Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-07-25
The Roupell Mystery
CHAPTER |.
A II S t y II

tlnged the housetOps with fiery gro"
and FURNISHED the waters Of the Seine
with golden. mellow light. The small
suburb Of Yilleneuve, distant from the
French capital but fourteen miles, shared
this generous halo Of brilliant coloring.
1t lacked Just fifteen minutes Of eleven
O'Clock when the moon, which was nearly
at the full. rose with slow and majestic
motion above the horizon. and hung sus-
pended between Garth and heaven like
huge silver lamp. The great trees which
almost surrounded the chateau VilleneuYe
cast across the smooth and velvety lawns
their deep shadows. From the chateau
itself. the light of a solitary lamp, pal
ing to a few mere twinkling rays, shone
itfuIly. II came from window in the
left wing of the building. Remote from
the great metropolis, the hush of a pro-
found peace was here upon everything,
save when stirred by the soft breeze from
the south, the leafy branches of tenderest
green rustled and moved gently TO and
fro.
In the deep shade of an enormous oak
which seemed to keep watch and ward
over the 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
that family Illuminated apartment. This
silent watcher continued to gaze for some
moments in the direction of the chateau.
His demeanor was that of one undecided
as to what course to pursue. Twice he
stepped from the shadow of the tree and
placed his foot upon the gravel walk, and
as 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,
ne threw them against the glass. His
heart beat somewhat faster than its wont
as, after the third essay, a 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 out upon the night
Who is there" she asked, in a tone
which indicated some alarm, but singu-
Iarly sweet and musical.
It's Its Charles" replied the young
fellow; don't be frightened I must see
you, if only for a moment. I am going
away. | am leaving France. 1 return
to America tomorrow"
oh, nonsense" exclaimed the girl
"'You are saying this just to try me-"
= am not, upon my word, Harriet"
answered Van Lith. MY passage is al
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-
1riet, can't l get in, if only for a few
moments?"
Il really don't see how you can-''
Harriet Weldon began, when the faint re-
monstrance died away upon her lips.
Selling the strong stem of a thick vine
which ran near the window, and assisted
by the trellis work, the young athlete be-
Row commenced an ascent which to an
Older man would have proved an impossi-
bic feat. In 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
ing over, begged him to be gone but he,
urged his plea for further time so elo-
quently that she yielded, and could not
find it in her heart to dismiss him al
once The lovers, too. had n hundred
condolences to interchange. Harriet told
Van Lith how, since his quarrel with her
aunt, the prosecutions of a certain NJ
Ehabot had become well-nigh intolerable.
She was afraid, moreover, that Nine
Roupell 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
has not even the excuse Of loving me. II
is my dowry he is after. He is. no doubt
aware that Madame Roupell has made a
will il favor of Emily and myself"
Charles Van Lith could only clench his
fist in impotent rage. To the house where
he had once been an honored and well
come guest he now had to come like q
thief in the night to seek a farewell in
terview With the only being on earth who
yet loved and trusted him. In his mind
there was a burning sense of Injustice.
The cold and severe tones in which Nine
Roupell had dismissed him seemed still
ringing in his ears.
DO not go pleaded Harriet. II am
certain that it will not be long before nv
aunt will relent that, after all. she really
thinks great deal of you; stay, and /
will myself go to her on the first oppor.
tunity which offers and plead your
cause
You are more hopeful than l am.
replied Van Lith, bitterly. IF I had
aI
why, | would not care. But your aunt
as preJudiced against me. I am well
aware that Monsieur Chabot has sought
to undermine her confidence in me. and
he has succeeded. l tell you, Harriet
when think of all these things it makes
me q desperate man"
He had been pacing the floor restlessly
with long, impatient strides. His face
was flushed with anger. With the mem.
DRY of Nine. Roupelrs merciless treat.
ment aroused anew within him, he could
hardly restrain himself
She is worse than unjust" he con
Sinued; she has deliberately opened hel
ears 10 these tales of Chabot's and as
deliberately shut them to my explana.
ticnS. She has magnifed my smallest
mis- lemeanors into great faults"
on must not blame my aunt to me
CT rleS Recollect that to us girls. al
least. she has ever been good and kind
! wonder what would have happened tc
us when mother died, if it hadn't beer
for her? Few women would have cross
ed the ocean as she did to fetch us, fol
her dead sisters sake; and she has beer
as good as mother to us ever since. No
Charlie you mustn't say a word agains
Aunt Ruth in my hearing"
Harriet" he said. you are quite righ
to stand by her. 1t would be but a poo
return on your part for all her kindnes:
to you if YOU didn't; but in wrongin:
me she has wronged you as well. Ii
opposing our union. she not only wreck:
my happiness, but yours
He was quieter presently. In the soft
ening influence of Harriet Weldon's pres
ence his evil genius seemed to desert him
The angry expression of his features re
Taxed. They sat side by side and besar
to talk. Still pleading with him. Harrie
Weldon strove to persuade her lover Il
abandon his intention of immediatel,
leaving France.
Il have given Won all my hear+ oh,