The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-30

no longer see myself or think of myself as
the Count de Lisle.n
'We will not live here,' said Olympia.
1--WE could go to New Zealand or Peru or
Asia, where no one knows US or eau reach
US. You are my country. the only one [
care to live in. Let US disappear, like the
fairies''
"Riches can buy most things but the
more riches you have the less can you buy
seclusion. We can't escape that way
Wherever we went we should find a news
paper correspondent.
I'VE might give the money away
Olympia suggested. ''You could build and
endow your school of art, and few things
like that, and then we would go off, like
good people when they die, and we should
certainly go to heaven so long as we staid
together. Then the newspaper people
would stay behind with the money"
We'll, perhaps we win,' said Keppel
musingly. ITO have wealth beyond a GER
tain point is only to undertake tue labor of
living the lives of ten or thousand men,
as well as your own. You may, if you are
wise and good enough. produce more con-
centrated and visibly beneficial effects tnan
promlscuous crowd would, butin the long
run private mountains Of money do more
harm than good. You can give away as
much as you like, only l must keep mil
LIN VI WV W Uuy yOuI UuuuSIS Win.
where did you get so much money,
Keppel." inquired Olympia. where did
it come from! 1t seemed natural that the
Count de Lisle should have it. but that you
should have it is different; tits like having
it myself"
sit came from the treasure houses of
European kings, and from the strong boxes
OF misers and the breasts of fair women
and the savings of poor peasants; from
robbery and murder and crime and cruelty
OF every sort; it has been gradually &C
cumulating for hundreds of years; it is
even said that Charlemagne began it; Ger
tainly Francis l. added to it. and Henry of
Navarro and Louis the Great. Napoleon
doubled it, l suspect, but no one knows or
ever will know certainly by whom or how
IL was contributed to. The singular thing
about it is that it should have been passed
along as secret heirloom from ruler to
ruler of France; it was always regarded
as priyace treasure, though, of
course, it should have belonged to
the nation-if treasure got as this
was could be said to belong
to anybody except the original owners.
When the French revolution occurred the
Queen hid the treasure, and when she was
condemned to the guillotine she told the
secret to some one whom she believed she
could trust in order that it might be avail
able for bringing back their dynasty to
power after the revolution had ended. This
confdant must have betrayed his trust. At
any rate, Bonaparte got hold of the
treasure not long after. Louis Philippe
never could get trace Of it, and Louis
Napoleon, to whom the secret was i'm
parted, entered into possession as the
rlghtful heir after the coup d'etat. He
looked upon it, as probably all his prede-
| cessors had, as power in reserve, not to
be used except in case Of need. But he
knew from experience how uncertain
things are in France and when he saw a
war with Germany ahead, leading possibly
to grand upheaval OF all Europe he re-
solved to send the treasure for safe keep
ing to America. Then, if France came out
ahead, he could send for it back; but if he
were worsted he could himself come here,
and either plot for return to power or
settle down permanently, as circumstances
| might determine. And this is where l ap-
pear in the story"
well, l am glad of that" remarked
| Olympia. 81 was afraid you had forgotten
yourself
Keppel related the story of his escape
from the railway wreck and subsequent
adventures, to all of which Olympia lis
tened with wide eyes and diligent cara. He
went on to tell her how he made the Jour-
ney to France, and had there purchased the
| estate of M. de Isle, and aged monarchist,
who was the last of his family, and who
died within couple of weeks of the max
ms of the bargain. Keppel had adopted the
name OF his new possessions, and had gone
to Paris, and found means to get presented
to Napoleon. Circumstances enabled him
to see great deal of the Emperor; the lat
ter conceived singular confidence in him,
and even, toward the end, an affection for
him. At length, when all was lost at Sc
dan, Keppel told the emperor the story of
the treasure and offered to restore it to him
and aid him in his escape to America. Ma
poleon had hesitated for moment, but then
shook his head. THAT treasure" he
said, "has been the curse of France for
near thousand years. Disaster followed
every French ruler who had to DO with it
disaster personal, il not also public My
uncle died in ST. Helena; am broken
man, dying of an incurable disease. I will
not transmit the curse to my son, who as
yet knows nothing of the secret Keep the
jewels yourself, and I hope that in your
ownership they may begin to do good in
stead of harm, l am glad that can die
with that load off my heartm
poor old l' said Olympia sympa-
thetically. And, after all how unreal
such treasure is! If it had been in houses
or lands, or industries, or even in bonds or
gold, it would have been something real and
reasonable; but jewels are only beautiful ::
to be thrown into the sea no one would lose
anything. 1t is wrong that beauty should
have money value. Diamonds and pearls
should be given for love, not bought and
sold Perhaps that is the explanation of
the curser'
II dare say it is-if curse there be"
said Keppel.
After pause she said, "You love me
more than anything, don't you?''
More than anything and everything"
III we ind that the money keeps US apart
we will get rid of it. for it will not be
worth keeping on such condition; but
if Ahw
She broke off with sudden and a con-
traction of the nerves; she caught Keppel's
arm in her hands end moved closer to him.
What is the matter, love" he ex-
claimed. what frightened youl"
THAT man-Garcia!n she whispered
Garcia! He is not here. Besides, what
can he''--
"He is near-somewhere-in the street
perhaps. 1 feel him. Ali" She shud-
dered again.
keppel drew aside the widow shade and
looked in the street. On the corner. about
thirty yards distant he recognized the
figure OF Garcia walking up the street. He
must have past the house at the moment of
Olympia's impression. She was now calm
again.
Perhaps it was only coincidence, ~
said Keppel to himself. But the episode
had startled him, and he did not forget it
CHAPTER XVI.
A WEDDIN KNELL.