Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 12, Number 42, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 15 April 1882 — Page 2

Page PDF (10.17 MB)

Back to issue view

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

TKRItK HAUTE, APRIL 15, 1882

PUBLICATION OFFICE,

lBKonUi 5th si., Printing House Square.

YIDA CAROLAN

OB,

FATAL BEAUTY.

CHAPTBK XXXV I.

THK FLT IK THB ITBT.

Ill deeds will rise, Tho* all the world o'crwholm tbem to men's eyes. —SHAKKSPEAHE.

One snowy night in January Count de Lasaulx

WAS

quitting '•Russell's,*' and as

Fanchette opened the door, the snow blew in his

face.

He drew back with a mut

tered "Saprirtir and Fanchette said coquettishly: "Would monsieur come within for a while and sit down? Perhaps the storm will pass." ••Not too aoon, then, I hope," said the count. "Ah, Fanchette, yon offer me a tineas too great to be cast aside. I not say that I will accept your invitation." "Then follow me, monsieur."

Fanchette led the way to a small sittingroom, well lighted and warmed by an ample fire. She set a chair by the fire for the count, and lierself took one close by, and Lasaulx. with absolute heroism, took one of her ill-sbaped hands in his own delicate fingers. "This hand," said be gallan never made to do hard work," bis own mind ho wondered what der heaven it was meant for. "Ah, monsieur," said Farchette, "how many of us fulfil our destiny? Vet, M. le Comte, I \vo3 born a peasant." "A perfectly unnecessary announcement thought the count but aloud he said: "Fanchette, there are Nature's kings and queens found sometimes in the humblest ranks. I, as you know, am an aristocrat, but I cannot help seeing that some of the moat beautiful, the noblest women, are of peasant birth. Hr,w is this? We cannot say we know the fact. Fate sets them to work in the fields, to sell at the counter, to ply the needle, to do a hundred Jiard and sometimes almost degrading tasks but Nature intended them to be clothed in satin, to adorn a higher rank, to rule men's heart?, to be queens of the beau monde."

"was

gh in

elae un-

The sublime vanity and gross ignorance of the vulgar woman to whom this rh od onion fade was addressed, mado her accept it ia the most absolute good faith.

Dare Devereux'a sense of humor had induced him to lay on the color with needless breadth and brilliancy of tone, but be 'WIUH perfectly convinced that nothing would be too strong for the mental vision •of Hester Ransome servant and accomplice, and the event justified his faith in his companion's credulity.

Fanchette Boiiled complacently, and thoroughly believed that this courtly, refined aristocrat was in love with her, and jaot only uttered his impression of her, but •vtbe j-eal truth concerning her. "No such luck for me," she said, sighing- bad to work from, the time I was ion venrs oMi u'T nt«ir Trwm lenyeiiiuu'ui alwavs seemw* never in my woi

Fanchette! cried the count, how unjust is Fate! hovrunequ&l the dms ion of her favors! Howrnanydolsee the Bois, in the drive in Hyde Far the Unter der Linden.^oh ttfe Oof Lung' wear fashion display ttaemeelvj^

macnif "^®ses»

)S\!»

gorgeous clothing, an J^are duchesses, compared to you.

tl haye 4(le.

c0^!J(frianie9,

and you are

•.id'von tiefoM t|gMjntht5

MI.VRIlt at

simply Fanehwere you to takq the a gaining women, who would .^"v^s'de you? lorgnette wou

yotl'Every

wouVSH ^,)0

[j0Vfli|fftShionable

voul,J|liViiight

evury touguo

fiturw** strictly true. There could I jo 4"estion about the sensation Mdlle. pichite would create at any of the

resorts but she, of

Aursijfaw the picture in i-everse order, And lufcn" wonder whether the count

make the otfer she antici-

pnted/rf a villa and the usual appurteft ,lRneof».thereof, carriages, fine clothes, and plenty ofsrich food. porsorts of Fanchette's class are usually '.fondi^tbe good things of this life, and wlmtovcr else is lacking, will strain any point Jo ftbtain good eating ami Fanchetta^»nsUR^ty

waa

chiefly confined to

the essentially animal love of foot!. Her iva8sions wore" not strong she was profoundly avaricious—almost incredibly

