Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-08
KILLED BY A KISS.
ons Asse IN thu Series a Posi-,
bis Cnsea
IoYfHssr. 1871


Ny father. Henri chantal. was the
youngest II three brothers. Ny grand
father had been shipping merchant in
the north Of France aud had lefs large
estate. 4y Uncle Jerome, the eldest.
went To Paris and married, aud thither.
somewhst later. Francois. the second
brother. followed him. my father TO
nsinin2 In Hzvre.
Henri Chansal wAS an eccentric man.
silent and stsdioas. with passion for
books In fine bindingA He made fire.
quent trips 20 Paris To attend auction
sales. but never permitted me 10 accom-
pany him When ! was eighteen years
old no died. sy his viii appointing
Uncle Francois the guardian of my per-
son and estate. Francois was q remark
ably handsome man aud very fond of
wine. woman and song Either through
careless Investments or riotous living
some say both-he wasted his own and
my estate. too, and became = pensioner
upon his brother Jerome
When attained my majority, finding
myself toiling for miserable pittance
"A shipping house, resolved To turn
my back ON France and try my fortunes
"A the new world For more than TWEEN
~ years I knocked about the United
States and Canada, often succeeding in
amassing quite little property; but
my love Of speculation invariably swal-
lowed il UP. and after an absence OF
more than twenty years 1 returned To
France and hunted up my Cousin Gas
ton, Jerome's son, who had kept his
money and was living quiet married
life IN the suburbs of Paris He re-
iceived me very we'll. advanced me some
money and assured me that his house
was always open TO me. His wife and
two daughters were likewise 50 friendly
Go me that soon became much attached
% them
But the member of Cousin Gaston's
family who interested me most was
maiden lady well on towards fifty. with
u face Of puress oval, . skin like
young girls. hair still luxuriant in
growth and but slightly flccked with
gray. nose Of most delicate and aristo-
cratic psttern. and eyes Of liquid blue.
soft ss juno sky, large, soulful. tender
aud eloquent
''Who is she, Cousin Gaston?" asked
one day.
Come up to the billiard room," said
he, ~whero we may DO alone, and III
tell you"
Nearly fifty years ago." Castor be-
gan, with . long drawn sigh. ''before
you were born, we lived at Rouy le Tors,
On the Notifications We had fine old
mansion and garden on the ramparts,
30 high in the air that We used TO call
II the hanging garden. from the borders
OF which we could look out for miles
across the plain There was hidden
flight Of stone stairs leading from this
garden down 10 the plain, used by the
peasants and hucksters as q short cut
20 the mansion One winters night
ah! well do I remember that night
binding snowstorm had set in at dusk.
but we didn't let that check our gayety.
for Il wss Twelfth night and father
and Uncle Francois wcre entertaining
n largo party at dinner. Suddenly.
from way out on the plain came the
dull. deep bayiny Of . dog. half howl.
half bark. At FIRST no ono noticed it,
for tho merry feast In the dining-room
was at It's height; but'as again and
again IL reached our ears. the bowling
each time taking moro p:teous tone,
some oce called out:
why. that sounds Hike Stentorl' this
being the name Of . large and extreme