Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-07-03
CHAPTER XI.

1t is not necessary to detail how we
finally succeeded, after five days OF
hard labor, under the direction of a
physician, in getting old Jaques to un-
derstand what we wanted to know,
namely, whether his nephew, Paul La
croix, had visited him on the night of
the 18th OF March, 1852. We did sue
ceed, however, in not only getting him
to understand, but in obtaining indis-
putable evidence. Mr.. Lacroix had
stopped at the cottage that night and
had left for the Jaques a package of
Paris papers bearing dates from the
10th to the 10Th of the month and a
statement to this effect was signed by
the old man, who had sufficiently recov-
cred the use OF his right arm to sign
his name legibly.
The anxiety and excitement of those
five days had been so great for me that
for some little time l was almost pros
trated. l need scarce say that l was
much encouraged by our success with
Jaques 4 had the papers with his
signed declaration, witnessed, OF course,
by Birley and myself, securely locked
away in my desk. This should have
stimulated me to immediate further
action, and, l have no doubt. would
have, had not been still eaten up with
anxiety about Louise. What if the
hope l cherished as the end of all this
the hope of taking her from the fears
and dangers that hung about her, of
having her as my very own, my wife
-whta if this hope was being banked
while l was thus busy? The mere
thought of such a contingency was
enough to bring my fabric of careful
evidence regarding the Lacroix mystery
to nought. If | could only discover
where she wasl-and that she still
thought OF me, as fondly believed she
had done little while she was yet in
Timperley refused to yield to
the cajoleries and threats of Steinhaidt,
and hoped l would deliver her. But |
had no news, and l was devoured with
anxiety.
No news-except the confirmation
from Birley that she was not with Mrs
Steinhardt. He had written to his
sister inquiring about Louise, and had
been answered to that effect; Mrs.
Steinhardt had reason for supposing
she was in Blackpool, but at what ad.
dress she could not say.
l entreated Birley to go to BlackpooI
to endeavor to find out, if he could
spare the time. But he needed no en-
treaty, for he himself was also becom.
ing anxious about her.
81 nun spare the time,' said he
"and l nun go and find her. It's, OF
course, no use asking Manuel where
she is"
But before he had arranged to SET
out, something occurred which obviated
the necessity of going, and produced re-
suits of more remarkable Sort and
this l must proceed to relate.
AS have already indicated, my ex.
perience of the way in which such evi
dence as had regarding Lacroix's fate
had rather come to me than been founc
by me tended to make me what l may
call ga waiter upon Providence"
conceived-I may say l was convinced
Il should best attain further result
by keeping myself open to evidenc,
more than by ranging about and rack
ing my brain in search of it. All feal
being at rest that our experiment upor
old Jaques might have fatal or un
toward results (he was now more aler
than ever, and frequently asked, il
writing for "the girl''), l had betaker
myself to former habit, and every
day almost went into town to the fret
library to read. Sometimes / read {
book, and sometimes the newspapers.
I was thus occupied one Afternoon
with The Times. turned with curl