vain—-out

in her flirtation with M. de La

saulx the wordly advantages to be gained •were all she cared fbr. She was vicious, simfily because she 'bad no virtues bat Fanchette would •never have leen led into sin through passion. She had fixed her eyes upon a certain goal—money, and sbo would as sooa •commit on*» sin as another in the attainment of ber object.*'•'Monsieur tlattei-s,'' said she, looking dotfu and playing with the corner of her apron it was a muslin apron with lace trimming8,.JV* di mon ame-. I ppeak truth,'' said the count earnestly. "It is cruel for Such woman as you to be a servant—the servant, too, of a wonttan like Mr?. Russell.,' '"Servant!" Fanchette tossed her head A little. "Well, yes, I am a servant, monsieur, but not altogether as you mean." "All. I 1° not doubt you are valued— more Mend than servant. How could it »be otherwise? Hut suppose—the least •quarrel—a misunderstanding, and madaine .lends you "Does shef I fancy not. Madame is too wise-* "Ah. I understand! You are also 'too wjse,_«h, my Fanchette?** -But—but—1 »ay nothing these things .monsieur understands." ••Yes. ye*»" said Lasaulx a little coldly ri^ie* in whic||» Fanchette He moved kfc* chair a little further he loomed bis clasp of the wonmn's haml. «NoW monsieur is jealous!" said Fan-

•«I nwn it. What is any affection worth that has »ot in it the element of jealousy -Well well, there ia no need mad ame I rj,a8 —who baa not! But I am no her deetls I only know of them, I Understand iffes. a^ain I understand that I am to gfCt yon. and you are not to trust me." "Monsieur is cruel when secrets are one's own "CSmt! dW Kut why am I to believe that» Fanchette

Fanchette began to protest, but M. le Comte de Lawnlx was not so easily pot off. He was ready to do a great deal for Fanchette he dropped very broad bints about villas, and carriages, and what not but he would not be deceived.

Then Fanchette changed her tactics. 8he would tell a tale that would satisfy the count. Her canning was after all cunning only, and that of a low-bred, ignorant woman. She was perfectly unable to cope with a cultivated intelligence, even of an inferior order to that of the man with whom she had to deal, and she was, of course, unaware of the knowledge be already possessed. So at last she began: "If I tell you the truth, monsieur, will, you promise to keep it secret—and, indeed, I was not to blame." "Of course, I will promise, Fanchette." "Eb, bien! it was this way: Some years ago madame was—was married, and her husband, monsieur knows—at least now I tell him—ber husband he committed a forgery, and he was put to the travaux force*, and "And," said M.xle Lafi&ulx, interrupting the halting narrative, "you have not a good turn for narrative, my Fanchette, and eo you are putting a lie together very clumsily. No I do not believe a single word that you say. ITimporU, there are many in the world handsome enough, if not as handsome as you, who are not above my terms, and who have no black secret in the past to hide." "Oh, monsieur! black secret—why do you use such a terrible word? I have done no wrong." "Again, I ask, how am I know that! You have done no wrong then were you an accomplice Do you doubt me Should I betray you, Fanchette! Ab, no but there must be confidence."

He rose as he spoke, and seemed as if he would have quitted the room but Fanchette threw herself before the door. "Monsieur," she panted, "I did no crime, I swear to you but madame—the crime was hers—I did but assist her afterwards. Years ago, madame bad a lover—he had left his wife—but after a few years he grew weary of madame, he would return to his wife. Madame was furious the lover was rich. Madame had his money —she won it nearly all from him—she would not let liim leave her she loved him, and besides, she feared if he told how he was cheated. Bo she poisoned him. I had nothing to do with that, only I helped ber to cariy him out to the Seine, and we threw him inf and all the world thought it was a suicide. That is all, monsieur, on my honor that is all."

Fanchette had told her tale hurriedly, and in great trepidation. After |dl, there was nothing to commit herself in it, at least to^I. de Lasai. who was ready to be Stt her feet, and uid have no possible motive in betraying him aud his manner of receiving the explanatioa was reassuring.

He started, certainly, and drew back but the next moment his face softened he was evidently disposed to take the most lenient view of Fancliette's share in the transaction. "Does monsieur believb me?" asked the woman anxiously. "Yes, Fanchette your words bear now the impress of truth. But this Englishman, who was he? What was his name?"

