Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-04
CHAPTER XIV.
A Packet of Old Letters.

"A dCACI "a O4u DStS0ASs
For more than an hour after the depart
ure of Idrts and Beatrice Lerelie remained
where they had left her She had sunk into
deep reverie, which, judged by the ex-
preston Of her face. was Of painful
character.
whence did Ivar obtain that vase?"
she murmured. He has always refused to
tell Take 1t, and ask no questions has
always been his answer. That urn,
she continued. repeating Idris.. words.
"formed part of the treasure that led to
a murder. Whoever gave you the urn was
either the assassin or obtained it through
the agency of the assassin. 1var gave IT
to me. but he was not the assassin. MOI
the deed was wrought by the hand OF one
who escaped from the wreck of the ldr1S
Let me read those letters again in the light
Of the new knowledge acquired today"
She rose, and from a drawer in cabinet
took packet of letters.
What would Idris Breakspear give to
read these she murmured. But the day
is not far distant when I must put them
into his hands; and then" she faltered
land then-how great will be his contempt
for mei''
Carrying the letters to the table she sat
down and united the thread that bound
them.
The first one was written in a woman S
hand; and the envelope containing it bore
the words, ITO my daughter Lorele."
Madame Rochefort had, when dying,
given this letter to Lorelie with the injunc-
ton that it was not to be read till after
it's writer had been laid in the grave.
Dearest Lorelie," it ran, sit may be that
the disclosure contained in this letter will
cause you to view the memory of your
mother with feelings of shame, If not of
contempt; but leave the judgment of my
conduct, or, If you should so term 1t, my
SIM to that higher tribunal before which l
now stand, and be not too quick to con-
denim, since no woman can rightly judge
me unless she herself has stood in a SIM
liar position to mine.
you will surmise by these words that I
have some strange confession to make, and
such in truth is the case.
You, my daughter, in common with the
rest of the world, have hitherto regarded
Eric Marvllle as murderer, and your
father, Noel Rochefort, as a man of STAIN
less honor. Learn now the truth that these
opinions must be reversed; it was your
father, and not Eric Marville, that MUIR
dered Henri Duchesne. And for twenty
years 1 have kept this guilty secret locked
within my breast, shielding my husband s
reputation to the injury Of another's
Let me tell the tale, and that in as few
words as possible, for it is a melancholy
Renaissance; why should l Iinger over it?
Il married your father In 1869.
During the first year of our welded life
we lived at Nantes your fathers regiment
having been stationed there,
Our circle of friends included. besides
others, the Englishman, Eric Marville: and
the Gascon. Henri Duchesne The latter,
some years before, had been a sutton for
my hand; and to my uneasiness 1 discov-
cred that though he himself was now
married, he had not abandoned his
passion for me- I remained deaf to his
t ~ Iees. Ihereupon his love turned
to hatred and, desirous of evoking
my husbands suspicion and jealousy,
ne mad the basenessi to boast among his
friends that t, he had found, in me an easy
eeonduest. though fun of secret fury your
Iather hesltated to send a challenge since
Duchesne was deadly with pistol and
sword: TO face him in duel was to face GER
tain death -'" " '--I
Your father was a Corsiean ana took a
Corsicans way of avenging himself
'One memorable summer night l was sit
ting alone in the upper room of our house.
which overlooked the Place Graslin, await
ing the return of your father from the
Armorique Club: The hour was late. All
was quiet in the square below 1 opened
the window and looked out upon the moon
lit night. A footstep upon the pavement
attracted my attention and stepping for
ward l looked downward over the rail OF
the veranda. Henri Duchesne was standing
below: he looked up, saw me and kissed his
hand. AT that moment, from the shadow of
fingers Immediately twined themselves
around Duchesne's throat. Though taken
by surprise he instantly recovered himself
and drew forth dagger, the recent gift, as
L
II tried to call for help, but found myself
dumb with horror. Mutely leaned against
the rail of the veranda watching the silent
and savage death grapple taking place be-
hands: a swift stroke and Duchesne lay
stretched upon the pavement.
1.-The whole affair did not last more than
a minute. recoiled from the veranda, cold
and trembling. Though / had not seen his
face l knew only too well who 1t was that
had wrought the deed.
II staggered to sofa and tainted
when I awoke your father was sitting
beside me-
cit was a dream I murmured
"It was no dream, Therese, but reality.
nor do l regret the deed. He sought your
dishonor He deserved to die. 1t was an
act of Justice
" Let US fly from Nantes before you are
discovered l said
"'Unwise! Stationed here with my regi-
ment, and living close to the scene of the
deed l dare not fly. Suspicion would fall
upon me at once
Next day we heard that Eric Marville
had been arrested for the murder. Have
no fear on his account said your father to
me. He did not corr nit the deed: how,
then, can they prove that he did,? The
trial drew nigh, and to my dismay l learned
that I, as being present in the house at the
time of the murder, was cited to give evil
| dence. Your father, anticipating every kind
of question that could be put, instructed me
what to say, and for many days continued
drilling me in the answers l was to give.
When the time came for to take my
place in court stood up and swore an oath
heaven forgive the falsehood!-that I was
asleep at the time of the murder and heard
nothing whatever of the scuff1e
1.-The trial ended: the prisoner was found
guilty and condemned to the gufllotine
Never shall forget Madame Marvilles cry
of agony when the sentence was pro-
nounced. How often in the dead of night
have 1 started from sleep with that cry
ringing in my ears!
From the tribunal / returned home
heart-broken by thee black wickedness OF
which had been guilty. If Marvile died
what was / but his nftirderess?
Noel l said, that same night you will
not let the innocent sufferer
"'What would you have me do? was his
reply. Walk to the .guillotine instead OF
him? Upon my wordIdyou are an affection
ate wife! - sedo
II shuddered for,SdI he spoke truth. !
could prove the 'iinnocence of Eric
Maryille only at the price of Noers death
"Was 1t for the wife to- bring her hus-
hand to the guillotine1 q
0 How I preserved my reason at this time
I do not know. 1t came somewhat as re-
lief to learn that Mafvlles sentence was
changed to Imprisonment for life.
"If you may not prove his innocence, l
said. there is one thing you can do for
him. Aid him to escape from prison to
some far-off land, where .dle may live in
happiness with his wife ana child
"'Ah! l might do that your father re-
-,<,I Ii