True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-02-01

and I hope, therefore, you will not go out
again. And, Paul, added the wife, kiss
ing his forehead, 4 feel I have been much
to blame in having any concealment from
you, and l promise you that tomorrow you
shall know all.
Tomorrow l shall know all, you prom
ise?
4 do, solemnly. And now, goodbye
for a while
She went out, and presently Paul Ver-
dot heard the smack of whip and the
sound Of departing wheels from outside
the backyard entrance. He sat for con-
siderable time in sort of confused, dozy
dream, but the fire getting low, he reused
himself, raked the embers together, threw
on two or three fresh logs, and re-seated
himself, his wife's promise, as he described
it, gradually warming about his heart; 4
shall know all tomorrow he audibly ejac-
ulated, and as the words passed his lips,
his eye fell upon the smouldering frag-
ments of letter, rendered visible in the
far corner of the chimney-place, by the re-
newed freight. To start up, seize it,
and devour its contents, as far as they
could be discerned-fOr the fire had oblit-
Grated all but few detached sentences
was the work of moment. It was signed
'Auguste : and 'cherc Lucille was implo-
red not to lose moment in coming with
'our child to Sells, hamlet abouta league
from Amiens, on the northern road, and
to bring 'as much silver money and
Clothes with her as possible, instant flight
being indispensable! The accursed words
seemed to swim in fire before the frenzied
gaze of the unfortunate man, and for mo-
mcnt he was paralyzed by the terrible dis
covery: for moment only. Internal
traitress ! he vociferated; 4 know all to-
night, and may reach you yet He then
bounded up to the stairs, found that several
bags of ecus, which he knew were there in
the morning had been taken away, and
that most of his wifc's clothes we're gone
There needed no further confirmation of
the letter; and in five minutes Paul Ver-
dot was on the road to Salis-armed.
! 1t was about half-past eleven, according
to Bontomps, when Paul Vcrdot returned
to the wine-shop. He was as white as a
corpse, and there was large swelling on
his forehead, as if he had received a vio-
lent blow, Or had fallen down and struck
himself heavily, which he said was the
case, He told Bontemps that his wife
would not return till the morning, and as
there was nobody at home, not the servant
even, he felt so lonely that he wished to
sleep at his (Bontcmps) house, This was
acceded to, and he went to bed at once
Very early in the morning message came
from Madame Verdot, that breakfast was
ready, and her husband anxiously waited
for Bontemps delivered the message
himself to Paul, who started while he
spoke like a man in dream, but said
nothing, got up, dressed himself, and went
home.
Paul Verdot, but for the strong shud-
der which passed over him as he encoun-
tered the surprised yet cheerful look of his
wife, looked more like stone image mo-
wing by automatic power, than a living
man, sit down, dear Paul. said Lucille
Soothingly, 4 have good news for thee
All! I see how it is,' she added, thou
hast seen this piece of letter which I
found on the table. I dropped it last
night, I suppose; and it has put wicked
thoughts in that jealous pate of thine
Never mind; I am now going to explain
everything, and satisfactorily too, as thou'lt
find
Brandy! gasped the husband, family;
brandy! It was given him, and his wife,
though apparently much astonished, pro-
ceeded:
after all, ma .toi, the explanation is a
very simple one, The child was the daugh-
ter of the Comte and Comptesse Auguste
de Vervay. They are proscrits, as you
know, and the child was confded to me
under solemn promise never to divulge
its name to living soul, for fear of those
Paris bloodhounds. The Countess has
been long confined to her bed with illness,
so that they could not till lately leave the
concealment they had found, to attempt
escaping from the country. That peril is
now, however, surmounted, and they are,
I trust, beyond the reach Of their persecu.
tors. The letter was, Of course, from the