Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-01-13
A Wife's Revenge
IorlginaLl

zenith century two young men, Jean
Desmoulins and Alphonse Cateret both
living in DIXON, France, were bosom
friends. Cateret proposed marriage to
young girl, Louise Plancon. but his
suit was rejected Louise secretly
loved his friend Desmoullns, and IN the
course of time Desmoullns married her.
He was so devoted to Cateret that Lou
Alphonse had once sought her hand,
and since Aiphonse never told him he
was IN ignorance of the fact.
Ten years passed. Cateret had gone
to Paris to live soon after his friends
marriage, the Desmoulinses following
later. Both men became leaders in the
revolution which was sweeping over
France like a cyclone One evening
Desmoulins came across the Seine by
the bridge directly opposite the corps
legislatif and walked toward the Place
de la Concorde or Place dc la Revolu-
ton, as 1t was then called At the
same time Cateret turned into the
two men met at that point where the
guillotine was set up and where it had
done great work that very day. Night
was falling. and the Place was desert
ed except for the friends. They stop
ped directly under the instrument Of
death and began to talk
"Alphonse," 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 guilotlne"
Il don't like It," replied Jean. "If
were single like you, | would not mind
the danger so much, but | consider my
family"
Cateret stood for awhile lost in
thought, then said: Il have an idea.
Suppose we make an agreement. If
you are the victim, | 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 1t took Il copy.
Ten days after this agreement Des-
moulins was arrested under an accusa-
ton of having correspondent with the
royalists across the border. He had
received a letter from fugitive, but
no one knew Of it except his friend
Catcret, TO whom he had shown it.
But there was nothing in this, for the
letter, bearing a foreign mark, must
have been opened in the postotfice.
Louise Desmoulins was frantic at the
danger that threatened her husband.
AS soon as she became quieted she set
Ter wits to work to discover who the
secret enemy could be At a confer
ence She had with her husband In Jail
he told her that Cateret knew of the
letter he had received from abroad.
Louise, remembering that Cateret 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 he told her Of their agreement
She was but half convinced.
Jean Desmoulins died on the scaffold
beside which the agreement had been
| made. His wife shut herself up. After
a 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 the 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 a visit from one of
! the leaders of the revolution, who said
to her:
Il know who informed on your hus-
band. He is in my way, and wish to
get rid Of him. will tell you who he
Is on 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 | wish /
know the man.
How do you know him.
by the instinct of a woman"
HE is
"Alphonse Cateret."
You are right"
The visitor the next day met tn,
widow In n building where records
were kept and. being in authority, tool
her to room where no other man IL
France except the keeper could GO HI
took down n volume which contained
record Of more villainy than any vol
ume In the world and. consulting al
index. turned to the name of Jean Des
moulins There was the charge anC
the name Of the acCuser. Alphouse Ca
teret Louise looked at 1t apparently
without emotion; her guide closed tn,
book. and they withdrew.
The friends of Louise Desmoulin