Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-03-27
The RoupelI Mystery
CuAPTEK l.
A u s t y n

tlnged the n0uSeJOpS hIth u hVty So"
and FURNISHED the waters OF the Seine
with a golden, mellow light. The srnall
suburb of Villeneuve, distant from the
French capital but fourteen miles, shared
this generous halo of brilliant colorlh8'
II 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 earth and heaven IKE
huge silver lamp. The great trees when
almost surrounded the chateau Villeneuve |
cast across the smooth and velvety lawns
their deep shadows. From the chateau
itself the light of a SOLITARY lamp pal
Inc to few mere twinkling rays, shohe
dtfully. 1t came from n 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 ana
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. ms
silent watcher continued to gaze for some
moments in the direction OF the chateau:
Ills denleanor was that of one undecided
as to what course to pursue. twice ne
stepped from the shadow of the tree and
placed his foot upon the gravel walk, ana
as many times retraced his footsteps.
Al length be issued forth more boldly,
though not without caution, to prevent
the crunching of hia 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 abou
nineteen years Of age. who had been read
ting 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 tone
which indicated some alarm, but singu-
larly sweet and musical.
tits Its Charles" replied the young
fellow don't be frightened. | must sec
you, IL only for a moment 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 Llth. MY passage is al
ready taken. l sail from Havre to-mor
row afternoon"
"Why did you not let me know
earlier" she asked.
81 was afraid to write. You know
.,o,,, o,,vf .tpiott,, fo,.hod do Har
riet, can't | get in, If only for few
momentsW
II 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 thick vim
which ran near the window, and assiste
by the trellis work, the young athlete be
low commenced an ascent which to a
older man would have proved an imposs
BILE feat. In few moments his hand wa
on the window sill and the next instan
he had leaped lightly into the chamber
Harriet the first raptures of their NEE
Ing over, begged him to be gone; but hi
sitting beside her on the low window sea
urged his plea for further time so el'
Quently that she yielded, and could nj
find 1t in her heart to dismiss him {
once. The lovers, too, had a hundre
condolences to Interchange. Harriet to-
Van Lith how, since his quarrel with h
aunt, the prosecutions of certain \
Chabot had become well-nigh intolerabl
She was afraid moreover, that Mn
Roupel favored his suit.
"And now you are going to Amerlc
Charles, and there will be no one
n
has not even the excuse of loving me,
Is my dowry he is after. He is no doul
aware that Madame Roupell has made
will in favor of Emily and myself"
Charles Van Lith could only clench
fist in impotent rage. To the house whe
he had once been an hOnored and W
come guest he now had to come like
thief in the night to seek farewell
terview with the only being on earth W
yet loved and trusted him. In his mi
there was a burning sense of injusti
The cold and severe tones in which Mr.
Roupell had dismissed him seemed 81
ringing in his ears.
do not 60" pleaded Harriet. II
certain that it will not be long before
aunt will relent that, after all, she rea
thinks a great deal of you stay. anC
will myself go to her on the first OPT
tunity which offers and plead y
cause"
"You are more hopeful than l Al
replied Van Lith, bitterly. IF
been treated with any show of just
why, | would not care, But your a
is prejudiced against me. am ,
aware that Monsieur Chabot has sou
to undermine her confidence in me,
he has succeeded. | tell you, Harl
when think of all these things it ms
me a desperate man."
He had been pacing the floor restle
with long. impatient strides. His
was flushed with anger. With the II
ory of Nine. Roupelrs merciess Il
ment aroused anew within him, be c
hardly restrain himself.
"She is worse than unjust" he
timed ; ''she has deliberately opened
ears to these tales. of Chabot's an
deliberately shut them to my exp
tons. She has magnihed my SUM
misdemeanors into great faults
"You must not blame my aunt tC
Charles. Recollect that to us girl
ioast she has ever been good and