Fanchette had not said the lover was an Englishman, but in her agitation forgot this fact, as M. de Lasaulx calculated she would, and sho replied at once: "Would monsieur know all? What imports his name? It was Claremont." cried the "conftt—om-JS

was a beniy found in the Seine, it was that of a Mr. Claremont. I was in Paris and heard of it, but the name of bis mistress was Ransome—Hester Ransome she, too, was English. Then madame is not Russell, but Ransome. But/' as Fanchette lifted her band with an imploring gesture, "the secret is safe with me. Pooh, pooh! what are all these things to me? This Englishman, what care I? I am no avenger of other men's wrongs. Cheer up, Fanchette, and forgive me. I am jealous no longer."

He took her hand and kissed it he led her to the chair beside his own, and_ told her of a beautiful villa at Auteuil in which he would place her and when Fanchette felt thoroughly secure, he came back to the Englishman an* Hester Ransome. "But, indeed." he said, "that was a great crime. Did she tell you beforehand of her intentions?" "No more than this," returned Fanchette, "that he should not live to return to his wife. I knew that madame was not very scrupulous, but I did not know exactly'what she was going to do, and when it was done she told me. It was one night she and Mr. Claremont were having supper together, she put poison in his wine, and he died within ten minutes. Then madame came to me—the house, you understand, was close to the Seine. •We mnst cast the corpse into the Seine,' she said, 'and it would seem that the Englishman had committed suicide.' So, in the dead c# night, we carried bim out, she and I, but it was a horrid task, and we were so terrified lest by some means the police should discover it. Well, we threw the Englishman over into the water and the next day he was found and taken to the Morgue, and they telegraphed for Mr. Dare Devereux, who has lately married the beauty, Vida Carolan, to come and identify the body, and be came but no one ever knew that it was the poison, and not the water, that killed Mr. Clai-emont." "And probably no one ever will know it, Fanchette, especially as there is no proof of all this." "No proof! Oh, no, no proof at all," 'cried the woman, with such eagerness that the Count de Lasaulx saw his bait had taken. Fanchette, like the playerqueen in "Hamlet," did "protest too much," and so betrayed the fact that there were other proofs in existence beeides her comparatively barren statement of fact." "So much the better," said the count, taking ber hand again. "Ab, well! we shall not trouble about the past, you and I it is all the future and, as I say, what are madame's delinquencies to us

So Fanchette's equanimity was restored, and when, ten minutes later, the count took his leave, and mademoiselle was the richer by balf-a-sovereign, peace waa restored, and M. le Comte de Lasaulx had almost pledged himself to provide a villa at Auteuil. and a pair of high-step* per* for the Bois." "By Heaven!" thought he as he wended his way homewards. "Morality apart, imagine Dare Devereux endowing with sealskin and diamonds such an object as Fanchette! Why, I should never bear the last of it at the clubs. Sapritti! How degraded I feel to speak honeyed, words to that animal! Well the drama is drawing to its cloee. For the next act we must have the help of Mr. CriSbrd West A

SaUme

»werfnl narcotic will be necessary. and her choice domestic must sleep soundly one night.. To-morrow

Loulae Clarentont shall beet me in Oav-endish-square." OHAPTBB xxxvn.

I A OOMPOSORO

Before leaving "Russell's" the night after Fanchette's confession, Devereux conr trived to whisper to Madame Claremont to go to Giffbm West's bouse in Cavendishsquare the following evening, without fail, and she answered him: "I will not fail." I "Come," he said, "as if you were a patient. Say you have an appointment, and give any name you please."

Devereux himself was earlier at the rendezvous than he bad told his confederate to lie, and West led his friend at once to his study. "Well." said the former, closing the door. "What news, Devereux?" "Firstly, mon ami, I have almost promised the lovely Fanchette a villa at Auteuil and a Victoria. But I ought not to jest. Seriously, I have got from her, with surprising ease, a confession of the crime." "Devereux, how did you manage it?" "I have told you—easily. I pretended to be jealous, etc. But I shall have to tell the whole story to Madame Claremont. And here, if I mistake not, she cjmes."

A ring at the patients' bell was speedily followed by the entrance of Edwards with the announcement that a lady named Dannetbon had called, and said she had an appointment with Mr. West.

