Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-12-05

answer me one thing more-why did |
you first assume the character of |
Rene. and why did you repose such
instant trust In meY'
Il think l myself hardly knew" she
admitted timidly. "It all happened,
was born Of impulse, rather than
through any plan. Perhaps it was just
the woman In me. After my father
died, Della thought it best to tell us
the story of Rene's birth. This-this
was such a terrible tale, and later we
sought all through his private papers,
hoping he had taken some action to
set those two free. There was no
proof that he had, no mention, indeed,
except a memorandum Of intention to
refer the matter to Lawyer Haines at
the Landing. This merely served to
confirm what Della had told us, and,
as Haines had gone to st. Louis, we
were unable to see him. We were all
Of us nearly crazed. So suggested that
we run away, and drew money out Of
my private account for that purpose.
My only thought wes to take steam
er up the Ohio, to some place where
we were not known. and begin life
over again. Oh, you cannot under
stand-I had no mind left; only
blind impulse to save them"
caught her hand in mine and held
| It firmly.
Perhaps I do understand. 1t was
my knowledge of this very condition
which first brought me to you"
"You heard about us on the boat
the Warrior? Did father tell your"
mo; 1t was Kirby. He was actual
| ly proud of what he had done-boast-
ed to me of his success. have never
known a man so heartlessly conceited.
Eloise, listen. You may have thought
this was largely an accident. 1t was
not; it was deliberately planned
cold-blooded plot. 1 tell you that Joe
Kirby is of the devils own breed; he
is not human. Rene's father told him
first of the peculiar conditions at Beau
caire."
"Rene's fatherl Does-does he still
liveT
mo; but he did live for years after
he disappeared, supporting himself by
gambling on the lower river. At one
time he and Kirby were together. AZ
ter he died Kirby investigated his
story in st. Louis and found that it
was true. Then he laid this plot to
gain control of everything, including
both Of you girls. The man dreamed
of owning Beaucaire, of possessing all
1t contained. He was willing to risk
everything to carry out his hell-born
scheme, and to ruin everyone who In
terfered with him. 1 am telling you
! all this, Eloise, because it is now time
you should know. VIII you not tell
me just how it all came to you?"
Her hands clung to me, as though
she dare not let go, her eyes were
filled with a mingling of wonderment
and pain.
'Why, Of course. We thought II
: best not to go until after we could sex
, the lawyer. / could not believe my
, father had neglected to set those two
. free-he-he loved them both. Delis
, and Rene had gone down to the Land
, ing that night to see II he had re
turned. We were both of us afraid II
leave Rene alone-she was so despon
, dent, so unstrung. 1t was dark and
was all alone in the house. Then thes'
men came. They did not know m,
and I did not know them, but wa
: sure what they came for. / was ter
ribly frightened, without an idea wha
to do-only I refused to talk. All
e could do was to pray that the other
: might be warned and not return. The,
< searched the house and then left thi
: man Tim to guard me. He told me h
e was deputy sheriff from st. Louis
e and-and l encouraged him to explain
t all he knew about the case. Then
made up my mind what to dol woul
t pretend to be Rene, and let them carr
+ me off instead of her."
"But did you not realize the DANCE
to yourself?"
h mo, suppose 1 didn't, or, rather,
/ did not care. All thought about wa
2 how to save her. These were law off
r GERS; they would take me to st. Loui
t before q court. Then / could max
y myself known and would be set fre,
f They couldn't do anything else, coul
y they? There was no law by which
D could be held, but-but, don't you see
e The delay might give Rene time to e.
r cape. That was not wrong, was it?
Wrong! 1t was one of the braves
= things 1 ever heard of. And I kno,
l. the rest-your encounter with Kirb
In the library. / overheard all of tbs
n through the open window, and no,
n you, learned from him that certai
II legal papers would have to be serve
v on Eloise Beaucaire before any of I'll
IS slaves could be touched, or remove
o from the estate. That knowledge onl
brought you new courage to play O,
your part. But why did you trust N
enough to go with me-? And, aft,
trusting me so fully, why did you r
, fuse to tell me who you really were
Il Her eyes fell before mine, and b,
q cheeks were flushed.
Y you think that strange? did tru
you, Lieutenant Knox, and 1 truste
you more completely the longer v
were together. But-but 1 did n
wholly understand. You were endea
q oring to rescue Rene from slavery.
"a could not conceive what interest "
u might feel if I should confess myse
Eloise. You were strange to me-; v
were there alone with the negro, al
and somehow it seemed a protectit
Z to me to claim drop of black bloc
Twice thought to tell you-the wor
!. were on my Hps-but somethil
VI stopped them. Possibly, Just little
was afraid of you."
"Then-but not nowT'
"No, not now-not even little; "
have proven yourself all ever hop
you would be. l am glad-so glad
fi- say to you now, 1 am Eloise Beau
We She stopped suddenly, the wo
i'll half uttered, the smile fading from h
,ly lips. "My God!" she burst fort
is But 1 am notl 1 am not Why,
lis never felt the horror of it all before
err am not Eloise Beaucaire!"