Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-28

ritlt ItONtC.
She was sobbing hclplessly upon his
shoulder, but as the moments passed
she grew more calm ana at last stood
upright from him. The younger WON.
an had come back into the room and
was watching her curiously.
"Comc. let us CO." said the girl.
But Royce held back.
"There has been n crime committed"
he said slowly. I'VE must sec that It
IL punished"
"A crime? Oh, yes: hut forgive
them. dear"
"Thc crime against yourself you may
forgive. but there was another crime
Murder'-
There was no murder" burst In
Cecilc Alix. II swear 1t TO you, mon
sicur DO YOU understands"
saw Miss Holiday vince ut the
others voice. and Royce saw 1t too.
~ must get her to the inn" hc said
"Stay and get the story. Lester. Then
we'll decide what il Is best TO do.
He led her away. ont Of the house
and down the path not once looking
back. watched them till the trees hid
them. and then turned to the women.
Now I said. Il shall be happy to
| near the story"
1T was that man yondcr who was
the cause Of it ALL" began the mother.
clasping her hands tightly in her lap
10 keep them still. -Four years ago he
came from Paris here to spend the
summcr-hc was YER i'll his heart
We had been living happily, my daugh-
ter and I. but for the one anxiety Of
her not marrying. He met her and
proposed marriage. He was YER good
he asked no dowry. and, besides. my
daughter WIS twenty-five years old
past her first youth. But she attracted
him. and they We're married. He took
her back to Paris. where he had little
theater. Il hall of the dance, but he
grew worse again and came back here.
Ii was then thai he found out that |
had another daughter. whom l had Civ
! en TO Il rich American. was YER
poor. monsieur she added piIeollsly.
Yes. madame. | know" | said.
touched 10y her emotion.
so he wrote to friends in Amerque
and made questions about NJ. HOlla-
day. He lcurnctloh. he learned that
he was YER rich; what you tail a man
Of millions ana that his daughter my
daughter. monsieur was living still
from that moment he was like Il man
possessed. At once he formed Ills plan,
building know not what hopes upon
it, He drilled MS for two years in
! speaking the English he took us for six
months TO I.ondrcs that we might bet
ter learn. Day after day we took our
lessons there. always and always Eng
fish. CcClc learned YER well. mon
sieur. but not so WELL as YOU can see
! was too Old Then at last we reached
New York. and my daughter this one
was sent to see NJ. Holiday. while
was directed that | write to Celeste.
to Mile. Holiday. She came that vcr
afternoon" she continued. land told
her that il was I who was her mother
lie was with me ana displayed to her
the papers of adoption. She could not
but be convinced. He talked TO her
as an angel 49, oh. he could seem one
when he chose: he told her that | was
in poverty: he made her to weep. which
WAS what he desired. She promised to
bring us money She was YER good
My heart went ont to her. Then. just
as she had arisen to start homeward
in Ceclle came, crying. Sohbing. stain.
ed with blood"
She ~h,lddcrrd aud claspcd her hands
before her eyes.
But you have said it was not muir
der. madame" | said to the younger
woman.
Nor was it, she cried Let me
tell you. monsieur. | reached the great
building. which my husband had al
ready pointed out to me. ! went Up
in the lift: entered the office. h,t saw
no one. I went on through an open
door and saw an old man sitting at Il
desk. inquired if Mr. Holiday was
there. The old man glanced at me and
bowed toward another door. saw II
was a private office and entered it,
The door swung shut behind mo. There
was another old man sitting at a desk
sharpening pencil"
"1s II yon Frances" he asked.
Ono said. stepping before him.
1T is her sister. NJ. Holiday"
"io stared up at mo With such look
Of dismay and anger on his face that
! was fairly frightened; then. in the
same instant. before ! could draw
breath. before I cOllll say another