The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-12-26
The RoupelI Mystery
BY Aust yn q Vile
CHAPTER +.

dpPOdcu Vi tftuiuS lHe su4 udu fcui
out, and, descending in a blaze Of glory
tinged the housetops with a fiery gov
ard FURNISHED the waters of the Sem
with a golden, mellow light The smal
suburb of Yilleneuve, distant from tn
French capital but fourteen miles. shares
this generous halo of brilliant coloring
- 1t lacked just fifteen minutes of clever
o'clock when the moon, which was nearly
4 at the full. rose with slow and majestic
motion above the horizon, and hung sus
\ pended between earth and heaven like a
huge silver lamp. The great trees which
almost surrounded the chateau Vineneuye
cast across the smooth and velyety lawns
their deep shadows. From the chateau
itself, the light Of a solitary lamp, pal
ing to a few mere twinkling rays, shoEe
fitfully. 1t came from a window in the
left wing of the building. Remote from
the great metropolis, the hush Of 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 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 denieanor was that OF one undecided
as to " hat course TO pursue. Twice he
stepped from the shadow of the tree and
placed his foot upon the gravel walk. and
as many times retraeed 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, 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 thereT she asked, in a tone
which indicated some alarm, but singu-
larly sweet and musical
ITS Its Charles" replied the young
fellow; don't be frightened l must see
you, if only for a moment. 1 am going
away. / am leaving France return
to America tomorrow"
"Oh, nonsense" exclaimed the girl. !
you are saying this just to try me-"
II am not, upon my word Harriet" |
answered Van Lith. My passage is al |
ready taken. l sail from Havre to-mor-
row afternoon"
"Why did you not let me know
earlier?" she asked.
II was afraid to write You know
your aunt strictly forbade it. But, Har-
riet, can't l get in, if only for few
Il really don't see how you can
Harriet Weldon began, when the faint re-
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-
low commenced an ascent which to an
older man would have proved an impossi-
Die feat. In a few moments his hand was
IN the window sill and the next instant
lie had leaped lightly into the chamber
Harriet the first raptures Of their meet
ng over. begged him TO be gone: but he, ,,
lifting beside her on the low window seat,
Urged his plea for further time so elo-
Iuenty that she yielded, and could not
ind 1t in her heart TO dismiss him at
nee. The lovers, too, had a hundred
onhdenees to interchange. Harriet told /
an Lith how. since his quarrel with her
unit, the prosecutions of certain NJ. Z
'habot had become well-nigh intolerable.
he was afraid, moreover, that Nine.
.oupell favored his suit
And now you are going TO America. =
harles. and there will be no one to !,
and between us. | am sure the man :,
as not even the excuse of loving NE. II l.
my dowry he is after. He is. no doubt.
ware that Madame Roupell has made a =,
i'll in favor of Emily and myself" :,
Charles Van Lith could only clench his ).
II in impotent rage. To the house where =,
, had once been an hOnored and well y,
me guest he now had to come like a
ief in the night TO seek a farewell in :,
ryiew with the only being on earth who -
{ loved and trusted him. In his mind =,
ere was burning sense of Injustice. :,
lie cold and severe tones in which Nine. =
,upell had dismissed him seemed still :.
lging in his ears. -
do NOT 60" pleaded Harriet. Il am an
-tain that it will not be long before my
Mt will relent that, after all. she really MI
INKS a great deal Of you; stay. and l
4 myself go to her on the first oppar- on,
nifty which offers and plead your ms
lse." T.
You are more hopeful than l am" Nj
lied Van Lith, bitterly IF I had wo
n trested with any show of justice.
Y, | would not care. But your aunt VIII
prejudiced against me. l am well mes
are that Monsieur Chabot has sought me
undermine her confidence in NE. aud
has succeeded. 1 tell you, Harriet. to
IN | think of all these things ii makes agg
q desperate man" STIR
lie had been pacing the floor restleSslv Il
long, impatient strides His face sine
flushed with anger. With the mem beel
OF Nine. RoupelTs merciiess treat her
It aroused anew within him. he could mar
lly restrain himself. and
She is worse than unjust" he con L
ed; "she las deliberately opened her tain
To thes tales of Chabot's and as his
oerately shut them to my explana- ing
5. She has masuifed my smallest coul