The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-05-01
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Mystery Of Mademoiselle STAN
gerson.

~ fURING the days that followed
tHe had several opportunities to
III question Roaletabille 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 had to
know Larsan's true personality?"
mo doubt" l said, "but why did
you go 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 it necessary to go
to America to find out what the mys-
terious tie was that bound her to Lar
san by SO strange and terrible a bond.
san was and had obtained information
which closed his mouth. He had been
to Philadelphia.
And now what was this mystery
which h held Mile. Stangerson and n.
Robert Darzac In so inexplicable 81
lence? After so many years and the
publicity given the case by a curious
and shameless press, now that NJ.
Stangerson knows all and has forgiven
ALI, 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 at the house, O Frenchman, had
succeeded by his wit, grace and per-
sistent attention in gaining her affecr
lions. He was said to be rich and had
asked her of her father. NJ. Stanger-
son, on making inquiries as to NJ.
Jean Roussel, found that the man was
Il swindler and an adventurer. Jean
Roussel was but another Of the many
names under which tie notorious Ball
meyer, a fugitive from France, tried
10 hide himself. NJ Stangerson did
not know of his identity with Ball
meyer He learned that the man was
simply undesirable for his daughter.
Ee not only refused to give his consent
to the marriage bat 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 vert to 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.
was then that Mathilde Stangerson, OF
Roussel, learned that her husband wa
no other than the notorious Ballmeyer
The young woman IN ner despair
| tried TO commit suicide. She failed II
this. and was forced to rejoin her aun
at Cincinnati. The old lady was over
joyed to see her again. She had beeI
anxiously searching for her and hat
disappearance. Mathilde swore her t
secrecy, so that her father should no
know she had been away. A montl
later Mile. Stangerson returned to he
father. repentant, her heart dead with
In her. hoping only one thing-that sh
would never again see her husband
the horrible Ballmeyer. report wa
spread a few weeks later that he wa
dead, and she now determined to atom
. for her disobedience by life Of labo
and devotion for her father. And sh
kept her word.
All this she had confessed to Rober
Darzac, and. believing Ballmeyer dead
had given herself to the Joy Of unio
with him. But fate had resuscitate
Jean Roussel. the Ballmeyer Of he
youth. He had taken steps to let he
know that be would never allow her
a marry Darzac-that he still loved her.
. Mile. Stangerson never for one me
= ment hesitated to confide In NJ. Darza'
She showed him the letter In whic
!. Jean Roussel asked her to recall th
first hours of their union in their beat
:. tiful and charming Louisville hom'
= "The presbytery has lost nothing Of II
: charm nor the garden its brightness,
: be had written. The scoundrel pr
:. tended to be rich and claimed the rigf
: Of taking her back to Louisville. Sh
= had told DarZac that II her faths
! should know of her dishonor she woul
a kill herself NJ. Darzac had sworn
silence her prosecutor. even II he ha
= to kill him. He was outwitted an
: would have succumbed had 1t not bee
!, for the genius Of Rouletabille.