The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-06-07

few h>1dred donsys; but / dccs,r OF the
success in the absence of the clew. Oreis
there has been crime committed, as you
seem to believe l have not sumclent
ground to order Immediately search to be
made; but you can address yourself TO Inc
district attorney, who, upon your amoavlt,
will put the wheels of justice II motion"
This was very grave, but the unhappy
father, after having consulted his VIE ano
a few intimate friends, after having sent
to the family lawyer, who could obtain 70
explanation, he thought he could not pass
in silence Leonora's disappearance, and ne
decided to put the case in the hands OF judi
cial authorities.
The public prosecutor had the case ex-
planned to him. Mr.. and Mrs. Champion
were rich property owners. Leonora was
their only daughter. They had made the
acquaintance of Gustave Brownlow IN the
country at the house of mutual friend.
Gustave belonged to an honorable 1amlly
vino had owned fortune, but had lost IL
again. Nothing wrong was known con-
corning him, if not that he was without
money and without position. They mad
not encouraged mis- attentions to MISS
Champion; but the girl had fallen deeply In
love with the handsome gentleman. The
parents refused to give their consent to the
marriage; the girl declared that she would
never take any man for her husband but
Gustaye. They were obstinate on both
sides, and when she came OF age she mar
ried her favorite suitor. Unfortunately,
Leonora, once she had attained her MAORI
ty. enioyed the free disposal Of large fort
une which had been left her by an aunt,
and the young man must have been &C
ouainted with his fact. The marriage had
taken place against tho formally expressed
will of the parents, and since that time all
relations between the two families had been
broken off.
1t was known through the servants and
the school friends of Leonora, who con-
t;nued to visit her. that there was trouble
in the house, that there were often violent
storms between the husband and the wife.
The absolute silence in which Mr.. Brown
low shut himself up justified any kind OF
supposition, for he had no interest in COW
ering up the wrong doings of his wife if
there had been any, or to hide the motives
of her absence if he knew them. Of course
it was repugnant to lmpute murder to
man whose education and bringing up
seemed to prevent such suspicion. But it
was not impossible that man of secret
i've nature might have been carried away
by moment of anger and that once the
crime committed he had applied all the re-
sources of a cultivated and intelligent mind
to wipe out all traces.
The district attorney could hardly be-
lieve that man of position like Mr.. Brown
low could have committed so frightful a
crime. He knew besides how difficult it is
40 "a h11c
back from journey one would suppose that
he had thrown his wife over precipice,
drowned her in a river, or strangled her in
some wood. But he could not have left his
house until seven O'clock; he had returned
at three o'clock in the morning. 1t was not
in eight hours that he could have found the
necessary time for the execution of the
crime. 1t was legitimate to exact from him
an explanation as to the employment of his
time and to discover what reasons he might
have given to himself for this apparently
unexplainable disappearance.
On the next morning Gustave Brownlow
received an invitation to present himself at
the Office Of the public prosecutor. On see
ing him enter this officer was struck by the
expression of gloomy determination winch
was stamped on his face;' one could read
in it at the first glance cold resolution and
an entire self-possession. He took seat
without saying word, looking attentively
at the prosecutor. The two men observed
each other before opening hostilities. The
peoples lawyer waited for moment in the
hope that his adversary would by his first
words betray sentiments of some kind; but
the silence becoming prolonged he was
forced to open the conversation.
g. have sent for you, sir, to ask you for
some explanation Of the disappearance of