She had been shown into the consulting room. "Very well," said the surgeon. "I will come to her in a moment."

And as soon as Edwards was gone. West went out, returning at once with Louise Claremont. "Madame Claremont,* 'Devereux said, when she was seated, "you remember my telling you that I knew your husband to be no suicide, but that he died by foul means?" "Yes," she answered directly. "The letter I showed you," continued Devereux, "was presumptive evidence of that fact, but not absolute proof. That proof waa furnished by Mr. West."

The Frenchwoman's quick intelligence seized the truth at once she turned deadly pale ber lips half formed the word, '•Poison!" "Poison!" Devereux repeated. "Believing, from his letter, that your husband bad not destroyed his own life, but had been mui*dered by Madame Ransome, I brought bis body to England, and before consigning it to his relations for burial, West made an examination with this result: that he found Percival Claremont to have been killed by a swift and subtle poison that left no outward sign. I feared to tell you this until I knew you better but now I have no longer any fear besides, the truth cannot further be delayed since the time has come to play the last card in the game."

The shock of the intelligence just communicated to Madame Claremont was of uau not already known that her husliana had been murdered and fi-om the absence of any wound on the body when found, it was almost certain that poison was the agent employed but the actual proof of a fact, previously known without exact proof, always comes with a certain shock, and for a few moments Louise Claremont sat speechless, her face buried if) &er tiwfo Then she raided her head, her features still deadly pale, but resolute. "Tell me the rest," she said calmly.

Then Devereux detailed his experience of the previous night, adding: "Of course, the woman lied when she said that she knew nothing of the matter until after the murder was accomplished, and she was called upon to assist in carrying the corpse to the river she musthave known of it beforehand but even if she did not, she is guilty as an accessory, and the French law would not allow her to escape, though she in ber ignorance imagines that as she did not commit the murder, her share in hiding it carries with it no legal guilt. As to moral guilt, the wretch has not conscience enough to feel a pang of remorse. She would commit any crime for the sake of money."

Madame Claremont shuddered. "And now," she said, "what is the next step?" "To search for farther evidence. To attain this end, we mnst call in once more the aid of West's medical knowledge. We need a drug that shall produce long and deep sleep but not death. Could you contrive to-morrow night to administer such a drug to Madame Ransome—that is, in the small hours of the morning?" "Easily. She always takes something to eat and a glass of claret. I do not take wine, but chocolate. Therefore, I can drop into the wine anything that would have the desired effect." "And I," said Devereux, "will manage Fanchetlc. The drug. West, must bo powerful but not too swift, lest madame's suspicions should be aroused." "If they were," said West, smiling, "she would find it difficult to fight against the narcotic I will give yon. It is utterly tasteless, and begins to be felt within an hour after it is taken but the feeling of sleepiness comes on too gradually to be noticed, and, indeed, the effect, finally, is more like that of a swoon. The victim becomes utterly unconscious, and remains so for about four hours, during- which time it wpuld be most difficult to rouse him. Tnen be gradually cranes to himself but the return to full consciousness is as slow as the collapse. I will ^ive you the drug at once, with written directions for its use." 11 He rose as he spoke, and presently returned with two small phials, giving one to Devereux, and the other to Madame Claremont. "What subsequent steps are taken," aaid the former, "will, of course, depend on what we may discover to-morrow night. That there are existing proofs I have no sort of doubt from Fanchette's manner of denying the fact, and Hester Ransome is not the woman to allow any damaging documents out of her sight." "But what folly," said West, "to keep any such documents "A folly committed every day by more clever villains than Hester Ransome. Besides, consider bow thoroughly secure she feels herself. How should she dream of there being any evidence of murder! There could not, therefore, she would imagine, be any great peril in the possession of 4pcumente which would prove her

TERRE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MALL

DRAUGHT.

The ame .bad now came for Louise Claremont to be told the whole truth about her husband's death.

