Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-04-25
LOVES SACR flee

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In lonely house which stood in the
midst of beautiful and well-kept gar.
den and not far distant from tho Bots
d'Artois hunting reservation. there
lived a, man known as Father Mat
thieu. His noble bearing was In strong
contrast to the peasant attire which
he wore. He would sit for hours read.
Ing books and meditating on their con"
tents, and, although he greeted his
neighbors when he met them, the her
nit seldom held conversation with
anyone. This served to arouse curl
osity.
One day as was hurrying through
the woods to join my friends met Fa-
ther Matthew. l passed few casual
remarks to him about hunting, and
was surprised to find how freely he re-
sponded about the sport. suggested
that he should Join US. but he refused
with thanks, saying that he seldom
hunted Of late, though he had former
ly been a passionate game seeker,
The following year, Immediately aft
er my arrival received an invitation
to take supper with Matthew.
The dining room was plain, but deco
rated in excellent taste. On the walls
were hung all kinds Of weapons.
These opened an opportunity for me
to speak Of hunting. found my host
a very interested listener. After a
while he told me some hunting stories
Of his own experience, and it was then
that took courage to ask the great
question:: why do you live as her
mit?"
He hesitated moment and said:
1T Is very sad story, which have
never told to anyone, for had strong
reasons for whose sake have re-
NAMED silent Is dead. l do not hunt
any more because l have seen ter
rible disaster, so full of horror that
took an oath never to touch a gun
again. For rs years I have kept my
oath.
Did you ever hear Of Marquis de
Longepierre? He lived close to this
place on Chateau de Forcey. He was
the most charming host imaginable,
and during the hunting season q gay
and merry crowd Of hunting enthusi-
asts gathered there. The marquis and
his daughter, Diane, were the life and
soul Of every hunt for miles around
Diane was a bewitching creature,
with big, soulful eyes and smiling lips.
She was full of life and spirit and en-.
Enthusiastically fond of hunting. She
was an excellent shot, too.
1.-The countryside was full Of deer,
and from the very first the certainty
Of a heavy bag made the hunters wild
with excitement. Diane alone seemed
to be in bad luck. Only few. ~bares
that nobody would think of shooting
had come within range of her gun.
AT last buck leaped out in front
of her. She fred and the deer, rec.
ord specimen. dropped dead. She had
hardly time to reload her gun when a
whole host Of deer came up. They
broke through the space between the
Marquis and Diane. l saw her raise
her gun and take aim. shouted to
her not to shoot, but 1t was too late.
1.-TWO shots rang out, followed by a
cry of pain. The marquis ran for
ward, threw his arms in the air and
dropped dead. The bullet had passed
through his heart.
Il cannot describe the scene which
followed. We all ran up and did what
we could to console Diane and get her
away from her fathers body, fearing
that she was about to 90 insane.
Suddenly she arose. Her face was
CHASTITY pale, but her voice was firm.
and she cried: Who did that?'
mo answer came, but as she repeat
ed her question in voice that showed
that she was on the verge Of break
down, her guide stepped forward and
declared himself guilty.
diane did not say word. With
flaming eye she raised her hand
against the guide and then turned
away with an expression Of contempt.
Mile Diane, who later married Ba-
ran de Vandreuil, died some time ago.
Now l may tell the truth-she shot
her father herself
Her guide did not fire at all, but
in that dreadful moment he realized
that the beautiful girls life would be
ruined If she knew the truth, so he
preferred to sacrifice himself, and he
has never regretted it." =.
did not doubt for moment that
my host himself was the martyr and
finally asked him what caused him to
take the terrible guilt upon himself.
Then his brown cheek blushed slightly
and he said softly:
Il loved Diane de Longepierre. Her
peace Of mind and happiness were
more to me than my own life or ca
reer."