Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1911-04-27

be the good heritage. It must be the
good environment, II must be even
opportunity for all. which alone can
produce good human beings! In short,
believe me, a victim, the hope of the
world is in a real democracy. Slowly.
gradually. l was coming to believe
that"
She paused a moment. Then. one
time, monsieur met you. here in
this very room! God pity mel You
were the first man had ever seen.
God pity NEIL believe I-loved you
that night. that very first night! We
are friends. We are brave. You are
man and gentleman. so ! may say
that, now. ! am no longer woman
am but sacrifice.
Opportunity must exist. open and
free for all the world" she went on,
not looking at me more than ! could
now at her. II have set my life to
prove this thing. When ] came here
to this America-out of pique. out of q
love of adventure. out Of sheer daring
and exultation in imposture-then
saw why was born, for what purpose!
1t was to do such work as might to
prove the theory Of my father. and
to Justify the life Of my mother. For
that thing I was born. For that thing
I have been damned on this earth:
may be damned in the life to come.
unless I can make some great atone
ment. For these I suffer and shall al
ways suffer. But what Of that? There
must always be sacrifice"
The unspeakable tragedy Of her
voice cut to my soul. But listen!" ]
broke out. "You are young. You are
free. All the world Is before you.
You can have anything you like"
"Ah. do not talk to me Of that" she
exclaimed imperiously. do not tempt
me to attempt the deceit of myself!
made myself as am. long ago. I
did not love. did not know 1t. AS
to marriage, did not need It. had
abundant means without. / was In the
upper ranks of society. was there;
I was classified: lived with them.
But always l had my purposes. my
plans. For them I paid. paid. paid.
as a woman must. with-what a wom-
an has.
"But now, I am far ahead Of my
story. Let me bring 1t on. went
to Paris. have sown some seeds
of venom, some seeds Of revolution, in
one place or another in Europe in my
time. All. II works: II will goi Here
and there ! have cost a human life.
Here and there work was to be done
which I disliked; but l did 1t. Mis-
guided, uncared for. mishandled as I
had been-well, as I said, went to
Paris.
"Ah. sir. will you not. too. leave the
room, and let me tell on this story to
myself. to my own soul7 1t is filter
for my confessor than for you"
Let me. then. be your confessor!"
said I. Forget! Forget! You have
not been this which you say. Do not
know"
mo, you do not know. Well. let
be. Let me 60 on! say | went to
Paris. was close TO the throne Of
France. That little duke of Orleans,
son of Louis Philippe. was a puppet
In my hands. oh, do not doubt
did mischief in that court, or at least
II failed It was through no lack Of
effort! I was called there America
vespucci.' They thought me Italian!
At last they came to know who was
They dared not make open rupture
in the face of the courts Of Europe.
Certain of their high officials came to
me and my young duke Of Orleans
They asked me to leave Paris. They
did not command 1.-THE duke of Or
leans cared for that part Of It. But
they requested me outside-not in his
presence. They offered me a price. q
bribe-such an offering as would.
fancied, leave mo free to pursue my
own ideas In my own fashion and In
any corner Of the world. You have
perhaps seen some Of my little fan
cies. imagined that love and hap
piness were never for me-only am
bition and unrest. With these goei
luxury. sometimes. At least this sort
! Of paraonal nhsrty vas offered me-