The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1908-04-02
CHAPTER I.
A u $ { y n

--~~~~ otNAA ~At11' QNtA L arts Jul Ju III
approach Of evening the sun had com
out. and, descending in blaze of glory
tinged the housetops with a fiery glow
and FURNISHED the waters OF the Seine
with a golden, mellow light The small
suburb of yilleneuve. distant from tbs
French capital but fourteen miles, shared
this generous halo of brilliant eoloring
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 earth and heaven like a
huge silver lamp. The great trees which
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
ing to a few mere twinkling rays. shone
6tfullY. IL came from 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 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 denieanor was that of one undecided !
as to that course 10 pursue. Twice he
ufa - -.
placed his foot upon the gravel walk. and 1
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
be 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
ing BY the light Of the lamp. left her
seat and. opening the swinging easement.
looked out upon the night
who is theresv she asked. in a tone
which indicated some alarm, but singu-
larry sweet and musical
Its Its Charles replied the young
fellow; don't be frightened must see
you. if only for a moment I am going
away / am leaving France return
10 America tomorrow
~Oh. nonsense exclaimed the girl.
You are saying this just to try me-"
Il am not, upon my word, Harriet" {
Van Lith- MY passage is al I
'eady taken sail from HaTre to-mor- s
ow afternoon" q
Why did you not let me know I
arlierT she asked.
Il was afraid to write You know
our aunt strictly forbade it. But. Har- c
let. can't l get in. if only for a few $
nomentsY' Ii
i really don't see how you can v
Harriet Weldon began. when the faint re-
died away upon her lips. {
Seizing the strong stem Of a thick vine ;
'hich ran near the window, and assisted y
, the trellis work. the young athlete be- II
w commenced an ascent which to an q
der man would have proved an impossi- a.
e feat In few moments his hand was n
I the window sill and the next instant NJ
: had leaped lightly into the chamber. u
arriet, the first raptures of their meet v
& over. begged him to be gone: but he. eJ
ting beside her on the low window seat. DC
'ged his plea for further time so eIo-
lently that she yielded, and could not IN
I'd 1t in her heart to dismiss him at It
ce. The lovers, too, had a hundred
nhdences to Interchange. Harriet told y
IN Lith how. since his quarrel with her IN
Mt, the prosecutions Of a certain N au
labot had become weIl-nigh intolerabIe. De
e was afraid, moreover, that Nine.
'upell favored his suit mi
-And now you are going to America. s'e
aries. and there viii be no one 10 ne'
nd between us. / am sure the man ~
not even the excuse Of loving me. 1t L.,
my dowry he Is after. He is. no doubt,
are that Madame Roppell has made a -,
] in favor Of Emily and myself ~
Charles Van Lith could only clench his -. -.
In impotent rage To the house where ~.
had once been an bonored and vel IA
ne guest be now had to come ike a ~
eff in the night to seek a farewell in
view with the only being on earth who ~. .ss
loved and trusted him. In his mind -
re was a burning sense Of Injustice. -
2 cold and severe tones in which Nine. LIE
npell had dismissed him seemed still ese
ying in his ears. ser
Do nor 60" pleaded Harriet. 81 am -.
iain that it viii not be long before nv
{ viii relent that, after all. she really oh;
ks great deal Of you; stay. and / :.
myself 90 TO her on the first oppor- .ro.
lty which offers and plead your MAJ,
Uni
You are more hopeful than I am Min
led Van Lith. bitterly IF / had won
! treated with any show of justice. u
, ] would not care. But your aunt whe
Drejudiced against me- I am well ness
re that Monsieur Chabot has sought me
undermine her confidence 10 me. md NJ
has succeeded. / tell you, Harriet. to 4
n think Of all these things 1t makes agge
! desperate man" sfru,
e had been pacing the floor restIesslv Il 4
long, impatient strides. His face since
flushed with anger. With the mem been
Of Nine. Roupell's merciless treat her
aroused anew within him. be could man
ly restrain himself and
'he y worse than unjust" be con- II,
I'd; she has deliberately opened her tains
to these tales Of Chabot's and "a hls I
erately shut them to my explana- inc ,
| She has rnooufGod -. -. -.