New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-24

| might betray me; and we stood thus, / gazing
through the perfumed hedge OF roses AT ,ne nian
| whom | believed in intrnt at any rate TO ne
murderer, he, utterly unconscious OF my presence,
standing with folded arms and moodly watching
the dancers as they passed AMI he SrS M on a
later Claire de Kerguel approached once more; a
bright smile lit up her face as she looked up In
reply TO some remark Of her partners, but the
| next instant it faded as she caught DAeyrac s
moody gaze. Her companion fingered for awhile,
then bowed and moved away, and l heard the
girls clear tones she turned to her betrothed-
What is 1t you wish to say, Henri? Can you
not tell me here ?"
The reply was so low | could only catch word
here and there. "a" Overheard-mOre undisturbed
the blue. room!' Then the pair passed out of
sight, and / free TO depart, but | still stood
| for moment as if rooted to the spot. What ana
this interview signify? where would II be hed
Sometimes an outsider sees more than those always
near: 10 me il was evident that Monsieur daley
rae was madly jealous of the lovely girl who was
soon to be his wife, but whose love he had failed
TO gain. | felt sure he intended in some way TO
intimidate her. Again that mysterious vision re-
CURED to my mind, and l resolved at al risks to
make third in this impending interview But
how?
The mass of flowers which had formed my
screen prevented all ingress to the ballroom by
the window at which | STOOD neither could see
in which direction the two in whom | was inter
ested had gone; but as | eagerly scanned the in
terror felt convinced they were no longer among
the dancers. The terrace, as have already said;
was open on one side to the garden, and extended
apparently the entire length of the house. In and
around the brilliantly lighted conservatory num-
erous couples passed and repassed, or sauntered
beneath the trees in the garden below but the far
END OF the terrace was deserted and IN darkness,
except, as now observed, for a thin line of light
that fell across it. Surely there would be a win
dow by which / might enter unseen and without
waiting TO think what my after plan OF action
might be walked quickly toward il. Evidently
many other windows besides those of the ballroom
looked on to this terrace, but all closed, and
heavy curtains drawn across them; the light |
had seen came from the last OF these, and as l
approached 1t, my footsteps falling noiseessly
upon the soft thick carpet, l saw that the win
dow was partially open and the curtains were
jus, stirred asundcr by the soft night breeze.
Ny loot was on the threshold, when was sud
denly arrested by the sound of a mans voice, the
harsh, abrupt tones of which were Enthusiastically
familiar Silently, swiftly | parted tie curtains
with one hand Mercful heavens was dream
ing? or did | in very truth see before me tho
actual presentment Of that mirrorcd scene? Yes
this at least was no delusion. The walls of the
room were hung with blue, opposite the window
was qualnt-slaped cabinet of carved and inlad
woods and above this hung the portrait Of gray
haired officer, whom | at once recognized my
host OF the evening: so much only took in at
n glance, for midway between stood the two per-
sons Tor whom | was seeking, the two whom |
had first seen in so strange and mysterious
manner Facing me was Claire de Kerguel, her
beautiful face uPraised with the same halfterried.
half-delant look, and with his back toward me
stood ID Aleyrac. could not distinguish his rapid
words but, depressing with difficulty. the eX-
clamatlon that all but escaped my lips grasped
the curtain firmly and stood there, my right hand
clcnched my whole frame quiverlng with ex-
element 1t was but for an instant, however;
the marquis turned / saw his right hand was
hidden in his breast, but, he drew it forth,
sprang into the room just, and only just in time
to strike up the dagger as 1t flashed in the light
with an oath he turned upon me, like tiger
baked Of my prey but my muscles had not been
developed by English athletics for nothing; we
closed in short, sharp struggle, and then by the
time the men-servants whom Claires scream OF
terror had summoned rushed into the room her
cowardly aSsailant lay painting, but helpless at my
feet.
There is no need to dwell at length upon the
remainder of that evening" the whole affair passed
so quickly, and the apartment in which 1t had
occurred was so remote from the ballroom. that
no disturbance of the gayety had been caused. and
few, If any, Of the guests were aware until after
ward how nearly the festivities had been ter
minated by an awful tragedy. Monsieur daley
rae closely watched and guarded, was quietly
removed 10 his own home, and then within TIE
room which now seemed to me strangely IA
mlliar . gave to the Nic0mte de kerguel an eN
PLANTATION of the extraordinary chain Of crcUm-
stances which bad led to my being present, an
unseen spectator Of the dastardly attempt upon
his daughters life. From the latter we learnt.
further that il was an appeal to her lovers gen.
crosby to set her free from the bonds which, If
irksome at the first, grew more and more hateful
as the wedding day drew near; that apparently
refused 10 believe her indignant denial of his !
accusation that She preferred another, and vowed
she SHOULD, never live TO wed any but himseH 49,
mysterious and utterly ineXplicable manner in
which had been drawn into this domestic drama
seemed to present no difficulty; the Breton nature
is proverbially superstltous and to them the eX-
planatiOn was q simple one: i had been CHOSEN |
by Divine interpoSition as the instrument TO save
the life of their only child. FROM that moment |
we were friends, and the kindly feelings so singu
larly stirred into being during one short week |
have never died away. -
Here my story might conclude but possibly |
some of my readers would hardly be satisfied |
without at least postscript to the tale. VI |
Henri d'Aleyrac there remains little TO De said.
Always of a morbid. eXcitable temperament, the |
incident of that night, together probably with the
broad of exposure and disgrace. combined TO over
throw naturally lll-regulatcd mind. lie man,
aced 10 eude the vigilance Of those wt0 guarded
him and the following morning all Paris was |
startled nv the news of his suicide. committed, it
WINS said in a fit Of temporary INSANITY Calrc
dc KerCuc is now the wife OF a noblcman OF
lineage rs ancient her unhappy lovers, but OF
far different personal qualities; with nm she
loads a happy life. loving and beloved. close
friendship unites her 10 my sister Evelyn and my
ittle brown haired wife Only few weeks ago
Edith and I returned from our annual Vlslt 10
Tho Chateau ST. Pierre, their summer home IN
brittany. And now as ! write the closing words
of nv narrative. my eyes sometimes rest upon
nicturp which hangs above my fireplace. and was
NIonsiel IT de Kprguers wedding gift to us II Is
,.ondnrfuIlv naiuted by the most famous OF living
French artists and represents the interior OF
tostcfnllv furnished room. whose walls are hung
,,itb hIue above an inlaid cabinet is the portrait
Of n rray-haired man; every detail is drawn with
tho skill Of n NesSOniPr: hut the spectators IN
teres IS concentrated at once upon Two ngnres IN
ory and thc other a man in evening dress with his
ri Gbt hand upraised Crasping dagger. II is, In
fact faithful reproduction Of that strange and
mysterious vision which more than ten years ago
was seen in the mirror.-'lme.