Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-08-09
The Roupell Mystery
CHAPTER |.
A II s t y n

81 r.,rr of evening the sun hau COME
s "ft I descending in blaze of glory,
o'' tEc houSctOps with a fiery glow
q ''"- ...,fsbad the waters of the Seine
.I . Golden. mellow Eight. The small
j "l If yillcneuve, distant from the
..b ...rftaI but fourteen miles, shared
..,,.r1i,s halo of brilliant coloring.
-, ,,.l.I lust fifteen minutes OF eleven
] ,..ro.E when the moon, winch was nearly
y. .bo suII, rose with slow and majestic
ian hove the horizon, and hung sus-
NV l,l between earth and heaven like
t,.,, eflvcr lamp. The great trees which
,r,.,st .urrounded the chateau NllleneuVe
,...,ss the smooth and velvety lawns
. doom shadows. From the chateau
.,gI, fine light of a solitary lamp, pal
,s =, roW mere twinkling rays, shone
r,f,rc II came from a window in the
I,f+ u.irr Of the building. Remote from
,t, rr.af metropolis, the hush of pro-
fonnd peace was here upon everything
.or. when stirred by the soft breeze from
,I,. south. the leafy branches OF tenderest
-n,o, rvstIcd and moved gently to and
fro.
In III, deep shade of an enormous oak
r,bfcb seemed to keep watch and ward
,ror tbc sleeping inmates, stood a young
man named Charles Van Lith to whom
every familiar object but conjured up to
his ardent imagination the interior OF
chat family Illuminated apartment. This
giIort watcher continued to gaze for some
,romont, in the direction of the chateau.
His domcanor was that of one undecided
as to what course to pursue. Twice he
stoned from the shadow of the tree and
nlaced his foot upon the gravel walk and
az many times retraced his footsteps
At length he issued forth more boldly,
though not without caution, to prevent
the crunching of his shoes upon the
Gravel and stood beneath the window.
Picking up two or three small pebbles,
he threw them against the glass. His
heart beat somewhat faster than its wont
as after the third essay girl OF about
nineteen years of age, who had been read
ing by the light of the lamp, left her
seat and opening the swinging easement,
looked ont upon the night.
WHO is therc?" she asked, in a tone
which indicated some alarm, but singu-
larry sweet ana musical
IT'S Its Charles" replied the young
fellow; don't be frightened. | must see
you, if only for moment. l am going
away. l am leaving France. l return
to America Tomorrow
oh, nonsense" exclaimed the girl.
You are saying this just to try me-"
Il am not, upon my word, Harriet"
-, I IL, -, I
ready taken. | sail from Havre to-mor-
row afternoon
why did you not let me know
earlier" she asked.
Il was afraid to write. You know
your aunt strictly forbade it. But, Har
ret, can't | get in, if only for a few
mOmentS"
Il really don't see now you can---"
Harriet Weldon began, when the faint re-
monstrance died away upon her lips.
Selling the strong stem of q thick vine
which ran near the window, and assisted
by the trellis work, the young athlete be-
low commenced an ascent which to an
older man would have proved an impossi-
bic feat In a few moments his hand was
on the window sill and the next instant
he had leaped lightly into the chamber.
Harriet, the first raptures of their meet
lnE over, begged him to be gone but he,
sitting beside her on the low window seat,
urged his plea for further time so elo-
lEentIy that she yielded, and could not
ind 1t in her heart to dismiss him at
once. The lovers, too, had a hundred
commences TO interchange. Harriet told
Van Llth how, since his quarrel with her
aunt the prosecutions of certain NJ.
ihahot had become well-nigh intoerable.
She was afraid moreover, that Nine.
Roupcll favored his suit.
And now you are going to America,
Charles, and there will be no one to
stand between us. | am sure the man
mas not even the excuse of loving me. 1t
is my doWry he is after. He is. no doubt.
aware that Madame Roupell has made u
VIII IN favor of Emily and myself
Charles Van Lith could only clench his
list IN lmpotcnt rage. To the house where
lie mad once been an honored and well
come guest he now had to come like a
'h't IN the night to seek farewell in
'eFIew with the only being on earth who
Yet loved and trusted him. In his mind
mere was burning sense of injustice.
Inc cold and severe tones in which Nine.
houpcI had dismissed him seemed still
ringing in his ears.
10 not go" pleaded Harriet II am
certain that it will not be long before my
aunt viii reIent that, after all, she really
"3HNS a great deal of you; stay, and |
Will myself so to her on the first oppor-
'".y which offers and plead your
cause"
You arc more hopeful than | am"
'r"'d Van Lith, bitterly. IF l had
'.'" treated with any show of justice,
"oE ! would not care. But your aunt
breJ4Jlccd against me. | am we'll
'""'' that Monsieur Chabot has sought
10 undermine her confidence In me. and
mas succeeded. / tell you, Harriet,
""'h / think of ali these things it makes
",f q desperate man"
nc mad been pacing the floor rcstlessly
"',h long, impatient strides His face
was flushed with anger. With the mem
Wy Oh Nine. Roupelrs mercless treat
,''"J aroused anew within him, he could
"afdIy restrain himself
she Is worse than unjust" he con
IL