Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-23

rel-a certain incompatibility of senti-
ment that separated them"
1T is quite unnecessary for you to
say SOTO me-" said Lancelot
The count gave him quick glance
and froWned a little as he went on.
You are not well acquainted with the
world or you would know how neces-
Sary an assurance of that kind some
times is. Your mother, Mrs. Van
brugh, was a Pole-I do not know
whether you are aware of that fact?-
and | had the inestimable privilege Of
becoming acquainted with her when
she was Nine. Zavertal. She was a
woman of great gifts very beautiful,
very clever and charming of
o,rong political prejudices. Natural
enough on her part. Her parents had
suffered greatly from Russian despo-
tism-indeed, l have heard that her
mother was knouted to death in a
public square-and Nine. Zavertal
could not but be affected by such an
occurrence.
Naturally" said Lance, with a
shudder.
Just so. She found it better to
1--we in Paris than in her native land
and there she came across her com
patriots and aided them as much as
possible. Then she married-married
your father and was borne away to
free, happy England where your
father was the best envied man in
London-for a time. Then, then the
disagreement began. Political only,
my dear boy, not personal"
"Of course. | understand"
My friend, Roger, an officer in the
English army, was troubled and per-
picked by her conduct. Every Polish
or Russian refugee, however discredit-
able, was sure of a refuge at her house
and of help at her hands. Mrs. Van
bfugh was very generous and very
rich. At last there came a time when
Capt. Vanbrugh-he was captain then,
you know-felt that a line must be
drawn. He forbade her to help her
cCuntrymen further"
Forbade her to help them! Surely
not! There must be some mistake.
We'll" said the count, gently, q
put it too sWeepingly, perhaps. For
babe her to help the undeserving, |
should say. Especially one man who
was more of a desperate than Mrs.
Vanbrugh understood | believe he
had been guilty of some terrible crime:
but he was kinsman of your mothers
and she would not give him up. At
al hi
ton. Roger Vanbrugh knew this and
warned his wife that the house was
watched and that he himself could not
facilitate the mans escape; therefore
she had better not see him again. She
wanted to see this kinsman of hers:
and he came. But the police knew"
How did they know" asked Lance
lot.
A curious look stole into Rene de
Marsac's face. He smiled to himself
and blew few rings of smoke into
the air. who can tell?" he said,
gently. There are traitors in all
bodies of conspirators. The, police
We're told and Roger Vanbrugh was
told; and both burst in upon the scene
a the same moment; Mrs. Vanbrugh
was bidding the man farewell, when
her husband fell upon him; he was
naturally enraged and shook the fell
low like a dog until the police ,sepa-
rated them and then"
Yes said Lance, breathlessly, as
de Marsac paused.
What happened next is difficult to
relate. Young Leon, the criminal,
drew a revolver from his pocket and
deliberately blew out his brains before
them all. | was not there have
thanked heaven ever since that | was
not there" and shudder ran, in
voluntaryil through the mans whole
frame at the thought of it, "but / have
been told that she-Venetia, Mrs. Van
brugh-took up the revolver and
would have used it either against her
self or against her husband, had he
not wrenched it from her hands"
And then? Is that all?"
mo, not all. In the struggle, the
revolver went off and Venetia was
wounded For some time she lay be-
tween life and death; and your father
was arrested on a charge of unlaw-
fully wounding or something technical
of that kind"
"Ahr cried Lance, with a gasp. Now
he understood why the men at the
station had spoken of Roger Vanbrugh
as the man who shot his wife" And
was it not true?
He was acquitted -honorably &C
Quilted" said the count, in his quiet,
unimpassioned tones. But his wife
could not forgive him or he could not
forgive his wife-I don't quite know
how they phrased it-and they have
not lived together since"
He was acquitted"
''Oh, yes; no stain on his character
and SO on. In fact, he was congratu-
lated in court on his patriotism and
/ courage. He thought of throwing up
his commission, but was specially re-
quested not to do that, so he exchanged
and went to India and l don't think
he has visited England until now
Where was l? How long ago is
it?" said Lancelot, in a nluffied voice.
You were then about years old,
| believe, said the count. Your
father retained the guardianship; there
was a private arrangement between
him and your mother and she agreed
to give you up. l think she threw
in her lot with her foreign friends and
devoted herself to plots against the