Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-06-11


Leon Zavertal?" she repeated,
dreamily. "He was not an English
man. r.
mo. he was Pole
For the first time Madelin- felt a
thrill OF mingled pain and pleasure.
Was not Lancelot also OF Polish origin?
How strange that they should both be
of the same race!
Tell me more" she said, with sud-
den eagerness. did you know him
well?"
"No, not we'll" Despard lowered his
eyes. "He was an exile from his native
land-exiled for conspiracy OF course
and the police were generally on his
track. I knew him through De Mar
sac"
de Marsac?"
"But he wasn't OF De Marsac's kind
at ALL" said Despard, hurriedly. He
was an enthusiast fanatic, Of the
purest life and, in spite of his nihilist
plots, the kindest heart. IL liked
Leon Zayertal am sure never
meant to do him any harm"
What harm did you do him." said
Madeline, with dilated eyes.
Oscar Despard WINGED and fidgeted
with hands and feet.
well, it was not my doing; 1t was
De Marsac. 1t was he who told me 1:
you see, Leon was tracked by the police
and he was on the point of escaping +"
And you betrayed him?" said Made
line, swiftly For her life she could
not keep the stern condemnation out of
her voice and eyes.
1T was De Marsac," said the miser-
able man, cringing beneath her gaze.
"He made me give information-he
discovered where Leon was to be found
and told me. There was a price set
on his head"
And you told the police? Let me
hear everything now
Eyes. told the police, said Despard
suddenly. He had gone to his sisters
house to say goodbye, when they took
him. l supposed if he had been re-
captured he would have been put to
death. But"
but what? Was he not recaptured?
Did he escape? Oh, do hope he es-
capped"
Despard looked away. He es-
capped, he said, doggedly.
"Then where did he go? Was it then
that he left me with you? Is he alive
now
NO. he is not alive now, Madeline;
don ask questions.
Father will still call you by that
name-tell me what became of him?
will not reproach you, / will not be
unkind Only tell me the truth
She cane over to his side and put
her hand on his arm in the old caress-
ing way. but there was an agony OF
reproach and sadness in her eyes.
Tell me" she said, and | will say
nothing more"
Il could not help It. said Oscar Des
pard, trying to exculpate himself Il
never thought we should find him there
and | hoped he would get away, but
when he saw us-the police and two or
three men whom he knew-.he just
pulled out pistol. put il to his temple
and shot himself there and then. 1t
was as great a shock to me as to his
sister or any one, | assure you, Made
line. | never thought ttat he would
commit suicide.
my poor father said Madeline,
thinking of Leon Za,ertal
"There was a great confusion Des-
pard went on, emboldened by the ex-
clamation which he took to refer TO
himself, "and in the midst Of it all
got away. was horrified-oyer-
whelmed In the depths of my remorse
/ remembered that had seen his child
at some rooms that he used to occupy
and resolved to make inquiries. |
went to the rooms-I found you, Made
line. little child, in a miserable attic
| offered to take charge of you and |
bore YOU away-in eXpiation OF my
crime"
would not my fathers sister have
taken care of me II you had left me TO
herr" demanded Madeline.
Child. you have no heart Do you
not see that wished to take the bur-
den of your support upon myself2"
tone, that you might the more easily
defraud Gen. Armstrong and Lady Es-
Ter by making them believe me the
child of your first wife"
Oscar Despard began actually to
whimper. He put his handkerchief to
his eyes. You do not understand my
motives he said. You have no SYM
pathy. l meant to do my best for poor
Icons child by putting her in the place
my own little daughter would have
had. Otherwise, where world you have
been now"
with nv fathers sister, perhaps,
whoever she may have been" said Ma
define rs she still living?"
81 do not know" Despard answered
sulkly, land If | lid | am not sure
that would tell you. have told you
enough. What gratitude do I get?"
"Gratituder Madeline CALCULATED.
af1b fafharf'tit vas almost tho last