Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-17
CHAPTER Nv.
in the Bosom OF Wild Nature"

1
period are still standing. Built origin
ally in the heart of the forest in the
reign of Philip lie Bel, 1t now could be
seen a few hundred yards from the
road leading from the village of Sainte-
| Genevieve to MONTEREY. A mass of
inharmonious structures, it is dominat-
| ed by a donjon.
1t was in this place, seemingly be-
tlonging entirely to the past, that Pro
fessor Stangerson and his daughter in
stalled themselves to lay the founda.
tions for the science of the future.
When NJ. Stangerson bought the es-
tate fifteen years before the tragedy
with which we are engaged occurred.
the Chateau du Chandler had for a
long time been unoccupied Another
/ old chateau in the neighborhood. built
in the fourteenth century by Jean de
| Belmont. was also abandoned. so that
| that part Of the country was very lit
| tie inhabited Some small houses on
the side of the road leading to Corbeil,
an inn, called the Auberge du Don
Jon, which offered passing hospitality
to wagoners-these were about all to
represent civilization in this out of the
way part of the country, but a few
! leagues from the capital
! But this deserted condition of the
place had been the determining reason
for the choice made by M. StangersOn
and his daughter. M. Stangerson was
already celebrated. he had returned
| from America, where his works had
made a great stir. The book which he
had published at Philadelphia, on the
"Dissociation of Matter by Electric
Action" had aroused opposition
throughout the whole scientific world.
M. Stangerson was a Frenchman, but
of American origin. Important mat
tiers relating to a legacy had kept him
for several years in the United States,
where he had continued the work be-
gun by him in France, whittier he had
returned In possession Of large for
i tune.
Mile. Stangerson was at the time
when her father returned from Amer
lea and bought the Chandler estate
twenty years of age. She was ex-
feedingly pretty, having at once the
Partisan grace of her mother, who had
died in giving her birth, and all the
splendor all the riches Of the young
American blood of her parental grand
| father, william StangeFson. a citizen
of Philadelphia, William Stangerson
had been obliged to become natural
izeG in obedience to family e1igencies
at the time Of his marriage with a
French lady.
Twenty years Of age, charming
blond, with blue eyes, milk white
complexion and radiant with divine
health, Mathilde StangersOn was one
of the most beautiful manageable
girls in either the cd or the new world.
/ 1t was her fathers duty, in spite of
the inevitable pain which a separation
from her would cause him, to think Of
her marriage, and be was fully pre-
pared for 1t. Nevertheless he buried
himself and his child at the Chandler
at the moment when his friends were
expecting him to bring her out into So
ciety.
Questioned by her friends, the young
girl replied calmly. Where could we
work better than in this solitude?
For Mile Stangcrson had already be-
gun to collaborate with her father in
his work Ii could not at the time be
imagined that her passion for science
would lead her so far as to refuse Ill
the suitors who presented themselves
to her for over fifteen years The
young girls extreme reserve did not at
first discourage suitors, but at the end
of few years they tired Of their
quest.
One alone persisted with tender re,
nacity and deserved the name OF "etei
nal fance,' name he accepted win
melancholy resignation; that was :.
Robert Darzac. Mile, Stangerson Vs.
now no longer young, and it seemed
that, having found no reason for mar
rying at five and thirty, she would new
er find one.
Suddenly some weeks before the
events with which we are occupied q
report--to which nobody attached any
Importance, so incredible did it sound
was spread about Paris that Mile.
StangersOn had at last consented 10
crown" the inextinguishable fame Of
M. Robert Darzacl 1t needed that NJ.
Robert Darzac himself should not deny
this matrimonial rumor to give 1t al
appearance OF truth so unlikely did it
seem 10 be well founded one day.
however, M Stngerson, ass he was
leaving herAcademy OF Science, an
nOunccd that the marriage OF HI;
daughter and Nj. Robert Darzac would
be celebrated In the privacy Of the
Chateau du Chandler ms soon as he an |
his daughter had put the finishing
touches 10 their report summlng up
their labors on the "Dissociation of
Matter" The new household wouiG IA.
stall itse.f IN tAe Glaudie., anl the SCH
ln-law wouiA lead his assistance ~ tie
A..