The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-04-05

boiS their IL, 600 francs, ana by proving my
own guilt, obtain the pardon of the innocent
De Pierrepont. Refuse and will die impenl.
tent, for my only friend will have deserted me- .
81 accepted" m
"Aud may Heaven bless youp said the
weeping and sobbing mother, while Madeline
hid her head in her mothers lap.
can hour later, in presence of the French
and English counsels-four Englishmen and
four Frenchmen, two priests and the alcade-
Gaillard, or rather Mesnard, made his solemn
confession, which was signed by all present,
sealed, and one or two copies given to me.
That copy is now in the hand of the minister
of Justice, and here" drawing forth letter,
"is copy of your fathers free pardon"
A wild shrek from both women was his re-
"And now, Madeline" said he taking the
girls hand, before have the chance of RI
vals, may renew my request for your hand
and heart?'
"Mousieur, no man OH earth can ever do for
me what you have done. In an hour | have
lived years Of joy; that joy | owe to you.
Give me my father, and the love of my whole
life, if you value it, shall be your poor reward"
This sudden resolution of the young girl, so
natural under the circumstances, was approved
of heartily by the mother.
Next morning there sat in small inn in So
lenthal, waiting for breakfast, man, not old,
but bowed by years of woe, grey.haircd and
pale On each side of him sat woman, one
his wife, the other his daughter. They had
been talking for hours, and were not wearied
yet.-A young man satopposite, his face beam
ing with delight. Several times the waiter had
announced breakfast; but the young man had
always bade him be quiet and wait while.
At length hurried step was heard and the
young Edward Dubois entered. lie started as
if hit by snake, and would have left the room.
"Stop!" said Arthur sternly, as he caught
him by the wrist Rather kneel and ask for
pardon than fly. Read this man." and he
put in his hand the printed bill procamins the
injustice Of Pierreponts sentence, his free par
don, and containing the certified confession of
Mesnard.
Edward Dubois read it in silence. When
he had finished, he turned and grasped the ex
convicts hand.
"No apology can make up for my conduct" "
he said, but what can do, will. This bill
will satisfy the whole country"
Monsieur" replied De P!errepont, in hus-
ky tones, you did but as the world did. Ap-
pearances were against me, and all condemned
me-"
edward, my friend" said Arthur, you
see the danger of Judging from appearances.
Had De Pierrepont been truly guilty, his wife
and child should have been pitied, not scorned.
As it is, a vile injustice has made these two
women, far 6ft-r .a.r-s aate--t- ++ad n--nh-."
Edward made no reply, as the breakfast
came in. He, like all the country round, was
Mortified, now they found how unjust they had
been; aud never WAS wedding mnie tumul-
tuously hailed and teted than that Of Arthur
de Versaiu and Madeline de Pierrepont. Still
have not heard that one man, woman, or
child, in the forestNf Ardcnnes, has been cured
of the evil habit Of Judging always from ap
pearanccs, and visiting on the innocent the sins
of the guilty.
"Begone wretch" exclaimed the other, rid
ing up and raising his whip menacingly; "be-
gone, and dare not speak to an honest man. "
The young man listened in amazement.
81 did not speak to monsieur-monsieur
spoke to me" said the girl, gently, with, how
ever, a smile of pity and contempt.
/ "Rai>e your accursed lips to me again," cried
the other, furiously, "and l will scourge you
with my whip"
"Monsieur is perhaps coward" said the
gentle GIRL stung to anger for once, turning at
the same time to face his insults.
"What! you dare answer me-" and he
raised his hand again.
"Nay, Edward, you would not strike wo.
man."
"A woman Do you call Madeline de Pier
repont, the child of the assassin of my uncle
Dubois, woman say rather fiend, scream
ed the usually calm dandy.
Madeline de Pierrepoat ~ replied the other,
staggering so that his friend had to turn his at
tention to him. "MadeIne de Pierrepont
And this is Madeline de Perrepont! Truly
he muttered as he remounted his horse "she is
not a woman"
The other initiated him, and they rode off,
leaving the young girl to weep alone. In a
few minutes, however she wiped her eyes, and
then, fearful she might be sllsp spected of appro.
priating the gold piece, she took it up, wrap
ped in piece ofpaper, with the intention of
returning it to its owner. She then lifted up
her bundle and walked slowly towards the hut.
'rell me the story Of this girl" said the
young man gravely.
Fhe other told it:-"Fiftcen years before,
the father of Madaline de Pierrepont and a
Monsieur Dubois, a rich proprietor, had been
intimate friends De Perrepont was comfort
ably of, from the fact of his having several oc-
| cun,tions He was culector of tho rontc of =,
rich member of his noble family; he was tax
gatherer, and aJoimt to the maire. The maire
was NJ. Dubois, rich man, but somewhat of a
miser. 1t appeared that one afternoon Dubois
asked Pierrepont to walk over to a small town
at some distance to receive with him large
remittance, with which he had to nav q body