Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-06
CHAPTER xxI11-(concluded.

OF, briefly.
"Swampscott, June q. 1887.
About noon OF the 18th OF June last, I
received an anonymous letter, which has
since been stolen from my writing desk,
warning me that an affair of great impor-
lance to my happiness was to be discussed
at my fathers house In Marlboro street
that evening. and advising me. II I valued
my future happiness, to be secretly present
and overhear the conversation.
Il had previously become suspicious that
everything was not right about the affairs
of my father and the man whom consid-
cred my husband; and could see no harm
to result from this means of obtaining in
formation. I entrusted nobody with the
contents Of that letter, but, resolved to ac-
cept the advice therein contained. took
my keys to the house 10 Marlboro street,
and late in the afternoon OF Thursday went
to Boston.
Il reached the house before seven o'clock,
md let myself in by the front door. A
little more than half an hour later heard
The noise OF the latch key. I was then on
the stafrs, near the floor above, and when
the door opened I very plainly heard the
voices Of my father and Mr.. Richard Fet-
ridge.
! am very sure. said my father, that
Thornton Is here. Or else he has been here
he went out
We must know before we begin busi-
ness returned Mr.. Fetridge. 7 agreed to
this place, you know, because there seemed
to be absolutely no danger of our being
overheard or interrupted. And Staokhouse
10 the very man OF all others whom wished
to avoid. 1s there no possibility that he has
been warned Of this conference?'
None returned my father 7 give you
my word Of honor, Mr.. Tetridge. that
have not mentioned q syllable Of this af-
fair to a living SOUL
"A1,d then heard them coming upstairs.
understood from what they said that
they Intended to search the house. ran
up a. lightly as could and locked myself
Into clothee-press in my own room.
They afterward came to the door Of my
room, but evidently had already concluded
that there was no intruder In the house.
When I was sure that they had gone
down again. stole from the room, and
took up position on the stairs between
the second and third floors. did not dare
to 60 any nearer, but as they were In the
library, the door of which was open, I
could hear plainly everything that was
said
II soon distinguished woman's voice.
and realized that she had been admitted
to this mysterious conference between
Richard FetridSe and my father. This was
the woman, I did not doubt, who had sent
me the anonymous letter, for did not see
how anybody else could be 1ware Of the
appointment at this house.
Richard Fetridge interrupted the
reading at this point by breaking a
paper ruler which he had been con-
vulsively twisting in his hands as If he
fancied his fingers were about the
%hrDa% - ~, n6..I>
Curse the woman!" he cried. Course
her! Curse her! She sacrificed me to
crafty her own cunning instinct of
revenge. She betrayed my confidence.
She was not satisfied with what prom
Used her. If had known that night
that she had dared to do it,"
'Humph!" said Thomas. "If man
enters into an alliance with such a
woman, what can he expect?"
Fetridge buried his face in his hands
and did not reply. The reading cor
tinued:
she was here, and what Richard Fetridge
had to say that he was afraid Thornton
stackhouse might overhear. The woman's
name was stated as Marie Moissot, though
1t was admitted that she was now living
under an alias 1t appeared from the con-
versation that she had accidentally dis
covered the identity Of Thornton Stack
house with the Albert Runyon for whom
she had long been searching, some weeks
before. and had only been prevented from
creating scandal by the Intervention Of
Richard Fetridge, who had pacifled her
by agreeing to effectually ruin him. II she
would consent to foreEo the malicious
pleasure Of involving the family In the dis
grace Of public scandal.
I'm this paper, whach I design to be
simple statement Of facts, do not wish to
parade my own .sufferinss or emotions.
But it is necessary to say that had never
loved my husband: that I had married
only because l became engaged to him in
moment OF foolish pique, and my pride
was too great to admit of my breaking that
engagement This imperious passion,
which had already wrecked my happiness,
was the hateful thing that was wounded,
outraged, stung to fury by the revelations
which now overheard. I saw that Marie
Moissot. with the natural suspicious of an
person. mistrusted Mr.. Fet-
ridges intention, perhaps his ability. to
hasten the complete downfall of Thornton
Stackhouse. and had, therefore, written
to me. 1t b only Of late that have thor
oughly realized how maiiciously shrewt
0hS Wdo III RESULTING ncT6elI tLdt i SnOulO
become acquainted with the facts.
And these are the revelations that made
my ears Jingle, my heart beat like trip
and my finger nails to indent
themselves into the palms Of my hands;
that filled me for the time with the in
stincts Of the murderess. and made my
blood boil with indignant hatred. Thorn
ton Stackhouse was the assumed name Of
an adyenturer, Albert Runyon, whose legal
wife and children were still living in New
Orleans, who had deserted them to go with
Marie Moissot, fascinating Creole, at that
time but 16 years old, TO Montreal, only to
desert her in turn, and to come at last to
ME!
This was the man for whom had
wrecked my life, broken two hearts, and
sealed the warrant Of my everlasting deg
radiation!
There Is no room for denial; no chance
for doubts. Everything that was present.
ed to my father was in the form Of docu-
ments. written evidence, sworn to and duly
witnessed. Richard Fetridge is lawyer,
and he had spent month in verifying
Marie Moissot's story.
Neither was there any room to doubt
that Albert Runyon in marrying me under
stood fully to what position he was re-
ducing me; for the evidence showed that
he continued even to this date to send his
wife monthly allowance for her support