The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-08
Missouri Widow Robs Brother
and Becomes a Convict.
TO Be CLOSE To man She LOVES
0ciavla GersouH Gives No Reason for Con-
duct, but Smiles InscTuiIahIy When Dues
tlonad-- d--Bruther-In-Lsx a Conhc.

St Louis, Oct. s.--A woman Of this city
looks at a two years sentence in the peni-
tentiary-and smiles.
She courts her fate. she approaches the
dark portals of Jefferson City as a bride
approaches the altar. To her that white
walled tomb. in which men and women
are immured for grave crimes or petty
Is like the Celestial City-a place 10 be
sspired to, 10 dream about, TO long fora
place OF happiness.
Indeed. there is no doubt that sine de-
liberately committed a useless and un-
necessary crime for no other purpose
than TO get into IL. Why?
Octavia Gereoux was the prettiest girl
in Florissant Mo. She Is tall and slight
and has sharp but well moulded features.
Her brown eyes captivated many a
youthful swain. Her jet black hair en-
tangled many a heart. But she found
no one In the little town on whom 10 la
wish the wealth OF her affection; or. II
she foana one. she was too proud 70 let
out the secret.
SMILED INSCRUTABLY.
When her older sister married William
Higgins, her schoolmate. she smiled in
scrutably and wished them all happiness.
She married very quickly after that and
left her native place. The curtain has
not been raised on that marriage,
whether IL was happy or miserable.
i, lasted but two years and then, two
years ago, he's husband died and Octavia,
Mrs. Aubuchon. came back TO Florissant
more beautiful than ever
Suitors fiocked 10 her side again. But
she had no favorable answer for any OF
them. She lived her life quietly In the
old Gereoux house. hiding the secret OF
her soul from the gaze OF all Even her
sister never dreamed Of its existence.
IL was a crime which unlocked the door
TO her skeleton closet. Her brother was
killed about a month ago after quarrel
with William Higgins the man she loves.
Gereoux visited higgins at his home.
After a quarrel Higgins left the place in
anger. Half an hour later. as Charles
-GeEeeux- leaving by a FEAR deer he
was struck down and killed with an axe.
A TWO YEARS SENTENCE.
Higgins, arrested, confessed. but claim
ed that he killed his brother-in-law while
under the impression that he had a dead
ly weapon. He was Convicted of man
slaughter, but in the circumstances was
only sentenced to two years In the PEN
ttenfiary.
Then happened the inexplicable. Octav-
"a stole Sis belonging TO her brother Ed
ward. She had money OF her own and did
not need the stolen wealth The thing
was done so bunglingly that it was easily
traced to her.
The night following she was arrested at
the Relay depot In East st. Louis She
laughed when the officer laid his hand
upon her shoulder. Her brown eyes, which
had captivated so many men, cleaned
with q strange triumph.
Yes, i stole the money. II is all gone
but s79.. Send me to the penitentiary,'
she said.
They took her to Clayton Jail. and the
Jury quickly answered her request But
never for an instant has her demeanor
changed.
'rm sorry I had to do IT, Ed" she
said when her brother. whom she had
Wronged, visited her. But II was the
only way TO accomplish my dearest wish.
What was that? oh, that is telling" For
she will not divulge the reason why she
Is 20 anxious to spend two years within
the same walls as the slayer OF her broth
or. whom she loved
SHE WILL NOT TELL.
Now comes the mystery. Since her con-
viction II has transpired that on August
~ Octavia married a George IL. Anderson.
Who he is, where he is, no one can find
out. She will not tell. She shakes her
head and laughs when questioned.
Rather than divulge my husband s
whereabouts l would go 10 prison for
life," she says with that inscrutable look
in her dark eyes.
Why does she want TO get into pris-
on? IL II TO be inside the same white
walls as Higgins-the man she loves
Many believe IL. But what part does An
leerson play in the drama?
Is he a mere cloak with which to hide
. secret which she has carried so long
No one In all the world knows but she
and she will never tell And yet II Il
ghid a woman cannot keep a secret