The Washington herald., 1914-08-16

pay visit to this neighborhood, and you
can understand that did not care to
venture here under my own name. Eight
years in the colonies and a beard will
do wonders for man"
"Yet the princess recognized YOU
Mrs. Poynton said.
at is true" he admitted.
q, too" the princess remarked, have
an explanation to make You have heard
that was governess for two years be-
fore I married the Prince of Berlitz but
, you perhaps did not know that was 4
governess at this house, that it was on
my account even that poor Sir Gervsse
here was accused of shooting his broth
er, who never spoke more than a civil
word to me in his life"
a sudden silence fell upon the little
group. After all, the evidence had been
very strong. Yet they neither of them
looked in the least like guilty people.
"Sir Gervase would rather, perhaps,
that l told you what has happened, what
we have discovered" the princess said
1T is very simple, and the mystery
which has bafled every one so long
does not exist any longer. Adjoining
my sitting-room, from which the shot
was fred, is small secret closet, which
apparently has not been opened for
years. Some months ago we both of
us received anonymous letters, dated
from hospital in Paris, advising US
to explore this place. Hence Sir Ger
vase, hence my broken vow-for l had
sworn never to set foot in England
again. The closet appealed to US as a
likely hiding place for the person who
had fired the shot, but we have been
/ fortunate to discover Jar more import
ant Things"
You found something there?7 one of
! the guests exclaimed.
This" the princess declared, holding
up little volume. 1T is sort OF diary,
tsnd it is very eloquent. Is it your
pleasure that read aloud the last two
extracts only?"
This is very extraordinary" Mrs.
Poynton rnurmured. Yes, please do
read anything whica will elucidate the
matter"
The princess opened the book
This" she said. appears to be the
diary OF one Jules Letrange, valet Of the
late Sir Knowles Philton. The first few
pages are merely highly sentimental
and romantic account OF his affection
for Mile de Caliste. which under the
circumstances you will not expect me
to read. He admits that ne has not dared
to betray himself in any way; he pleads
guilty all the time to a most becoming
doubt as to whether his suit would be
in any way acceptable. He works his
way through all the stages OF frenzy,
however, to madness, and he is evident
ly very near that state when this en-
try was written. You will observe that
it was on the day OF the murder"
September III cannot bear it any
longer! Ii she is not for me. she is for
no one. She favors Monsieur Gervase
"a union impossible for her Me she
passes always by. do not count with
her. l am as the dust on which she
tresds. If she only knew that l have
sworn it, perhaps she would not go out
then to meet her lover, so blithe, so
gay. If she is not for me she is not
for any other man. If l see
her with Monsieur Gervase again, it is
the end
Heaven help mel I tremble all the
time! am afraid! I have shot the
wrong man. l have shot Sir Knowles,
my master. heard him cry out! If
only could get away rom here! I
| hid till it was dark-no one suspects. 1t
is all finished. Tomorrow l may 60. 1
leave this book. They speak OF Mon
sieur GervaSe. will hide myself. and
send word OF this book if they arrest
MIN. ]. ."
The princess closed the little volume
The anonymous letters we both re-
ceived were in the same handwriting.
On my way through Paris I inquired at
the hospital The man is dead. He left
no other confession. He left only this
to tell his story"
Mrs. Poynton shut down her parasol