Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-10-11
CHAPTER VIII.
A STRANGE HISTORY

"No more, uni ess the next word that thou speakest
Have some malignant power upon my life;
If so I pray thee, breathe 1t in mine ear,
AS ending anthem Of my endless dolour."
well, Henri said de Moner, as he en-.
tered the room in which the lad was sea.
ted, and taking him warmly by the hand.
i have good news for you
OF your SOP, my lord? p inquired the lad
The Counts features instantly fell
Since that fatal night when he had so un.
fortunately slain his own brother in mis-
take for the mountebank, his son had
strangely disappeared. All that was known
of him was, that he had entered Rome that
evening-had left his trunks at one of the
ho,els, and had gone out Immediately to
visit his father. No one knew what had
become of him and as, from all accounts,
he had been spoken of as quiet, thought
full lad, with no bad habits, his disappear
auce was most remarkable.
No, Henri, no news of him yet, was the
mournful reply. i would give much tc
see him again, for he was my all in all
my only sou and child-my heir. Well,
WE'LL he added, with a sigh, 'let US hope
that he will one day appear. But no more
now, for it saddeus me. Be seated, my
boy, for l have much to say to you. Dc
you know, Henri he asked, 'where the
grand.dukc Paul keeps his private papers /?
i do my Iord,' replied the lad, in some
surprise. 'Ee keeps them in an iron bound
trunk beneath his bed 1t is always lock
ed, and he wears the key constantly around
his neck like watch
There is one paper in that trunk, Henri
I must have. 1t is a package marked H.
and NJ. ) and you must procure it for me.
Impossible my lord ! cried the lad -
The lock is not to be forced
Impossible D.! repeated the Count. How
often have told you, Henri, that nothing
is impossible! The word is not to be found
in my vocabulary, nor should itbe in yours.
I tell you that that package must be pro.
cured, and that too, ere the week has pass,
ed. You have six days to procure it in
on the seventh it must be in my posses.
sion.'
Would it were in my power to get it,
my lord but again say, it is impossible.
sStill that word ! cried the Count, impa.
tiently. Il tell you what it is, Henri Saint
Pierre, if you dare refuse again III
He paused suddenly, for he saw from the
naughty smile and firm set lip of the lad,
that threats would be useless; and master
ing his anger by great effort, he contin-
ued-'strange it is, Henri, that you, who
have always done my bidding without
thought or question, should refuse to do
this, Suppose title were offered you as
a reward for the service, would you deem
it impossible then?
sAnd who would bestow it upon me 2
inquired the lad, evidently much agitated.
Not Paul, indeed, for he would load me
with execrations. Moreover, he has been
so kind to me of late-has often taken me
upon his knee and kissed me-called me
his friend-me, poor helpless boy, his
friend; and he so proud and unbending to
all others. Oh! l dare not-cannot do it
Don't ask it of me1
but think, Henri, a title Y said the
Count, moving his chair close to him ;
think what it is to be called my lord ) to
be bowed to and pointed out in the streets
as the young nobleman to stand in the
presence of the great as their equal; and
all to be gained by merely breaking open a
box and abstracting therefrom single pa
per-or rather packet-which is of no
earthly use TO Paul, and which will make
more than one person happy!
will it p inquired the lad, raising his
eyes, which we're filled with tears, toward
the face Of the speaker. You say it is Of
no use to Paul?'
Il do
s.And it will injure no one?'
lit will not, was the unblushing reply.
more than this, Henri, Paul will be glad
in the end that you took it,
He will p
without doubt
'And it will procure me title i? "
1T will replied the Count. do you
CONSENT p