The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-11-24
A Wife's Revenge
tOriginal.l


Desmoulns and Alphonsc Catcrct, both
living In Dijon, France, were bosom
friends. Caterct proposed marriage to
young girl, Louise Plancon, but his
suit was rejected. Louise secretly
loved his friend Dcsmoulins, and in the
course of time Dcsmoulins married her.
He was so devoted to Catcrct that Lou
isc thought it best not to tell him that
AlphonSc had once sought her hand.
and since AlDhonse never told him he
was in ignorance of the fact.
Ten years passed. CatcrCt had gone
TO Paris to live soon after his friends
marriage, the Dcsmoulinses following
later. Both men became leaders in the
revolution which was sweeping over
France like cyclone. One evening
pcsmoulins came across the Seine by
the bridge directly opposite the corps
lcgislatif and walked toward the Place
de Ia Concorde, or Place dc Ii Revolu-
ton. as it was then called. At the
same time Caterct turned into the
place from the opposite direction. The
two men met at that point where the
Suillotinc was set up and where It had
done great work that very day Night
was falling, and the Place was desert
Ell except for the friends They stop
ped directly under the Instrument of
death and began to talk.
"Alphonsc," said Jean. this revolu-
ton is like tongue Of flame which at
one moment sweeps In one direction
the next in another. The favorite of
today Is the condemned of tomorrow.
You are right, Jean. DO YOU know
that If either of us has an enemy that
enemy can send the man he hates to
the guillotine."
~ uon'e lif>cit.. rep,,rt, Jc,,, ..ts
were sfngfe rrNc YOU. r-~o.,,.--...
the danger so much, but consider nv
family"
Catcret stood for awhile lost in
thought, then said: 81 have an idea.
Suppose we make an agreement If
you are the victim, l will pay your
wife $4,000 francs; If am the victim,
you pay my mother the same amount"
After some discussion Desmoulins
consented. and the friends went to
Cateret's house, where the contract
was drawn up in duplicate, duly exc
cuted, and each party to il took n copy.
Ten days after this agreement Dcs-
moulins was arrested under an accusa-
tion Of having corresponded with the
royaliSts across the border. He had
received letter from fugitive, but
no one knew of it except his friend
Cateret, to whom he had shown it.
But there was nothing in this, for the
letter, bearing foreign mark, must
hpnn In, l,p
Louise Desmoulins was frantic at the
danger that threatened her husband.
AS soon as she became quoted she set
her wits to work to discover who the
secret enemy could be. At confer
ence she had with her husband in iail
he told her that Caterct knew Of the
letter he had received from abroad.
Louise, remembering that Catcrct had
once sought her hand in marriage. was
seized with q suspicion which she final
ly confessed to her husband
"NonsenSe! said Jean. There can
be nothing in that, since at my death
Alphonse must pay you 10000 francs"
And lo told her Of their agreement.
She was but half convinced.
Jean Dcsmoulins died on the scaffold
beside which the agreement had been
made. His wife shut herself up. After
few weeks she received one visitor,
her husbands old friend, Alphonse
Cateret Him she saw constantly and
but few months after her husbands
execution promised him that she would
be his wife. Meanwhile she freQuented
the courts and places wherein she
might learn tho name Of her husbands
accuser. After awhile she became
known as the widow who was hunting
for one to send to the guillotine One
| day she received visit from one Of
| the leaders of the revolution, who said
| to her:
II know who informed on your hus-
band!Te is in my way, and l wish to
get rid or him. will tell YOU who he
| Is Oh condition that you trump up an
accusation against him, leaving me out
Of the matter. You will not believe me
| without proof That proof l will fur
| nish."
1T is proof alone that l wish.
know the man."
How do you know himT'
by the instinct of woman"
"IIc is
| "Alphonse Cateret."
| You are right"
| The visitor the next day met the
widow in Il building wEerc records
were kept and, being in authority, took
| her ID IL room where no other man IN
| France except the keeper could go. He
took down a vO.unIc which contained q
| record OF More v.tlH.ay til3l any vol
ume In the worlQ and, consulting an