The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1904-01-29
The Expiation
How Jeanne's Vanity
Proved Her Undoing.

NOU say there is no such thing
as everlasting justice. and that
no revenge is executed more terribly
upon those who have wrOnged us. than
the revenge they carry upon them
selves? What know you of it? Let
me assure you that destiny often ex-
tesss her hand against the guilty one
and intiictS chastisement which sur
passes our most ferocious desires.
So spoke Roger Valtet. who for
some time. had listened silently to our
discussions without taking any part
in them whatever. and, in view of his
great age. we did not contradict him.
You are incredulous?" he asked.
"Well let me convince you by relating
a story which is my own. and re-
garding which l have always remained
silent. Now that years have rolled
by. | can speak without fear of open
ing the wound of a deeply lacerated
heart.
"You all believe me an impenitent
celibate Nevertheless, | have been
married | was no longer young when,
through love, | took in marriage a
stranger who brought me only her mar
velous beauty as a dowry. | was in re-
ceipt of a small income, my station in
life was fair, and as l had no family re-
lations, it appeared to me that legiti-
mate companion would ennoble my life.
To be precise, however, [ made this re-
Election only after having met in a
friendly salon a charming niece OF the
master of the house, recently arrived
from Rouen, who, | was told, was an or
phan, very poor. and in search OF re-
munerative employment. | was indlg-
nant at the thought that such beau
tiful girl should find it necessary to
work in order to live; she was born to
receive homage and dictate her caprices.
| declared my views to her. Her smile
was deIiciously sad. The charm Of her
answer was enhanced by her soft accent.
| became an assiduouS caller at the
house of my friends. They perceived
before / did that | had fallen in love
with Dele Jeanne, and aided my cause
surreptitiously. Through their good Of
fees we became shortly afflanced; and
when we were married | was more her
slave than her husband But the slav-
cry was delightful!
Jeanne loved luxury. My modest
revenue was Insufficient TO meet her
needs I became ingenious in my de-
sire to satisfy her, and racked my intel
igence for new resources to make mon
ey. At the price of eXhauSting work, |
realized large sums of money. In this
manner she was enabled to have mag
nificent dresses, which rendered her
more beautiful than ever. She thanked
me for my labor with kisses and fiat
terry. | was using my vigOr in a killing
labor. The reflection in the mirror
showed me a tired face prematurely
worn out At my side Jeanne appeared
a perfect creature, the young sultana Of
nv adOlescent dreams. | told her so.
and also that l was old and ugly, and
asked her pardon for having associated
her juvenile grace with my senility.
Speaking thus | exaggerated, but she
would close my mouth with her little
hand laughingly kiss my eyes and an
swer: You are young and handsome,
since you are so intelligent, and l love
YOU And I believed it, My confidence
In her was abSolute-her glance was so
clear and frank.
Il felt that she was so entirely mine
that the idea of suspecting her never
entered my head; l did not even dream
of being jealous. Still, from time to
time. her absence was strange. II |
questioned her, she would excuse her
self by saying that she had been wan
dering about Paris thinking deeply Of
her childhood in her country home. And
still believed her.
For distraction, would take her to
the theater. I knew not which pleased
her more, the scene on the stage before
her, or the admiration she received
from the spectators: These occasions Of
fered her an opportunity to show off her
Jewels, of which she was passionately
fond. Jewels! l had bought her many,
and the contents of her casket had cost
me small fortune. But she always
craved for more original designs, and
she would coax me so gently that ]
would manage somehow to secure them
for her.
ION one occasion, however, I was
forced to refuse. In the window Of q
ieweIer. a chain made of gold and or
namented with valuable diamond pen
6ant. had attracted her. With the end
of her finger she pointed it out to me,
Il want that chain,' said she. | made
her to listen to reason. My stock of ready