The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-09-11

| ing or disowning such document!
e.Nomeans, general. 1t is what we call ;
contract"
sSBut why the devil are you laughing, the1
-you?" cried the old soldier, planting him
! self, with his arms crossed, before Henri.
ssYou will permit me to keep that secret Il
myself" said the viscount.
aCome, then, sir, epleasedto complete ths
| act.' | S.
NJ. Lcmesle applied himself vigorously t
business, but details were necessary Ht
specified carefully the properties bought back
by Henri, which had value, Of fifteen hun
bred thousand francs. The movable goods
necessarily excluded these we're comprised
in a separate act, under special from. AT
ter which NJ. de Villiers wrote a counter
deed, in which he declared that he. renowned
the annuitics stipulated in the two contracts
Laying down the pen, he arose and offered
the counter-deed with the two contracts to the
general. +. 49,. ...g,s ......s4
ts'Is this sufficient, sir p he asked.
The general yet hesitated. By "a look he
consulted the young notary, who did not lose
this occasion to bow. But he answered af
frmatively. es5
3sSir," said Henri de Villiers, "you are
bound in honor to attempt nothing against
me with those ladies. y 4. ...s
| The general turned toward the door. follow
ed by the bowing notary. Before passing the
sill he returned and said q keep something
| in my heart, sir yiscount, but I will watch
you" The notary bowed, and they left.
| IF we mention the frequent salutes Of the
young ministerial officer it is not done to
make him an object Of ridicule. Politeness
! is noble quality there are some no.
taries who do not bow at all. t..1f
The viscount, when alone, seated himself
| at his writing table, and drew out from one of
1 the drawers locked portfolio,
ssThe contract Of marriage must be signed
before this evening" he said, opening the
portfolio s H..
From the portfolio he took out letter
written upon. very thin paper, and having on
it the stamp Of the United States Of America.
It was letter from Ellen Talbot, addressed
to Helene dc Boistrudan. = tliHi Rs
! The yiscount had paid great deal Of
money to an old rascal named Coulter, who
had been a servant in the family Of Bots
trudan forty years. Coulter carried him all
| the letters which bore the American stamp.
II wish to read the passage over again" he
thought; sEllen will live longer than Rosen."
He ran his eye rapidly over the first page
Of the letter, and then the second At
the top Of the third page he read: "He. is
SO generous and so great. Notwithstanding
the sEeaviness of his grief. [ have obtained
from him a promis that he will not kill my
last hope. While the father of my daughter
| lives, he may come back to US. Rosen has
| taken an oath that he will not take the life of
his enemy, SO long as there is hope Of his
| return" ga a.esapF3 sAeaHa az sAssH8
! Henri attentiyely read over these lines two
or three times. 'sThe fool would die sooner
than violate his OATH" he said
| fBut,V he interrupted himself, 'sthe text is
explicit so long as THERE'S hope Of his re-
turn! We must delay, the signing of the con
tract will take away all hope.of return, The
delay will not be long, and to- morrow will do
And he rang for his valet.
| II am at home to nobody" he said, Eek
cept M. Benoit who will come at FIVE o'clock. y
i The hotel of theyiscount had garden, and
in This garden he had established shooting
gallery. Notwithstanding the cold he passed
| a good part Of the day in practicing at the
| target sometimes with pistol, sometimes
with carbine. a igej9gE - say9ss
u HIS hand had not lost its cunning--hiis
glance OF, the eye was true,and steady About
dusk he reentered the house, content with his
Skill and NJ Benoit was announced soon af-
| forwards. IS &as e se9ss A.a "'af
If Henri had not heard his name pro,
nounced by his valet, he would not have re-
cognized him; M. Benoit was disguised as
never proprietor was disguised before. ID
| It was as if he had united to all his other
| professions that of comedian. His hair
grizzly the night before was now blacker than
ravens wing. His whiskers were Of the style
commonly called "cutlet." His forehead and
his face had undergone the necessary scrub
bing, His linen was clean. He held him
self erect, in new suit of clothes, and looked
ten years younger.
sPunctual," cried Henri. si a24t
'sDo you think that rascal, Towah, coulo
recognize me q asked Benoit.
4 ""No., You are superb, and your good ap
pearance confirms me in an idea which [ have
May introduce you to Madame the Duchess
Of Rivas ~
"Me J" said the astonished proprietor.
Her husband is the Marquis of Concha
whom knew in New Mexico He has taker
the title of the Duke Of Rivas.'
4 "What purpose will this serve ?" asked Be
mott. ..' % ''''a =
4 aMany But, first, have we our mon p
"Eight beautiful rascals: Four for you
four for myself" s..5as.ss,
ssMay We rely upon them ?"
| II chose them myself"
ssAnd you pay them we'll" sst ~
Benoit assumed melancholy look. cd
not speak to me OF tina"
4 "Where shall we find them 2" asked tn
viscount. 5seasaa lss. Ysi
| Benoit sighed 81 haze been obliged h
said, 'sto introduce the wolf into the sheer
fold. My eight rascals arc at my house, Ru
ST. Denis, Montmartre. Since these peopl
i know the road to my house, lido not want
any more, for what reason you we'll know
After this affair l will, sell everything AM
leave"
"Will ysu quit France"
il Il will 60 70 Belleville or elsewhere, blu
! another piece ofland, and build other cottages.
"What astonishes me, said the viscoun
lis that you have left them alone in yor
house." ~ H