The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-06-22
A FRENCH TRAGEDY.
The Dreadful Mystery of tho ralatinI
Chateau LcOntine.

sancon, France, embowcrcd in stately
trees and reached by neatly -grlvcled
paths and carriagcways, stands the
Chateau I.continc. 1t is deserted now.
The windows and doors are closed.
Tho harsh cry OF the lonely peacock
falls discordan,ly upon the ear, and
We're it not that the butterflies skim
so YEARLY over the waters of the arti-
ficial pond that can he seen i'll the dis
tancc, and thu, the grass is kept
trimmed and paths neatly tended, he
whole aspect would he that OF II
dreary and lonely place.
Twoyrars ago the Marquis Grcgoirc
Leontinu left the chateau, saying he
would never return, but also left b.
hintlhimstrict or,lrrsthat fairgrounds
should never bc allowed to go to ruin,
The cause OF this resolve was TRACE
dy which for Il long while balllcd the
skill Of the most astutc Parlsan Dc
tectives, and WIS only discovered ly
n confession. Three years bcforctha,
timcthcMarquls l-continc had brought
to the castle his newlywcddca bride,
Heloise. Shcwas an Alsatian, alnlon.ln
of blondes, with lo,iG, sunny hair that
ripplcl in tumultuu,ls waves over her
fair white shnutlcrs and bust. Her
lips were full and rutl,ly, her nose aqu-
line, and her great. lllstrous, blue eyes,
had i'll them IN alternate expression
of Laughing m,rrmcnt and languishing
criticism that ut once captured the
susceptible young Marquis l.euntinr,
and, although she was comparatively
poor. he laid hot siege to- her heart
and won il after I'M ardent court-nip.
Tho wedding took placrin Asacr, and
after II brief wedding tour the young
couple camc to the chateau at licsall-
con. There were grand times ut that
homecoming, and iornmonth ormore
tho happy bride and groom were the
center o. attraction. Each,lav claim
ell the attendance ut some icic oi the
happy bride and groom, and the
stately beauty of Hrloisc wastlle talk
OF all the country round about. The
Marquis was the hapl'icst OF men, and
his wife the most contcntr'l OF women
Tor Il woman is always contcntcd
when she is the center oi admiration.
Her devotion to her husband was
marked on all occasions, and one
mark of it was that at all times she
wore around her neck one OF the choic.
est of he gifts he had bestowed upon
her before their marriage This was
iarsegold lockct, set witllcostly st ones,
Ill the center OF which WAS her mono
gram set in diamonds and sIrmount-
ell with Il c"r"nct of opals. 1t was
held by q massive gold chain; and as
1T rested on hcr licaving bosom the
gems flashed and slnrklel with each
pulsation. Morcprccious tn her, how
ever, was II medallion portrait OF the
Marquis, which WIS under the cover
OF one SIDE of tho lockct, and lock of
mis- black hair under the other.
A year had passed, and there came
to visit at the chateau Henri Mcrvillr,
u cousin of llcloise, and his wife
Beatrice. Henri, although not n
m,tn-for his red hair anl
gray eyes prevented all ideas OF good
looks possessed many charms OF
manner, and proved an agreeable :,c-
QUESTION to thesocicty at thechntenu.
His wife w;ts somewhat of a.nonentity.
She was pretty, after u fashion, de-
voted to her husband, and very Jealous
of him.
Henri and Hcloisc had known each
other from childhood, and Beatrice
would hardly have been expected to
be jealous OF Hcloise, but sometimes
there came Il bulcful look into her
dark eyes us she saw the two walk
ing together in the shrubbery, and
watched how Friendly and confidential,
even tender, their intercourse seemed
to be.
Six months had passed and the MGR.
villes We're yet visitors ut the chateau.
One day tho Marquis had important
business to transact in Paris and
asked Mervillc to accompany him,
adding that they would dine at the
club, return to Bcsancon by q late
train, and have the carriage meet
them ut the depot. The programme
was carried out, nnd shortly utter l l
O'Clock at night the twom.en drove up
to the door Of the chuteuui i'll excellent
spirits.
Nine. Mcryille stood III the open
doorway awaiting them. Her face
was ashcn pale, her manner nervous
.'. VA i.Su' '7ue uuNtHCeu uaStlS
to l1eontine, and asked huskily:
"Have you seen Heloisc?"
Seen Heloise." exclaimed the Mar.
1uis in surprise. "Why, Henri and
have Just come up from Paris. How
in the name of goodness could ] see
her?"
"Be calm, Gresoire-you will require
all your courage, Hcloise has gone"
Gone! Gone where? This is some
joke, l suppose. Perhaps she has
gone to visit some OF the neighbors."
"Perhnps 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 Cod" cried the Marquis, now
thoroughly alarmed aud agitatcd;
"What does this mean?"
Then. without uttering another
word, he seized a candle from the
hand OF one of the attendants and
rushed to his wiie's bou,loir. Every
thing was quiet, nothing had
been disturbed. There as no
letter, not II scrap of
paper, not a word to him to tell him
OF her flights ii such i; had been.
Hastily deccnding the stairs he i'm.
mcdiately summoned all the servants.
Had Madame left any message? No.
She had been seen walking in tn,
shrub bcry with Nine Mervillc IN the
morning, but since then nothing had
been seen or heard OF her. Had en-
qu,rics been made in the neighlor.
hood No; Nine. Mcrvillellad thought
perhaps madame, the Marquise had
taken u train to Paris to surprise
Monsieur agrceably.
"Fools" shouted the MARQUIS in a
voice hohrse with anxiety and ugita-
ton. "Order out every horse in the
stable; mount, ali "iyom. Come. M,r
Vile. you must help mo in this search.
can not understand this matter ut
all. Something must he wrong. But
what-my God. WHAT and the now
frantic husband dragged his wifes
cousin to the stable. In Il moment
they were mounted on two of the
tleet.st steeds, and ten Of the most
reliable servants Were mounted almost
equally well. The country for miles
around WAS secured but without
avail. No one had seen the beautiful
Marquis .c"m,ine,luringc either day or
night, The doll gray of early morn.
ing had settled over the landscape
WHEN the men returned from their
search. Fn@u"l almost to death, Gre.
gore llunI Ii into Il chair in the
library and ate hi, heart out irving
70 co',"iNc tor Imagine some cause for