Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-05-30
CHAPTER I.

My name IL Richard Pardon, and at
the time Of the tragedy, which will be
recorded y Its proper place, l resided
with my wife and only child, Eunice, at
Boscombe Lodge, Sevenoaks, an estate
Of shout twelve acres, the residence old
fashioned And roomy, and the pleasure
grounds around It charmingly laid out.
-Four female servants, a gardener ana
soachman did the work Of the house and
grounds In addition to these were Sam.
DEL Fleetwood and Mile. Rosalie Lenor.
nand.
It would not be correct to describe
Samuel Fleetwood as q servant. He
was altogether a superior man, and was
attached to me In a confidential capacity
Circumstances Of a peculiar nature had
made me acquainted with him some
years previous to his entering my house.
He was then married, and had gone
through great troubles and misfortunes
which had left him very poor. His wife
was In delicate health, and at more than
one critical juncture Mrs. Pardon and
stepped In to his aid. A ministering
angel indeed did my wife ever prove her
oelf to be In such cases as this; her
presence In the sick chamber was balm,
her smile sunshine, her gentle voice
Sfsathed peace. No man could more
Slxonsly appreciate the sympathetic aid
~ rendered In time Of need than Sam
0el Fleetwood; 1t stirred him to inner
most depths, and he was profoundly
grateful for 1t. My wife and I stood by
Mrs.. Tleetwood's deathbed, and almost
with her last breath she thanked Us for
the kindness we had shown to her and
her husband, and said that the sacrifice
- bis life would be but slight return.
speak for him % well as for my.
sslf," she said. He feels az do. He
viii be your faithful and devoted ser.
want" she said, family, ito the hour Of
bic DEATH"
Faithful and devoted indeed he was,
and trusted him 40 would have trust.
- brother.
1t 10 necessary, also, for q proper un.
dsrstanding Of my story, that I should
cay something here Of Mile. Lenormand,
governors, companion and lady's maid to
my dear daughter Euhice. This unusual
mlngling Of duties was Of Mile. Rosalie's
own arranging. She entered our service
a. soverness to perfect Eunice In mod.
ern languages. drawing and painting.
She was q fair lady, with languishins
blue eyes, with light hair and eyebrows
almost golden In color. My wife, al.
though she confessed she had not inQuir.
ID, said that she was about twenty-five
gears Of age. I am not good Judge Of
Q woman's age, and I took my wife's
word for II.
isn't she sweet. papar' asked Eu.
nice.
100 soon to pronounce" replied,
passing my hand fondly over Eunice's
hair, which was dark like my wife's.
Some few weeks aftcrward I asked
Eunice how she was getting on with
modern languages.
Papa" said Eunice. II don't think
Mile. Resale 10 very proficient In Ian.
:suases."
"Indeed, my dear" I said. smiling.
"But she paints beautifully, papa"
said Eunice. Here are some Of her
sketches"
examined them and was really SUR
prised at their excellence, and more sur.
pfised at tho subjects the artist had
ehosen. Moreover, they bore unmistal.
able evidence Of having been painted from
The life. I mentioned this incidentally to
Nunice. and she Immediately ran away!
and returned breathless.
"Oh, yes, papaw she cried-"from the
lie. ! asked her, and she said It was
the only way to produce good work."
The information decpened my surprise.
They were figure subjects; q duel, a
group Of merry monks, moonlight meet.
Ing Of lovers, gamblers In low cafe, and
such like. The execution was mastery,
but they were strange themes "from the
life" for a young lady.
Saying they were very clever, handed
the sketches back to Eunice. and from
that day set myself to closer observ.
ance Of Mile. Resale. allowed month
70 pass, and then l asked Eunics how
abe was getting along with her studies
IN painting.
"Not very well, papa" said Eunice
1--WE have hardly had one lesson-nOw I
think Of It, not even one. Mile. Rosalie
has taken quite dislike to painting; but
che dresses her hair beautifully"
! noticed then my daughters hair,
which indeed was beautifully dressed. A
charming, sweet-tempcred girl. eighteen
years Of age. Eunice from the Arst had
never wavsred In her praises Of Mile. j
Rosalie. But for this and the fondnsss
Of my wife for the so-called governess,
doubt whether she would have remain.
cd In my house for any length Of time.
Before she entered our service ! was
given to understand that she was French;
and I became convinced. from evidence
which she herself supplied. that she was
English. MademOiselle, therefore, being
converted into Miss. Resale might quite
% likely be Jane or Betsy, and Lenor-
mand Smith or Jones. Introducing her.
seH under false pretenses In respect to
her name and nationality. she must be
capable of other duplicities, and conse.
Quently an unfit companion to my dear
daughter. After some elaboration com.
municated my suspicious to my wife.
my DEAR" said my wife, gently,
"women are the best judges of women"
"Of wOmen's failings." said, correct.
Ing her out of my wisdom.
''Of wOmen's virtues also," said my
wife. "Consider. Richard; have you seen
anything In Mile. ROsalie's conduct Of
which You disapprove?"
did consider. and could fix upon moth.
Ing definite except the subject-matter
Of the pictures. ! spoke of this.
mile. Rosalie," said my wife, "has
explained all about them to me. She
6HG had hard life, Richard, and has
bsen compelled to turn her talent as an
artist to profitable account. It meant
bread and butter to her. The dealers
would purchase only certain subjects OF
her, drawn from low life, or, rather.
dear, from poorer life than ours. So,
Mile. Rosalie had no option. How CRATE