Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-05-06
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Mystery OF hademoiselle STAN
serSon.

f~ IURING the days that followed /
had several opportunities 10
HE question ROulerabille as TO his
u reason for his voyage TO Amer
lea, but obtained no more precise an
swers than he had given me on the
evening OF the adjournment Of the
trial. when we were on the train for
Paris. One day, however, on my still
pressing him, he said:
Can't YOU understand that had TO
know Larsan's true personality
No doubt" I said. ''but why did
I you go 10 America 10 find that out?"
{ lie sat smoking his pipe and made
no further reply. l began to see that
T was touching on the secret that con-
cerned Nile. Stangerson. Rouletabille
I evidently had found II necessary TO 60
I 10 America TO find out what the mys-
+ Jerious tie was that bound her TO Lar
I san by SO strange and terrible q bond.
In America he had learned who La
san was and had obtained information
which closed his mouth. He had been
/ to Philadelphia
And now what was this mystery
which held Nile. Stangerson and NJ
Robert DarZac in so inexplicable a ST.
! lence? After so many years and the
publicity given the case by a curious
and shameless press, now that NJ
SIangeFson knows all and has forgiven
all, all mar be told. In every phase
Of this remarkable story Mile. Stan
gerson had always been the sufferer.
The beginning dates from the time
when, as young girl, she was living
with her father in Philadelphia A
visitor At the house, Frenchman, had
succeeded by his Wit. grace and per-
sistent attention in gaining her affec-
tiOrS He was said TO be rich and had
asked her Of her father. NJ. Stanger-
son. on making inquiries as 10 NJ.
I Jean Rou5sel found that the man was
swindler and an adventurer Jean
| RCusSel was but another OF the many
names under which tie notorious Ball
meyer. & fugitive from France, tried
TO hide himself NJ. Stangerson did
not know OF his identity with Bali
meyer. He learned that the man was
simply undesirable for his daughter
Ee not only refused TO give his consent
to the marriage. but denied him ad-
mission into the house. Mathilde
Stangerson, however. had fallen in
love. To her Jean Roussel was every
thing that her love painted him. She
was indignant al her fathers attitude
and did not conceal her feelings. Her
father sent her to stay with an aunt
in Cincinnati. There she was Joined
by Jean Roussel and, in spite OF the
reverence she felt for her father. ran
away with him to get married.
They went 10 Louisville and lived
there for some time. One morning. how
ever. knock came at the door Of the
house in which they were. and the po-
Ice entered TO arrest Jean Roussel. II
was then that Mathllde Stangerson, or
ROussel learned that her husband was
no other than the notorious Ballmeyer.
The young woman IN ner despair
tried 10 commit suicide She failed in
this. and was forced TO rejoin her aunt
at Cincinnati. The old lady was over
joyed TO see her again. She had been
anxiOusly searching for her and had
not dared to tell NJ. Stangerson OF her
disappearance. Mathilde swore her to
secrecy, 50 that her father should not
know she had been away A month
later Mile. StanrersOn returned to hei
father. repentant. her heart dead with
in her hoping only one thing-that she
would never again see her husband
the horrible Ballmeyer A report was
spread few weeks later that he was
dead. and she now determined to atone
for her disObedience by life Of labor
and devotion for her father And she
kept her word.
All this she had confessed TO Robert
Darzac. and, believing Ballmeyer dead.
had given herself to the joy Of a union
with him. But fate had resuscitated
Jean ROussel. the Ballmeyer Of her
youth He had taken steps TO let her
know that he would never allow her to
marry DarZac-that he still loved her.
Mile. StangersOn never for one mo-
ment hesi,ated 10 coufde in NJ. Darzac.
She showed him the letter in which
Jean Roussel asked her TO recall the
first hours Of their union in their beau
tiful and charming Louisville home.
The presbytery has lost nothing of its
charm nor the garden its brightness.
be had written. The scoundrel pre-
tended TO be rich and claimed the right
Of taking her back TO Louisville. She
had told Darzac that II her father
should know OF her dishonor she would
kill herself. NJ Darzac had sworn to
silence her prosecutor. even IL he had
to kill him. He was outwitted and
would have succumbed had it not been
for the genius Of Rouletabllle.