Devereux bad already said that he knew positively that the supposed suicide was really a murder, but be bad not given any reason for that statement other than the letter by which it was apparent that Percival Claremont, so far from meditating suicide, intended toreturn to bis allegiance to wife and friend. Devereux bad now fully tested Madame Claremont's strength of nerve and power of dissimulation, and be did not fear to trust her with the terrible truth.

to haver^been on intimate relations with PerciYal Claremont—a fact which might easily, perchance, be proved by living witnesses." "But," said West, "if you discover no further evidence than what you already possess, can you convict Hester Ransome of murder! You have my certificate to the effect that Percival Claremont died through the administration of such and such a poison you have Fanchette's confession that she was what in English law is called 'accessory after the fact,' which statement there is nothing to prevent her from denying in toto, as her mistress most assuredly will so that, in reality, my evidence is all that can be relied upon as proof of murder. Would that be sufficient!" -***s

Devereux shook bis head. "I doubt it but it would, at any rate, be enough to place Hester Ransome in my power—to make her a complete pariah, for no human being could doubt that she and Fanchette were guilty of murder. It will compel Hester

Ransome

to give all

the information she possesses concerning Percival Claremont's child. If I gain so much I can waive the legal penalty but I am not quite sure on this latter point." "Heaven speed you," said West, "to the unravelling of this mystery. Hester Ransome certainly deserves no meed of mtrcy, for she has shown none. She seems to possess not one redeeming quality, and the least of her crimes is the crime by which she earns her daily bread* preying upon the sin and folly of others^ and chiefly of the young ana easily led. Men shudder at what they are pleased to call 'monsters'—some uglv reptile or fourfooted beast but of all the vfle creatures in creation, there is none to equal a thoroughly wicked human being." "Especially," said Madame Claremont, "a wicked woman." "Aye," returned Gifford West. "Your sex, madame, being usually better than ours morally, sinks the lower when it ceases to be moral. The more delicate the instrument is, the more complete the ruin."

Devereux and Louise Claremont did not leave the surgeon's bouse together. Madame Claremont went first, and returned quickly to Duke-street, and Dare Devereux went back to Carlton-gardens, where Vida was having a music party, and little dreaming how awfully near was the bursting of the volcano that might destroy her life.

The next evening, M. le Comte de Lasaulx again made his appearance in Dukestreet, and play went Driskly as usual. Madame Merville won over a hundred pounds from the count by cheating, and Hester Ransome, by the same means, gained fifty pounds. But when the gamblers departed, the count, instead of passing into the street, entered Fanchette's little parlor and sat down by her capital fire. 'Tis bitterly cold," ho said, shivering, as he drew nearer to the blaze. "Cold, in that fur, monsieur?" said she, surveying, with a pleased eye, the richlyfurred ulster in which M. de Lasaulx's form was enveloped.

Fanchette did not admire the fur so much from an {Esthetic as a mercenary point of view. It augured well for the count's wealth that he could afford such costly apparel. "I am, indeed," said ho "but have you nothing in whicli I may pledge you, Fanchette?" "Truly, that have I. Good claret! Madame, as you may well suppose, dare D«fc./if»nv me anything. And why should best of claret No, noVfto i-lin nhc»Abe as good as that which Madame drinks."

So saying, she went to a corner

board and brought forth a bottle and two tumblers, filling both with wine, and, as she turned to replace the bottle, Lasaulx, quick as lightning, emptied the contents of the small phial West had given him into one of the glasses, drawing the other towards himself. Fanchette came back to the table and seated herself unsuspiciously. "I drink to the loveliest of her sex," said the count, raising his glass and drinking a little of the wine.

Fanchette simpered, and without more ado, tossed off the contents of her glass as if it had been water. The woman was not intemperate, but she could drink wine like a fiacre driver or a concierge.

The count's eyes flashed he smiled, but Fanchette certainly did not read his smile. "It is excellent wine," he said approvingly "madame has it admirable but it is not such wine as my Fanchette will presently drink." "No," said she, laughing, "that will bo of the best, will it not?" "Of the best, if wine is allowed in prison," thought the coudt but he replied by a string of compliments, and kept up convei-sation—if what passed could be dignified by that name—for an} hour. Then Fanchette began to complain of sleepiness. The count rallied ber. It was the wine, he said she had taken too much but Fanchette stoutly, and truthfully enough, denied this charge then grew more incoherent in speech, and began to nod next her head dropped. Lasaulx made some remark to wnich there was no response lower and lower drop

Devereux1, without a word, closed ne door of Fanchette's room, and noiselefly followed Louise Claremont ujp the st*m. "This way," she said, passing the Oor of the talon "to her room first."

