madame left any message? No.
she had been seen walking in the
shrubbery witt, Mae: Merville i'll the
morning, but SINGS tt,s4t ,,Gthing had
been seen or heard of her. Had GA
quiries been made in the neighbop-
hood, No: Nine. Merville had thought
perhaps madame, the Mnrquise had
takena train to Paris to surprise
Monsieur asreeably: