Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-01-13

She was not satisfied with what prom
Used her II l had known that night
that she had dared 20 do iti'
"Humph!" said Thomas. IF a 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 con-
4 tinued:
II soon learned who she was and Why
abe was here and what Richard Fetridge
| had to say that he was afraid Thornton
l~Stackhouse might overhear. The woman's
name was stated as Marie Molssot. though
/ II was admitted that she was now living
under an alas. IL 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 a scandal by the interven zion of
\ by agreeing to effectuslly ruin him. II she
| would consent 70 forego the malicious
| pleasure OF involving the family Ia the dis
4 grace OF a public scandal
| In this paper which 1 design TO be a
simple statement or facts. DO not wish to
/ parade my own suderinEs or emotions.
/ But II Is necessary TO say that / had never
\ loved my husband; that I had married
I tuAy ANGaUSt I DtfAtue engaged 70 rim 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 20 fury by the revelations
which j now overheard. I saw that Marie
/ Moissot with the natural suspicious OF an
INSCRIPTIONS person. mistrusted Mr.. Fct-
/ ridges intention. perhaps his ability. 20
] hasten the complete downfall OF Thornton
Stackhouse. and had, therefore. written
| 70 me. IL is only of late that have thor
| oughly realized now ma,iciousiy shrewd
she was IN assuring herself that I should
4 become acquainted with the facts.
| And these are the revelations that made
| my ears tingle. my heart beat like a trip
| hammer. and my finger nails TO indent
| themselves into tho palms Of my hands;
that ullcd me for TIE time with the IN
/ stincts Of tho murderess. and made my
| blood boil with indignant hatred. Thorn
| ton StackhouSc was the assumed name OF
| an adventure. Albert Ruryon, whose ieEai
wife and children We're stiii living in New
| Orleans. who had deserted them 10 go with
Marie Moissot. "a fascinating Creole. at that
time but is years Old. 10 Montreal. only 20
desert her ia turn. and 20 come at last TO
ME-
This was the man for whom Z Lad
wrecked my life. broken two hearts. and
seated the warrant OF my everlasting deg
radationt
There Is no room Tor denial: no chance
for doubts. Everything that was present
ed 20 my father was On the form OF docu-
mcnts. written evidence sworn to and duly
witnessed. Richard Fetridge Is a lawyer.
and he had spent a month in verifying
Marie Moissots story.
Neither was there any room 20 doubt
that Albert Runyon in marrying me under
stood fully 20 what position he was re-
ducing me. FOR the evidence showed that
he continued even TO this date TO send his
wife a monthly allowance Tor her support
And the monsters excuse for all this
viliainy was that he did not love his wife
but loved met As II man who loved a
woman could so cruelty. heartlessiy de-
ccivo heri
"But this is not all Thornton Stack
house had not been honest IN his dealings
with my father. The documents revealed
n course Of systematic treachery which II
carried out would have ruined my father
and enriched him To be sure. an these
transactions were OF older date and since
his mock marriage with me there was no
evidence that he had continued them. In
other words. he had kindly consented 20
cease cheating Mr. North IN consideration
OF having married his daughter. Did these
circumstances pa4l'atc his omense any IN
my eyesF As We'll ask a drowning person
II he is mindful OF the subtraction or addi-
zion OF a drop or two OF the element that
! Is killing him.
There have been times In my life when
I have been frightencd at the intensity Of
some sudden evil passion within me- some
/
and education. and arises so spontaueously.
that ! have been led 60 regard such things
as an Inheritance from my unknown mar
ents. And this night as stood on the stairs
listening. "a passion Of hatred took pos
session of me. which ] can compare 10
nothing but great sea OF molten metal
IN a smelling furnace white hot and hiss
Ing like a serpent IL IL comes In contact
| with any cooler surface.
My father was scarcely less overcome
| than was He was violent and wretched
| oy turns Mr. Stackhouse had been a
peculiar element In his life. The man had
had an influence over him such as no one
else had ever gained. Now. for the FIRST
time he was shown the real Character OF
| the man he had trusted
Even through all the turbulence OF nv
| own emotions l understood the intensity
or my fathers feelings. He was a man OF
| impul5ive and quick temper. He never
preserved a hatred: but for that very rea-
son ~ lived al the hercer at the moment
OF It's birth. His own rage at this instant
was little short Of mine
Villain! Seoundrel Harpyr heard
MIN mutter frc5i tsII.e 10 time, and then
re would burst out into violent impreca-
lions that would have terrified me had
been in a mood to fear anything.
when he had submitted his evidence
/ Mr.. Fetridge suggested the action which
ne asked my father to take lie said that
ne had done al that he had done for tha
FANNY honor and for my honor. That II II
mad not been for his oppor;une interven-
ton Marie Moissot would have made The
bigamy OF Albert Runyon a public scandal
lie reminded my father that was no more
| the VIE OF this scoundrel than as II that
sacrilege OF ceremony had never baen
performed. There were. therefore. no leeai
| ties 10 De severed. Mr.. North must act in ne
mater as III he had become possessed Of
MS information through any source bur the
real one Richard Fetridges part In the
anSAr was never 10 be known; not even to
me, but was 70 learn the truth from my
| IalhSrs lips SO was Albert Runyon NJ
| Iather was TO so TO him. give him "a hours
20 4eaFe inc country after signing a damaR-
Ius oOc1ment which Mr.. Fetridge had pre-
pared In course OF time il was sugFested
that might quietly obtain a divorce on
me ground OF desertion. In case his pro-
s t@il'Le Was carried ont, Mr.. Fetrldge pro-
posed 70 help my father out OF his srs,1cto,
Silneulues. Otherwise he could withdraw
| his support.
\ Nhen the ARRANGEMENTS had been com
pleted. Mr.. Fetridge went away win ~.
woman. and my father. who pronosed -