The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-03
THE CRIPPLE.

The Cripple" was once one Of the
merriest and most dashing fellows about
Paris. Ho was In the ministry of public
works but although in splendid position
he was most unaffected man, without q
trace Of pride In his composition. He wa.
thoroughly good hearted, jolly fellow.
was therefore, as you will imagine, in
tensely sorry to see him fall hopelcssly IL
love with u beautiful young girl, who wa.
mixed up with one Of the quecrest set.
about town. Her brother had long since
marked out as quiet but dangerous an.
archist, and the girl herself was being
courted by man whom l knew to be ring
leader Of these deaperadoes. You see, J
had been giving special attention to thai
sort Of gentry and was only waiting my
opportunity to pounce upon this particu-
lar one.
So said again 1t was with more than
regret that saw Emile About succumb to
the destinations of Marie Durand. At
that time / did not know her. I knew
that she was the image of her brother in
feature-so much SO that to this day be-
love they wore Withstand l suppose that
led to the inference that she resembled him
In creed and was only less dangerous be
cause q woman.
warned Emile of his folly, but OF
course knew beforehand that it would
be useless l did it, ms ono often will do
such things, In order that might feel /
had done my duty by him. He seemed to
revel in the delight of rousing his rival s
jealousy to the point of madness.
The girl positively hated Dumbovotsk,
her dark browed admircr, in spite of his
handsome figure, splendid bearing and un-
doubted authority over his fellows. 1t
was q new thing for Dumbovotsk to meet
with open dislike, and he set himself with
all the bulldog determination Of his tact
turn nature to compel Marie's affection
When, however he saw that Emile had
not only entered upon similar campaign,
but had actually carried at the first storm
ing the citadel that had so strongly held
out against him, he was beside himself
with rage and modification.
1t was with the merricst Jokes and laugh.
ter that Emile told ne of the progress OF
his own lovemaking and the accompany.
ing growth of his rival fierce hatred lie
was such fearless careless fellow that
he openly enjoyed tormcnting and dcfying
Dumbovotsk whom others were afraid to
annoy-cven secretly. -. ...
| thought that harm would certainly
come Of 1t, and times out Of number ]
warned him Of the risk he was running,
but he always put me off with a laugh
| For most Of the subsequent details OF
the story / was indebted to himself and
my own subsequent Investigations, as ]
must confess that on this occasion the an
archists had completely outwitted nc
! Marie had for some little while past been
very much distressed by her brother
strangely prcoccupicd mir. For days she
had been unable to get anything more than
monosyllablcs from him. He seemed to
think Of nothing but some secret, hnrss-
ing trouble. Every one remarked how i'll
he looked. Several times Marie had art
fully invited his confidence, hut no had Il
quiet though settled determination IL
hide everything from her. She knew Just
enough Of her brothers. associates ana
their aims to make hcrl0ng that lie shoulG
cast them off for over But she dared not
openly suggest this to him.
| Soon this particular day, when although.
he seemed to be worse than ever, he cx
pressed II determined resolve to go out H.
the evening, she, womanlikc swiftly dc
cidcd upon u plan of action. Her suspi
cions had begun to assume horrible and
definite shape She was resolved to find
out everything.
] In his tea that afternoon Ernest uncon.
sclously swallowed sleeping draft, which
his sister calculated would amply make
up the arrears of rest that he had been re.
Gently accommodating. .
Her plan had been suggested to her one
evening when she was tending him as he
| To ,l..lt, T., L
she heard him say, "Le mort est roi, " and
from his repetition of this phrase she
swiftly concluded that It must be tho pass.
word Of the gang. Then occurred to hci
the daring project of pcrsonating her
brother. Having assured herself that hcl
brother was now thoroughly asleep from
the effects of the strong potion, sh,
quickly assumed his clothes and then
made her way to the conspirators' rcndez
yous Reaching her destination, she found
that she was the first to arrive. With I
trembling lip she whispered lie mort as;
or to the old man who opened the door.
| md Immediately she was led to the coun
| Il room She thought the old man cycO
| Ter pitifully as he conducted her to the
lark and wrctGhod looking chamber In
which she was to play her daring part.
| Presently the others began to arrive on,
| by ono in quick succession until about %
Of the most desperate rutflans unhunE
were assembled round the little fireplace.
| Nobody addressed Marie. Indeed they
seemed by common consent to hold aluof
/ from her At first she Thought they had
discovered her disguise, but soon became
confident that there was other cause for
their avoidance. a thousand anxious fears
kept her mind in turmoil, and it required
all her heroic self control to enable her t.
play her role that evening. Had Ernest
proved a trnitor to his comrades, and was
this the meeting of the Judges to pass sen.
tencep What was to he his fate, and when