Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-14

game the hotel people found to be en- tirely empty, to their great dismay-the vicomte had ensconced himself in an elegant suit of rooms and was lording 1t high over the admiring Americans. The fastest horses in Buncombe county were always at the command of this grace, and wild dashes over the noun tain and dale were the daily sport of Virginia Staunton and vicomte de Grenet. Virgie was one of those frolic- some, daring girls, always in for any thing and what you might term in the vernacular of the jeunesse doree dead game sport.
 "There was no mawkish sentimental ity about her nor the die away languor of charming incapacity assumed by wom- en of fashion She was a vigorous young woman, full of life and bubbling over with mirth and jollity. Her companion ship was delightful, and half the time you forgot that the handsome creature by your side was a woman, so intelli- gently and sensibly could she converse about things of masculine interest. Horses, dogs, hunting, fishing, every manner of sport was as fond and fa- miliar a subject with her as the latest style of Paris gown. The same cordial, hearty manner to all alike, no one could tell upon whom Miss Staunton looked with most favor. Although she rode and danced with him and scarcely appeared without the vicomte tagging along at her heels, it was evident that she did not regard the Frenchman in a senti- mental light In fact, it was we'll known that she had kicked him twice and always met his most importunate overtures with chilling courtesy.
 "Hc was the typical foreigner you sec at Bar Harbor, Narragansett and New port, where titled nincompOops do most congregate. He was shrewd and keen as a brier, with a machiavclian expression of countenance which seem- ed to Ee particularly charming to the women. I overheard one of them say once in discussion of which the vii comte was the subject: oh, he is just too fascinating for anythingl He is so deliciously wickedp That he really possessed this charming attribute no one can gainsay. Virginia regarded the foreigner more as pastime than as a beau or friend, always styling him her dear froggie. At times she was most freezingly distant when his presump- tion carried him too far, but with her mother it was very different She was thoroughly captivated by the vicomte and his very aristocratic bearing Per ceiying that he had made q most palpa- ble hit with the mother, he immediate ly proceeded to pet the COW in order to catch the calf. It was even talked about the hotel verandas that the inn pudent Frenchman had really address ed Mrs Staunton.
 "One day while out on one of their mad rides over the mountain Virgie was thrown from her horse and severe ly hurt. A messenger was dispatched to the hotel for help, and the uncon- scious girl was brought home on lit ter. The accident was never satisfac- torily explained, and I have always be- heved the designing scoundrel had pre- concerted the fall and its result. Upon hearing of the accident I hurried to Mrs Staunton's apartments to offer my | services and was very much surprised to find Grenet in attendance upon the injured girl. He was stepping over tho bed bathing her face and temples and was administering some drug. Mrs. Staunton hurriedly thanked me for the | offer of my professional services and | stated that the vicomte was a distin- | guished surgeon, and as he was already | ill attendance she would not wound his feelings by calling me in. He is so sensitive and feeling she added as left the room, that I could not have | the heart to offend him. That he was | physician have never for n moment l believed, and it has always been . source of self reproach that did not in- 1 terfere with the machinations of this incarnate fiend and scotch them in the | beginning. But I was a younger man then, lacking mature judgment and de- termination, and allowed the matter to ! pass.
 Virginia Staunton remained in . state of unconsciousness for 24 hours, and when she at last awoke it was with a burning fever and in wild delirium. For six long weeks this poor girl was racked with pain and suffering, fiuctu- ating between life and death, entirely at the mercy of Vicomte Grenet, who, besides her mother, was the only person permitted to see her. He was most at tentive, exerting himself both night and day. His usual gay and frivolous man. Ter was changed to the deep earnestness of q man playing for heavy stakes. He seemed to gain most singular and complete ascendancy over the mind of Mrs. Staunton. She willingly acquiesc- ed in all he proposed and was complete ly dominated by him. Of course the poor woman was wretchcd and misera
 ble, for her daughter was her idol, and the thought of losing her only child would bring on paroxysm after paroxysu of grief. During these hysterical at
 Jacks the viscomte would give the suf fering woman a concoction which had
 the effect of quieting the nerves, but
 weakened the mind. This arch fienG
 had discovered in some way a powerful
 drug, which, given continuously anC
 systematically, gradually softened tn,
 brain and destroyed the intellect. Tn,
 mysterious seclusion and secrecy witt
 which the whole thing was managed
 and the sudden development of Creme
 as physician naturally created gossip
 about the hotel and in fact throughout
 the city. Grenet claimed that Mis-
 Staunton's accident had resulted in {
 violent case of fever.
 At the expiration of six weeks sh,
 was said to be convalescent. One marvel
 ously lovely day in late September, as
 was standing upon the upper verandi
 of the hotel looking out over the sea O
 mountains which lay before me ant
 drinking in the beauty of the scene,
 heard sad and plaintive voice utte
 my name. Turning around, saw be
 fore me Virgie Staunton. Yes, it wa
 Virgie, but, oh, how changedi Drag
 ging her weary limbs along with pain
 ful effort. she approached me and ex tended her emaciated hand.
 ''As I looked into her face she triet to force a smile, but the attempt die'