And the next moment she had otfied the door of Hester Ransome's apartrnt. CHAFTBB XXXVIIL I l'«

ped the woman's head and suddenly "it now the end I strove for has fell forward on the table she was in a

deep, heavy slumber. Devereux smiled, from me, but if I do not give and bending down lifted the prostrate,^0 will hear it from a thousand

bead it was like lifting that of a corpse,JW)l&Ve8* there was no sign of awakening. He laid his victim down again, and, folding hif arms, waited.

Not for long. In about ten minute/ there was a gentle tap at the door. Devj ereux rose and opened it. Louise Clar' mont stood without, and Dare drew bf into tb roomfand pointed to Fanchette. "Ah abe said, "then all will be wJ« Hester Ransome also sleeps. I rucce in dropping the drug into her wine w! ebe was for a moment absent' from room. She is past all power of what is done. Come, lot there may much to do."

P0CCXB5TABT BTIDKrCB.

Louise Claremont and ber com passed noiselessly upwards, and th er, pausing on the landing above tlupfen, opened a door and entered a room *®iy lighted by the rays of a small Up.— Obedient to her sign Dare Devere* followed her, and beheld a large audi andsomelyrfurnisbed bed-chamber, annpon the bed, wrapped in a dressing-crO, lay the motionless form of Hester RUotne. Seep had overcome ber while & was preparing herself for rest, and had flung herself on the bed, in sluoe** so deep that an inexperienced ey, might have taken it fqr death.

ion

took up the lamp, and bent per. There was not the eyelid—not a pause in the tions of the breath. Gifford bad taken good effect, do." said Devereux quietly,

and, still retaining the lamp he surveyed the It contained no article of furniture designed for the keeping of any letters or documents. With the exception of a small escritoire there was nothing that was

noLiUk-Strict

harmony with the special

character of the apartment. There was nothing for it but to search in every possible receptacle. No easy task, yet one from which Dare Devereux, always punctilious where women were concerned, did not, in this case, for a moment shrink, though even to Hester Ransome he would show as much respect as was compatible with the attainment of his end. .—

He commenced upon a large chest of drawers, standing by while Madame Claremont actually searched the drawers, but nothing was "here brought to light. Next came the toilet-table, followed by two other tables with a similar result in each case. Cupboards, wardrobes, boxes, were searched all in vain, and at length Madame Claremont opened a small box, apparently containing handkerchiefs only turning these over she came to a packet of receipts, and was about to cast them aside when Devereux arrested her hand, and took the packet from her. "We will search this," he said quietly, and cut the binding string, and half a dozen letters fell on the table. "Oh, mon DituF burst from Louise in a half whisper.

Devereux said not a word, but silently took up the letters written long years ago by bis dead friend. "Read tbem!" said the wife, as he hesitated. "I cannot do it."

Devereux obeyed her, while Madame Claremont sat by him, ber face hidden in her hands. "There is nothing," he said presently, "for your ears they are such letters as a roan infatuated of a bad woman would write to ber. Nevertheless

But Louise shook her head. "No," she said, "he loved mo once he would have returned to me. Keep those letters if they are needed for evidence, so be

cup*

but I do not desire to hear any

thing to further blacken my husband's name." Most of the other paper's were ordinary tradesmen's receipts out one carefully folded brought astern smile to Devereux'* lips he read it, and handed it to Louise. It was written in Italian in Madame Ransome's own hand. "I cannot read Italian,1* said Madame Claremont. "What is it?" "It is a recipe," said Devereux, "for the poison with which Percival Claremont was poisoned, and directions how to administer it—almost' damning evidence of murder."

There was a moment's deadly silence then Louise spoke: "Shall you have her arrested?", "Assuredly." I

He placed all the papers in bis poCketbook, and added: 7s* "I shall go at once and got a detectivo to watch the house. When Hester Ransome and Fanchette revivo it is possible they may imagine they have been .drugged. Play your game still, and bo extra carefui but you will not bo long "alone. As early as it can bo obtained, I will procure a warrant, and have both these women arrested. I dare not remain longer now, for a premature discovery on MadDla B&isome's part of the fact that she j»nd defeat" ulTfotn lilfcu|?§vD§Vilon8 to you,

The room was speedily re-arranged, and all signs of the search that had taken place obliterated, and in ten minutes the Comte de Lasaulx had quitted the house, never to return to it in bis assumed character.

