New-York tribune., 1911-11-26

merchants and luDOrcTS, women ana Cll'ICll VIII
best Sunday clothes on, were assembled IN the old
church TO witness the marriage Of lvonne dc kermor,
the only child Of their beloved landlord and bcncactor
Count de Kcrnor, to Marquis Gontrn de RandaL IL
was not a marriage de coHrcndnce mere exchange Ql
titles and coroncts for the bridegroom and the bde
had known each other from childhood. Neither was II
a marriage for money for the groom was at least as
wealthy as the bride It WAS a marriage for love
Yyonnc was a beautiful woman, highly educated, ol
refined tastes charitable excess; but at the same time
of extreme frmncss. She true Breton Gontran
was n typical nobcman. At the age OF seventeen dur
ing the Prssian War. he enlisted IN the Bat
talon of Sharpshootcrs of Cathcncau and took most
active part in the defense OF small open town, VII
lancsla- Iuhcl when one hundred and twenty German
HnssdrdS de Ia Mort were either killed, wounded or
taken prisoners This brave little town was saved from
complete destruction by heavy artillery through the
timely signing of the armiscc early in 1871. Dur
ING these slrmishcS GOntran wounded three times
his acts Of bravery duly reported to the Secretary
of War and in other circumstances he would certainly
have received the cross Of the Legion of Honor.
Every symptom pointed TO happiness, rank title,
fortune and love Yet, in this azure sky, there was
cloud Marquis de Randall was strongly inclined to
gambling and betting. Count de kcrmor was well
aware OF it. and, while his future son in law had dowry
even larger than that OF his daughter he eXaCcd IN
order to protect Yvonne against the curse OF gambling
that the contract Of marriage be under the Regime de
separation de bicHS.
The Young couple settled at the Chateau de Sorges,
thirty miles south OF Paris, which was given by her
father to the new Marquisc Only one child was born
to them daughter, whose birth came near costing the
life Of the mother.
FOR three or four years the sweet influence Of Yvonne
saved Gontran from the evil OF gambling. hen
the demon that was rampant gained absolute control
over him. Being a member Of the Jockey Club and OF
the Betting Club where baCCarat and ecare are played
daily and nightly for heavy stakes he began to neglect
his wife and his daughter. He a constant loser. and
soon in order pay his debts dhoHHeW, he had first
to mortgage and finally TO sell all his properties.
He made his wifcs life unbcarabc; slowly but surely
they became cSrangcd, Gvonnc remaining in the castle
of Sorgcs with her daughter Yoandc while her husband
occupied bachelor apartments on Boulevard Eaussrlan.
His only visits TO SorgcS when after heavy loss
he had mpoc his wife to TO his rescue to save
what he called "thc honor OF the name.
For over fourteen years gambling hung the head
of Yvonnc like relentless and pitlcss sword. Nolandc
was now beautiful Young woman raised by her mother
in the srctcst manner. From her mother she mad IN
heritcd rnncss, or rather tcndCty most uncommon
in Young girls of her age from her father, profound
dislan for mere necessities Of life She loved her mother
for her devotion and her patience; she loved her father
for his very faults
Nevertheless the cstrangcmcnt between these two
beings she loved dearly and their frequent QudrrcS.
had foscrcd in her the mcdatvc almost sullcn mood
inbom in every Breton.
FEW DAYS before the tragedy took place the faith
u wife sent 10 her husband the following letter,
which WAS found in his desk after his arrest:
Herewith send YOU a check for five thousand francs
had saved This money for the trousscau Of loandc II Is
and myself have lived here quietly, even economically IN
order 10 pay your gambling debts As long my income
was sufficient well and good; but remember VIII never
reduce my daughter 10 poverty and want o satisfy Your
craving cards do here any and
yourself the shame OF lmponng mc for money 1t would be
useless As mother place the future of NY daughter Tar
above your so called honor OF gambler. This Is hua
Three days later be- lost SIR bIyoc over twenty thou
sand dollars. He had only twcntyour hours pay IT,
under penalty Of being expelled from the club He
hirc an automobile and driven 10 the castle Of
Sorlcs He alightcd al the iron gate, dismissed the
chauffeur and entered the park that surrounded the
chateau.