The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-01-22
CHAPTER Nv.
"In the Bosom of Wild Nature. %

ally in the heart of the forest in tn
reign Of Philip lie Bel, 1t now could b.
seen few hundred yards from tn,
road leading from the village Of Sainte
Genevieve to MONTEREY. A mass O
inharmonious structures, it Is dominat
ed by donjon.
1t was In this place, seemingly be
longing entirely to the past, that Pro
fessor Stangerson and his daughter In
stalled themselves to lay the founda
lions for the science Of the future.
When M. Stangerson bought the es
tate, fifteen years before the tragedy
with which we are engaged occurred
the Chateau du Chandler had for q
long time been unoccupied. Another
in the fourteenth century by Jean de
Belmont, was also abandoned, so that
that part Of the country was very lit
tie inhabited. Some small houses on
The side of the road leading to Corbeil,
an inn, called the Auberge du Don
jon, which offered passing hospitality
to wagoners-theSe were about all to
represent civilization in this out of the
way part of the country, but a few
leagues from the capital.
But this deserted condition of the
place had been the determining reason
for the choice made by M. Stangerson
and his daughter. NJ. Stangerson was
already celebrated. He had returned
from America, where his works had
made great stir. The book which he
had published at Philadelphia, on the
Dissertation of Matter by Electric
Action" had aroused opposition
throughout the whole scientific world
NJ. Stangerson was a Frenchman, but
of American origin. Important mat
ters relating to legacy had kept him
for several years in the United States,
where he had continued the work be-
gun by him in France, whittier he had
returned in possession Of large for
tune.
Mile. Stangerson was at the time
when her father returned from Amer
lea and bought the Chandler estate
twenty years Of age. She was ex-
ceedingly pretty, having at once the
Partisan grace Of her mother, who had
died in giving her birth, and all the
splendor, all the riches Of the young
American blood of her parental grand
father, William Stangerson. A citizen
Of Philadelphia, William Stangerson
had been obliged to become natural
lied in obedience to family exigencies
at the time Of his marriage with
French lady.
Twenty years of age, a charming
blond, with blue eyes, milk white
complexion and radiant with divine
health, Mathilde Stangerson was one
Of the most beautiful manageable
girls In either the old or the new world.
1t was her fathers duty, In spite Of
the inevitable pain which separation
from her would cause him, to think Of
her marriage, and he was fully pre-
pared for 1t. Nevertheless he buried
himself and his child at the Chandler
at the moment when his friends were
expecting him to bring her out into So
ciety.
Questioned by her friends, the young
girl replied calmly, where could we
work better than In this solitude?"
For Mile. Stangerson had already be-
gun to collaborate with her father in
his work. 1t could not ut the time be
imagined that her passion for science
would lead her so far as to refuse all
the suitors who presented themselves
to her for over fifteen years. The
young girls extreme reserve did not at
first discourage suitors, but at the end
Of few years they tired of their
quest.
One alone persisted with tender te-
nacity and deserved the name of "eter-
nal fiance," name he accepted with
resignation; that was Nj.
Robert Darzac. Mile. Stangerson was
now no longer young, and it seemed
that, having found no reason for mar
rying at five and thirty, she would new
er find one.
Suddenly some weeks before the
events with which we are occupied
-eport-to which nobody attached any
so incredible did 1t sound
was spread about Paris that Mile
had at last consented to
crown" the inextinguishable fame Of
NJ. Robert Darzac! 1t needed that NJ. |
Robert Darzac himsGn should not deny
his matrimonial rumor to give It an
appearance Of truth. so unlikely did it |
'eem to be well founded. One day, |
however, NJ. Stangerson, as he was |
caving the Academy of Science, an
that the marriage of his |!
laughter and NJ. Robert Darzac would |
De celebrated In the privacy of the |
Chateau du Chandler as soon as he and |
lis daughter had put the finishing
ouches to their report summing up
heir labors on the "Dissociation of
Natter" The new household would In
tall itself in the Chandler, and the SON
n-law would lend his assistance In the
work to which the father and daughter
lad dedicated their lives