Within an hour a detective was watching the bouse in Duke-street, and Devereux went homewards. The time for explanation had arrived. Vida must know now what had taken bim so often from her side. But not to-night.

Breakfast the next mornjjftr (it was always early in Carl ton-gardens) passed almost in silence. A heavy, nameless foreboding hung over Vida, and when her husband rose and asked her to follow him to the library, sho was hardly astonished some $1 news be had to tell her, she knew, and somehow she felt that her own miserable secret was in some way to be brought to light.

Pefereux closed the door, and turning to lii| wife held out his hands. She put hers in them without a word, but with a that

change of color in her face it escape his glance. da," he said quietly, "perhaps you htv^ divined so much of my reason for askjbg you to come here with me just n«( as to suppose it concerns my condfldt for some time past. I did not tell jou at the time what it was that com jel/ed me to be so often absent from you, tirfl would noftrouble you, knowing that (1 ready you were unhappy and had much to bear. You gave me a trust which was, inihis case, at any rate not misplaced,Jfor Ihk work that forced me to act so strangeywas nothing that could shame me to

and„exP1f"atT,°?

£?ly

Paler and paler grew Vida's cbcek, but e*

she said mechanically: '"Goon!"

"Did you ever," said Devereux, "chance to bear the name of Hester Ransome?" "With a swift movement Vida snatched

vber

bands from her husliand's, and fell down on ber knees, covering her face, crouching at his feet like a stricken creature. ••My God!" was all she said. "Oh, my God!" "Vida!"

For a moment Devereux was too uf terly bewildered to speak or move, save for that one word. He gazed down at the aewering form like one in a dream. What bad Vida to do with Hester Ransome? And ere even thought bad ccme to him distinctly, Vida had looked up, and lifted berselt stretching out locked bands towards bim, and lifting a lace wild with agony and terror. "Dare," she said hoarsely, "what have you done? Tell me, for the love of Heaven! What have yon doneP' •Tell me rather," Devereux said sternly, "what this woman is to you, that the mention of her name has wrought this change in you "You must know it now, Dare. Kill me if ybu choose. I loved you so—and Iio turn away. I cannot—I

The beautiful bead was bowed again, down almost to the ground the next words came in a broken whisper: "Hester Ransome is my mother!" "Your mother! Percival Claremont's murderess—your mother!" "Murderess!" Vida sprang to her feet

Continued on Third Page.

81 nee the days Hippocrates no re edy has obtained boundless confide or conferred on kind so eetimab blessing as 8wa Ointment.

"Swayne's Ointment "Swayne's Ointment1 "Swayne'8 Ointment' "Swayne'8 Ointment" "SwayneM ointment" "Swayne's Ointment" "Swayne's Ointment" "Swayne's Ointment" "Swayne's Ointment" "Swayne's Ointment" "Swayne's Ointment" "Swayne's Ointment" "Swayne's Ointment" "Swayaes Ointmeut"

'Certainly the 1 remedy ever in practice." O..W. ton,M. D. of Verm

"Cures" "Cures" "Cures" "Cures" "Cures" "Cures" "Cures" "Cures"

It cures Tettus, It /Salt Itheum, S \Head, Barbers I

Sores, Scaly, Crus Itchs Skin Empti Vand that terrible 'Itching IM1 symptoms ~.i are moisti like perspiration, tense itching—pa Vcttlarly at niglit uf getting warm, wh leels us if pin wo J-wcre crawling in I about the ect

•, lady, "I The s: which

"Itching Piles" "Itching Piles" "Itching Piles" "Itching Piles" "Itchiug Piles" "Itching Piles" "Itching Pile6" "Itching Piles" "Itching Piles"

The private part J-often aflected. this or any skin ease Swayne's O Anient is superior any article iu the market.

"AH" "All" "All"

"I have su ffera years from Itch -Piles.cousultcd mt physicians and many remedies .-found no permau until I used Hwavi

Ointment." ^Simpson, New I veu, Ct.

