Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-11
TURING the days that followed I
had several opportunities to
question Rouletabille as to his
reason for his yoyape IN Ar,or-

na0 several opportunities to
IIy question Rouletabille as to his
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:
Cant you understand that I had to
know Larsan's true personality"
mo doubt" I said, "but why did
you 60 to America to find that out?"
He sat smoking his pipe and made
no further reply. began to see that
was touching on the secret that con-
cerned Mile. Stangerson. Rouletabille
evidently had found 1t necessary to go
to America to find out what the mys-
terious tie was that bound her to Lar
snn by SO strange and terrible bond
In America he had learned who Lar.
san was and had obtained information
which closed his mouth. He had been
to Philadelphia.
And now what was this mystery
which held Mile. Stangcrson and NJ.
Robert Darzac in so inexpllcable a ST.
lence? After so many years and the
publicity given the case by curious
and shameless press. now that NJ.
Stangerson knows all and has forgiven
all, all may 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 ut the house. Il Frenchman. had
succeeded by his wit grace and per-
sistent attention Ia gaining her aifec-
lions. lie was said TO he rich and had
asked her Of her father. VI. Sanger
son, on making inquiries as to NJ.
Jean Roussel, found that the man was
swinde~ and an advcnturer. Jean
Roussel was but another of the many
names under which the notorious Ball
meyer, fugitive from France. tried
to hide himself NJ Stangcrson did
not know of his identity with Ball
meyer. He learned that the man was
simply undesirable for Ills daughter.
He 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 at 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 to Louisville and lived
there for some time. One morning. how.
ever, knock came at the door of the
house in which they We're. and the po-
lice entered to arrest lean Rousscl. 1t
was then that Mathllde Stangerson. or
Roussel learned that her husband was
no other than the notorious Ballmeyer!
The young woman III her despair
tried TO commit suicide. She failed in
this. and was forced to rcioin her aunt
at Cincinnati. The old lady was over
joycd to see her again. She had been
anyiously searching for her and had
not dared to tell NJ. Stnngerson Of her
| disappearance. Mathilde swore her to
secrecy. SO that her father should not
know she had been away. A month
later Mile. Stangerson returned to her
! father. rcpentant her heart dead with
in her. hoping only one thing-that she
would never again soc her husband.
the horrible Ballmeyer. a report was
| spread few weeks later that he was
dead, and she now determined to atone
| for her disobedcnqr by life Of labor
and devotion for<Aer 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 rcsuscitatcd
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 hesitated to confide in NJ. Darzac.
she showed him the letter in which
| Jean Rousscl asked her to recall tho
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.
he had written. The scoundrel pre-
tended to be rich and claimed the right
| of taking her back to Louisville. She
! had told DarZac that IL her father
should know of her dishonor she would
kill herself. NJ. Dnr2ac had sworn to
silence her prosecutor. even If he had
to kill him. He was outwtted and
would have succumbed had 1t not been
for the genius of Rouletabille
| Mile. Stangerson was herself help
less in the hands Of such villain
She had tried to kill him when he had
first threatened and then attacked her
in the yellow room. She had. unfor.
tunately. failed and felt herself con.
dcmned to be forever at the mercy OF
this INSCRIPTIONS wretch who was
continually demanding her presence al
clandestlne interviews. When he sent
her the letter through the postoflice
asking her to meet him she had re-
fused. The result OF her refusal was
the tragedy of the yellow room. The
second time he wrote asking for q
meeting. the letter reaching her In hel
sick chamber, she had avoided him by
sleeping with her women. In that let
ter the scroundrel had warned hel
| that, since she was too Ill to come tC
him. he would come to her and that he
| would be In her chamber Mt par