The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-08-08

concerted the fall and its result. Upon
hearing of the accident 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 STOPPING over the
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
in attendance she would not wound his
feelings by calling me in. He is so
sensitive and feeling she added as !
left the room, that l could not have
the heart to offend him.. That he was
a physician have never for a moment
believed, and it has always been a
source of self reproach that did not in
terfere with the Vaccinations of this
incarnate fiend and scotch them in the
beginning. But was younger man
then, lacking mature judgment and de-
| termination, and allowed the matter to
| pass.
Virginia Staunton remained in a
state of Inconsistencies for "a hours,
and when she at last awoke it was with
burning fever and in wild delirium
For six long weeks this poor girl was
racked with pain and suffering, fuctu-
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.
ner was changed to the deep earnestness
of man playing for heavy stakes He
seemed to gain a most singular and
complete ascendancy over the mind Of
Mrs Staunton. She willingly acquiesc-
cd in all he proposed and was complete
y dominated by him. Of course the
poor woman was wretched and misera-
BILE, for her daughter was her idol, and
the thought of losing her only child
would bring on paroxysm after paroxysm
of grief. During these hysterical at
tacks the viscomte would give the suf-
fering woman a concoction which had
the effect Of quieting the nerves, but
weakened the mind This arch fend
had discovered in some way a powerful
drug, which, given continuously and
Systematically, gradually softened the
brain and destroyed the intellect. The
mysterious secluslon and secrecy with
which the whole thing was managed
and the sudden development Of Grenet
as physician naturally created gossip
about the hotel and in fact throughout
the city. Grenet claimed that Miss
Staunton's accident had resulted in
violent case of fever.
cat the expiration of six weeks she
was said 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 the scene, l
heard sad and plaintive voice utter
my name. Turning around, saw be-
fore me Virgie Staunton. Yes, it was
Virgie, but, oh, how changed! Drag
ging her weary limbs along with pain
full effort, she approached me and ex-
tended her emaciated hand
GAS I looked into her face she tried
to force a smile, but the attempt died
away on her colorless lips. In the once
beautiful eyes there was dull, listless
filter which at times assumed a mani
acal expression. Dropping heavily into
proffered chair, she essayed to talk, but
her conversation was rambling and dis
| jointed. Her mind seemed seriously i'm
paired. In few minutes Mrs. Staunton
appeared, and shortly afterward Gre
net Joined us. In his villainous black
eyes l thought there cleaned tri-
umphant smile as he dotted his hat and
exclaimed: Bon jour, mesdames ct
messieur! I hope Eat me leetle patient
ees ware well 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 we'll 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 Sc
cret, only priest and the necessary wit
nesses being present. The couple had
been gone So 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 INDUCED in by
the guests of the hotel Inquiry was
made, and it was found that Grenet had
at different times obtained very power
full and mischievous drugs at certain
pharmacy. These drugs could not pos
sibly have been used for any good pur-
pose in Virginia Staunton' s case.
1.-THE discovery of the fact that such
medicines were in the Frenchman's pos
session Immediately explained to me
the cause of Virgie's alteration of mind
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