"Skin Diseases" "Skin Diseases" "Skin Diseases" "Skin Dlseasos" "Skin Diseases" "Skin Diseases" "Skin Diseases" "Skin Diseases"

i- Ask your drugg Jforii. sr:.Vl\vl\

A CAKD.

To all who are suffering from the and indiscretions of youth, nervous we ness, early decay, loss of manhood, Ac., I send a recipe that will cure you, FUKE CHARGE. This great remedy was discovc ed by a missionary In South America, a self-addressed envelope to the Rev. Josci Intn ui, St itlo D. New York City. n5-6iv

$1S00 per year can lie easily made heme working for E. O. Rldeout A Co., Barclay Street, New York. Send for tli catalogue and full particulars.

UPO

CONSUMPTION.

Owing to iHipular idea that a remedy sal to cure a variety of maladies should be trea ed with caution, if not suspicion, the invento hesitated .some time in placing it before tli public but from the gratifying assurance b_ a great number ol tne rare vitalizing an' health-renewing properties of his prepar tion of Hvpophosphites, under a variety circumstances, he is eciiml1 Vi',,.VVt these eirects are secured by Its use, thrit it liV Bffl JWiVMbufu, to a certain stage, is as easily controlled most other organio diseases.

While it Is the aim of the inventor to con vey information to such as require his Hy ponhosphites, it is his firm belief that Its u~ .11 bo valuable to all who desire a lonsj llf

wi. or who aro "With a faith"

for health.

jaseu upon the experience

twelve years, ho would not despair of resu lng a patient suffering from the above-numi disease, even though reduced to a very lo state and not complicated by actual organ loss.

FLINT, MICH.. May 10th, 1KH0.

Dear Sir: Allow me to say that I esteei your •'Ilypophospliltes"most highly, and fo those engaged in professions which drav largely oh the nervous system it is lnvahmhlf I have used it myself with the most satlsfa* tory results and nave Introduced It to a lur: number of my people.

Reverend R. \V. ITAIKK,

Paslor St. Michael's Catholic Church. SOLD BY ALL IRU»UI8TS.

MRS. LVOIA E. PIXKN1H,

LINN, MASS.

S As.'. .CD Ss

LYDIA E. PINKHAM'8 VEGETABLE COMPOUND.

Is ft Positive Coro

f»r*!l Um« f*alnrtel CtiaplilaU Mil WtakMHtt HMmm lo our belt female poyalatlvn. It will cure entire)/ tli« wont form of Female Complaint*, ovarian trouble*, Inflammation sad Uleer* tlon, Telling and Dlaploeementf, and the eonaeqnent Spinal WeakneM, and 1* particular)/ adapted to tb* Change of IJfe.

It will dtoeolre ami ejrpel tunore from tbe nteron to aa mrix tUgo development. Tlio londency to cutoerotu hnmon tbero If checked TeryipeodlJy by It* u*e.

It retnoTee falntneee, flatulency, deetroyi all cnrtug tor ettmulantf, and relieve* weakiieM of the ftomacbIt enree Bloating, (leadaches, Kervotii Prattrition, General DebHlty, Bleep! itnow, Popreulon and Indigestion.

Thmt feeUngr of bearing down, canals? pain, weight and backache, la alway* pormanoaUr cured bjr It* nee. It will at all tiiBM and tinder ell elrctrnxtanee* act la harmony with tike law* that govern tbe female •yrteco. fortbeenreof KidnerCoopUinU of eltier fextfcj* Coapoaad aneui-paawd.

ITBIl K. mniAX'S VEGETABLE COM' POmOtie prepared at K» and t3i Weetern Avenue, Lyna,llMf. Price |L SUbotUeefor |S. Sent by mall In tbe form of pais, also In the form of 1 orange*, on receipt of prfee, 91 per bo* for either. *r». Plnlrtum freeiyanswer* oil letter* of Inquiry. Send for paoipb* let. Artdrae* aj aboro. Mention thU Paptr.

Vo family should be without LYDIA E, FUfSHASfJ UVKtt PILLS. They cure constipation, LUionmn^ aad torpidity

the Uver. cents per box.

tar Sold by all I)ruggl*t«.

&OAPer can be made in any locaJ!»oni'•thing entirely new for Hfci'ntx. SI. outfit free, 4c

G. W.INOR 41IAIH upS-toi.

CO., Boston Mas#.