The herald., 1894-09-08

At the expiration OF SIX weeks sne
wassAid to be convalescent. One marvel
ously lovely DAY in late September, as /
was standing upon the upper veranda
of the hotel looking out over the sea Of
mountains which lay before me and
drinking in the beauty of tho scene, i
heard sad and plaintive voice utter
my name. Turning around, saw be-
fcro me Virgie Staunton. Yes, it was
Virgie, but, oh, how changedl Drag
ging her weary limbs along with pain
full effort, she approached me and ex-
tended her emaciated hand.
GAS looked into her face she tried
to force smile, but the attempt died
away on her colorless lips. In the once
beautiful eyes there was dull, listless
filter which at times assumed mani
acal expression. Dropping heavily into
proffered chair, she essayed to talk, but
her conversation was rambling and dis
jointed. Her mind seemed seriously inn
paired. In few minutes Mrs. Staunton
appeared, and shortly afterward Gre
net joined us. In his villainous black
eyes ! thought there CLEANED tri-
umphant smile as he doffed his hat and
exclaimed: Bon jour, mesdames ct
messieuri hope zat me leetle patient
ees ware we'll dis morning
Mrs. Staunton took this occasion to
inform me that upon her daughters
complete recovery she would become
Viscountess Grenet Somehow my mind
seemed prepared for the statement, and
was not in the least surprised. This
singular man had become completely
dominant over the mind and action of
the mother, and the daughter had
seemingly lost all will of her own. In
few days Mrs. Staunton left for the
north, her object being to purchase Vir-
ginia's trousseau. 1t was well under.
stood that an international marriage
would take place upon her return. AS
soon as she had gone the Frenchman,
possibly fearing some unexpected de-
nouement, urged the performance Of a
hurried ceremony, to which the poor
girl, in her enfeebled state of mind, Of
fered no resistance, and he spirited her
away.
'The marriage was performed in sa-
cret, only priest and the necessary wit
nesses being present. The couple had
been gone 36 hours before they were
missed. The vulgar precipitation of the
ceremony, its profound secrecy and the
clandestine departure very naturally
aroused suspicious of foul play, and
more speculation was indulged in by
this guests .Gf the hotel. Inquiry was
made, and it was found that Grenet had
at different times obtained very power
full and mischievous drugs at a certain
pharmacy. These drugs could not pos
sibly have been used for any good pur-
pose in Virginia Staunton's S case
1.-THE discovery of the fact that such
medicines were in the Frenchman's s pos
session Immediately explained to me
the cause of Virgie's alteration of mind
I had been fool enough to think it due
to the violence Of her fall from the run
ming horse and the fever which was
consequent. The scoundrel's scheme
now became quite apparent. Finding it
impossible to win the girl by fair
means, he had resorted to foul Con-
triving to bring about the accident
which stunned her, he imposed upon
the mother the belief that he was ma
val surgeon and thus secured the oppor-
tunity Of administering his poisons.
The whole thing was now clear to me.
Why had been 80 confoundedly stupid
not to see it before?
Immediate wires to Mrs. Staunton
in New York city and Philadelphia
brought no response. Valuable time was
being lost, and Vicomte de Grenet was
meanwhile speeding ON with his help.
less victim to nobody knew where.
Three days after the comte's departure
news came that Mrs. Staunton had been
found dead in her berth between Wash
ington and Philadelphia, cause of death
supposed to be an overdose of morphine
The body of the i'll fated woman was
held awaiting directions, The suspicion
Of murder was now added to that of
malpractice and abduction, and the case
was Immediately put into the hands Of
the authorities Knowing the Stauntons
as well as did and being aware that
the only relatives Of the family were
very distant ones, living somewhere in
the far northwest, felt it my duty to
. go north and superintend the funeral
rites of the dead woman. You may well
suppose that it was with sad heart and
many self reproaches that looked upon
the cold face of my kind and good
friend. felt that by my confounded
stupidity and inactivity was in way
responsible for her death. I resolved
then and there to rescue her innocent
daughter and hound the villain down,
cost what it might.
1.-THE purpose of that resolve remains
unaccomplished. Years have elapsed
since Vicomte de Grenet absconded from
Asheville, carrying with him an imbe-
cile girl whose intellect he had willful-
ly destroyed. The villain is still at large
and will probably never be found unless
some Nemesis in the shape of retribu-
tive justice claims him for her own.
The skillful service of an army of trained
detectives has failed to unearth his
whereabouts, and after the expenditure
of thousands his pursuers are no wiser
than before Having traced him to
Paris, where he carried his stolen bride,
his identity was lost. The inquest held
over Mrs Staunton decided that her
death was caused by some powerful
drug placed in her hands by an un-
known person, with mischievous in
rant Tbot (S.-o,,at intended ho~ 1aa+t,