Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-13


ent of the child before him. His suit
had not been successful, and for love of
that woman he had remained bachelor
all his days Now he could see chang
ing expressions in this young face,
which reminded him Of both those WON
en- who had been dear to him. Without
a word he drew her toward him, and
kissed her once. Then he arose, still
holding her hand, and led her toward
the door of the next room; there he
kissed her once more, this time on the
forehead, and then bade her wait, shut
ting the door after she left him. Then,
turning with fury in his heart and re-
pressed passion in his voice, he exclaim-
ed:
"Mr. Mitchell, either you are. the
most contemplate villain on the face OF
this earth, or else there is some hideous
mistake here. Explain it, man! must
know at oncep'
"Must, Mr.. Neuilly, is word that
seldom obey. But I know how you have
suffered, and have 10 desire to prolong
this interview moment more than is
absolutely necessary. First, however,
must understand the situation. What do
You and Mr.. Barnes here think it to be"
"I will explain briefly" said the de-
tective. provided your wife will with
draw"
"My wife is now part Of myself,
said Mr.. Mitchell, proudly placing an
arm around her as she stood beside
him. "You need not hesitate to speak.
She has promised to share my life with
me, to take me as am. She will begin
the task at oncs. Go on"
$50 be it. I know now that Rose
Mitchell, who was murdered, was known
in New Orleans as Rose Montalbon,
and that she was your wife have also
discovered that you deceived young
creole, the mother of that child who has
Just left us; that when you deserted
her she died broken hearted, while you
allowed the Montalbon woman to take
the girl and pass it off as her own,
though later she was kidnapped by you
The woman suspected that you would
wish to marry again and swore to pre-
vent it. Her appearance upon the scene
Just as you were to become husband
must have been menace to you. Do
you see the point? Murders have been
committed with less motive. think,
therefore, that I have sufficient evidence
upon which to arrest you"
"You might arrest me upon less evil
dence," said Mr.. Mitchell 1T is done
every day. But to convict mey you would
have to prove all this"
Chow do you know that I cannot
prove it?'
"For the very simple reason that your
facts are all wrong"
every good, Mr.. Mitchell, but You
will have to prove that
81 am fully prepared to do 80. To
begin with, according to your story,
abducted this child. There you are only
partly right. I did take her away from
the Montalbon, and L did it, as you
might say, by stealth and force But
had the fullest right to do So"
"You admit, then, that you are her
father?"
"On the contrary, deny it, and
there is the weak point in your story.
Your argument all depends upon my
having been guilty of wronging that
girls mother and the Montalbon's hav-
ing me in her power. In point of fact,
am not her father, and the Montalbon
had but slim chance to blackmail me. "
"But you admitted to me that you al
lowed her to do SO; that you gave her
large amount in jewels. "
"Tbat is true. yet did not submit
to blackmail.
"Mr. Mitchell. I seldom forget
mans words. You told me that day in
the vaults that you we're in the woman's
power; that she could ventilate certain
scandals which might break your en-
gagement Yet now you say you were
not in her power and that you did not
submit to blackmaiL How can you ex-
plain such conflicting statements?"
"Two conflicting statements may both
be true, provided lapse Of time occurs
between them. When I admitted that l
had been in the power Of that woman,
I thought so; therefore spoke the truth.
When I say now that was not, I also
speak truly. In the interval I have
learned to appreciate the character of
the woman who is now my wife. That
is all. know now that the Montalbon's
story, blazoned forth to the world,
would not have affected her faith in
me if T had told her my own version"
"For heavens sake, gentlemen" in
terrupted MIR. Neuilly, "stop this argu-
ment and get down to the facts. I am
impatient to know the truth.
eyes, Roy" said Emily. "Why not
simply tell the story as narrative, and
let the whole truth be known?"
"That is what mean to do. have
only been enjoying little sparring
with Mr.. Barnes. But it is cruel to Mr..
Neuilly, who, hope, will pardon ME.
To begin at the beginning, I must 90
back to my youth in New Orleans. l
was in love with beautiful young girl. "
Here he pressed his wife's hand, and she
returned it, as though to say that she
understood. II think I need not men"
tion the name of Roses mother, MIR.
1rno lxyl