Butte record., 1856-05-31

walk they met Gaetan, who, seeing the
rose, was overjoyed.
Then he conducted his daughter t(
the residence of one Of their acquain.
tances, and requested her to wait un-
til he camefor her. That done, he re.
turned to the little house in which he
lived, at the outskirts of Baden, OF
the lichtenhal road. He had sent
away his servants, and was alone. Al
the appointed hour Gaetan arrived al
the rendezvous, leaped lightly over the
wall, and, finding the door shut, enter
ed the house through one of the low
windows. Then mounting the stairs
filled with pleasing emotions, he di-
rected his steps towards the apart
ment Of Helen. There, instead Of
the daughter, he found the father
armed with a brace of pistols. The
Count closed the door, and said to the
wretched Gaetan, trembling with ter
ror:
II could kill you; I have the right
to do so. You have entered my house
at night. You have broken into it.
| could treat You as a felon; nothing
could be more natural y
"But, sir" replied Gaetan almost
inaudibly, Il am not a robber.
And what are you, then? You
have come to steal my daughter-to
steal an heires-to steal fortune
Here is your letter, which unveiled to
me your intentions. shall show you
no mercy! But to take your life, ! had
no need of this trap. You know the
skill of my right arm; duel would
have long ago rid me Of you. To
avoid scandal, | did not wish duel,
and now will slay you only at the
last extremity, if you refuse to obey
me.n
"What is your will, sir?"
"You must leave Baden, not in a
few days, not tomorrow, but this very
instant. You must put two hundred
leagues between it and you, and never
again come into the presence of my
daughter or myself. As the price Of
your obedience, and to pay your trav-
cling expenses, | will give YOU twen-
ty thousand francs"
The Chevalier wished to speak.
''Not a wordr' cried the Count, in
a voice Of thunder. "You know me,
understand! l hold your life at my
mercy, and moments hesitation will
be followed with death.''
Il obey" stammered the Cheva-
lier.
''In good time! Your twenty thou
sand francs are in that secretary; take
them :"
Permit me to decline your Offer"
An imperious gesture prevailed
over the false modesty which the Che
vatiier expressed feebly, and like a
man who declines for forms sake.
''But," said he, "the secretary is
locked"
open it."
'There IS no key in it,
''Break the lock, them
"What! you wish me to-r'
'Brcak the lock, or I'll shoot youl''
The pistol was again presented, as
an argument that admitted 10 reply.
Gaetan obeyed.
1T is well!' said the Count
"Take that package of bank notes;
they are yours. Have YOU pocket
book"
"Yes."
"What does it contain!"
''Some papers-letters addressed to
me-"
''Let your pocket book fall in
front of the secretary You have broken
OPEN"
WHAT"
II must have proof which will con-
vict you"
But-=
"But, sir, mean to have all the
evidences of a burglary. | mean that
the robber shall be known. Robber,
or death! Choose! All! your choice
is made. | was sure you would be
reasonable. Now you are about to
fly. You will go before me. do not
quit you until you are LEAGUE from
Baden. For the rest, make yourself
easy. Twill return late, and will en-
ter no complaint until tomorrow. You
may easily escape pursuit, and If my
protection becomes necessary, reckon
on me. Begoner'
After this adventure, which made a
great noise, Helen could no longer
doubt. Gaetan was banished from
her heart, and she married one of heI
cousins, captain in regiment Of cav
airy in the Austrian service.