Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-11
The Mystery
oF
TL1eYeIlON Room
BY CASTOR EERC *
Copyright, 1900, by Brcntano's
CHAPTER ".
IN the Bosom Of WILD Nature"

period are still st0rdiug. Euilt origin
ally in the heart of the forest in the
reign Of Philip le Rel. if now could he
seen a few hundred yards from the
road leading from the village of Saintc-
Gencvieve to Monthcrv. \ mass OF
inharmonious structures 1t is domirat-
ed by donjon.
1t was in It's ~ seemingly be-
longing entirely to the pest, that Pro
lessor Stanrcraon ard bis daughter in
stalled themselves TO Ivy The founda-
lions Cor the science # the future.
When NJ. Stangcrson bought the es-
tate, fifteen years before the tragedy
with which We are ENGAGED occurred,
the Chateau du Glqndisr had for 4
long time been uuoccupicd. Another
old chateau in the neighborhood, built
in the fourteenth century H. lean Do
Belmont, was also abandoned. 50 that
that part of the country was y"ry 1T
lie inhabited. Some small houses on
the side Of the road leading 10 Corbeil,
an inn. called the Aubergc du Don
Jon. which offered passing hospitality
10 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 NJ. Stangerson
and his daughter. NJ. Stangerson was
already celebrated. lie had returned
from America, where his works had
made great stir. The book which he
had published at Philadelphia, on the
"Dissociation 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 a legacy had kept him
for several years in the United States.
where he had continued the work bc
gun by him in France. whittier he had
returned in possession of a 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, vino 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
tied in obedience to family cXigcucics
at the time of his marriage with Il
French lady.
Twenty years If acc cNayuing
blond, with birc croe i2l, white
complexion and radi9ui WITH divine
health. Mathilde Stau-crSon was one
of the most beautiful muuIu-cable
girls il either the old or the new world.
1t was her fathers duty, in spite Of
the inevitable pain which n separation
from her would cause him. to think Of
her marriage. and h. was fully pre-
pared for 1t. Nevertheless he buried
himself and his chilli at the Chandler
at the moment when his friends We're
expecting him TO bring her out into So
ciety.
Questioned by her friends, the young
work better than IN this solitudo?'
For Mile StanGorson had already be-
gun 10 collabOrate wi h her father in
his work 1t could not at the time be
imagined that her passion for science
would lead her so far as to refuse all
the suitors who presented themselves
10 her for over fifteen years The
.l,-Tsr
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 tiance,' name he accepted with
melancholy resignation; that was NJ
Robert Darzac. Mile. Stangerson was
now no longer young, ana it seemed
that, having found no reason for mar
rying at five and thirty, she would nev.
err find one.
Suddenly some weeks before the
events with which We are occupied q
report-to which nobody attached any
Importance, so incredible did il sound
was spread about Paris that Mile
Stangerson had at last consented 10
''crown" the ineytinSuishable fame Of
NJ. Robert Darzac II needed that VI.
Robert Darzac himself should not deny
this matrimonial ruInor TO give It an
appearance of truth, so unlikely did 1t
seem to be well founded. one day,
however. NJ. St2ngerson, as he was
leaving the Academy Of Science. an
nounCed that the marriage of his
daughter and VI. Robert Dar2ac would
be celebrated in the privacy of the
Chateau du Chandler as soon as he and
his daughter had put the finishing
touches to their report summing UP
their labors on the "Dissociaton of
Matter" The new household would in.
stall itself in the Chandler, ard the son
in-law would lend his assistance in the
work to which the father and daughter
had dedicated their lives.
The scientific world had barely had
time to recover from the effect of this
news when it learned Of the attempted
assassinG ton of mademoiselle.
CHAPTER v.