New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-14

ne was gone.
M. Escriot was sorely exercised in hi
mind Immediately after his departure
Where could the boy have gone to! VIVA
| trade was he to learnt Perhaps he wa
taken by some young thief to den to lear
some Infamous traffic. The old man wa
very anxious, but without reason; the boy
| as we have seen, hae only been seduced a
far as Field Lane.
He had, however, completely disappeared
nothing could be heard of him; he was al
sOrbed into the state, but for good or TO
evill As time went on it seemed as likei
to NJ. Escriot that he should recognize
brown leaf upon swollen autumn torren
as that he should see and know again tn
schaum.
In the sea of misery which surrounde'
the Escriots-that sea against which the
always strOye with small effect. SO man
drowning hands were held up toward theL
that it was no wonder if one small pal
were almost forgotten; yet, after thre
years, something occurred to bring thei
lost piece of sea-foam to their minds.
One night q woman came to them, an ez
tremely beautiful woman, but apparentl
very poor. 1t had been raining, and tn
Nlnette put chair for her before the fire
and she covered over it and warmed he
hands.
Sir" she said, turning to M. Escriot
"yOu have good name in these parts 10
assisting the unfortunate"
Madam" said NJ. Escriot, II hav
known poverty myself. and SO know hov
to relieve it,"
Eyes, with money. But, you see, d.
not exactly want money, poor as l seem
NY husband will send me all the none,
which do not earn. want information.
money, madam" said Escriot, II coult
give you, but information and my prett,
Nicette here are hermits."
"Still, think that you can do what
want. l will tell you the truth. have
been undergoing six years penal servituds
on false accusation. l think that car
ultimately prove my entire innocence. Goo
knows it, but 1 think that l can prove il
before man. When was taken away my
husband was at sea, ami had boy who
went on the streets. My husband and
had one interview in prison, and he, OF
course, Yer doubted my innocence, but he
told me that he had provided for the boy.
came out of prison and found that he is
once more at sea, and that the boy Is not to
be heard of. He was last seen with you.
Can you tell me anything about him :"
What was his name!"
"Michael Durnford.' =
NJ. EscriOt knew of no such name. All at
once Ninette exclaimed, Father. as sure as
you are born. this is Meerschaum's mother"
Of course it was. The likeness was too
not to be remarked, now that
the key to it was found. But what had be.
come Of Meerschaum9 The three put their
heads together to find out and they could
ind out nothing at all.
The inquiry was similar to the famous
one Of looking for needle in q bundle Tor,
more correctly, q bottle) of hay, and after a
away with another boy and had never been
seen since. Meanwhile NJ. Escriot and
Ninette found Mrs. Durnford, very re-
woman and q very agreeable com.
)aniOn.
She was woman of considerable diligence
md ability. She started herself in a small
business, and did well. She was in con-
inual communication with her husband
rom all parts of the world. He, still a
'ouDg man, had now got q full certificate
rom the board, and was in command Of a
mall ship. His business kept him in the
Pacific entirely, and, as time went on, Mrs.
)urnfOrd told the Escrio g that it might be
ears before they met, but that she had his
Ontidence, and that, perhaps, it would be
yell for him to stay away until everything
7as forgotten. If she could only prove her
innocence to the world as she.had to him,
be would care for nothing except the find
lg Of the boy.
No one about upper East Smithtield
vanted it proved. In those quarters the
lajority of a certain class of people dis
gree with the law, because it interferes
18th them, How the school board will get
n there we do not know; badly, we doubt.
[rs. DurnfOrd, however, was rather popu.
II from having been in prison, and was
)nsidered to be quite one of themselves. |
eligiOus she was, certainly-they all be- |
ame religious when they were SHUT up
ut otherwise an excellent woman. We all |
ad our faults, and if she was a little re-
giOus, she would doubtless, with her good |
,mnlOn sense, get over it in time.
Still she did not get over it; and Escriot, |
ter the tact had been told to him, more
I'd more desired to prove her innocence
le always said that she could live her &C.
lsati0n down; he desired her to do more.
9 was in the end right. But the telling
the lives of Escriot. Ninette and Mrs.
urnfOrd fer the next two years would try
Q patience of any reader. It is enough to
y that Mrs. Durnford got more and more
innate with the Escriots; that she pros
red in trade, and sent money to her hus.
nd, which he invested we'll. The ex.con-
Wv WOAA0A UCC0M0 tt6 WcIl huOWu III uuOSO |
rts for discriminate charity as the Es-
lots. But the husband was still in the
'citic, and could not come home.
One night, winter night, about seven
lock, the EscriOts, grandfather. and
and daughter. were sitting together, when
9re came a ring at the bell, at once
swered by Ninette. She admitted a fine
king young sailor, in the dress of man.
wars man, who hurriedly asked her if he |
lid see M. EscriOt. NJ. EscriOt was 20 the
g at once.
You remember me, SIR" said the young
lOr.
No."
i remember you, though said the
ing sailor. ''You were.very kind to me
en- was on the streets. My father wants
to see you, sir, and he is dying"
hat was enough for M. Escriot. He got
\. When they were alone together M.
riot asked, What IS your fathers
ne!"
Akers," said the sailor, Il expect he !
nts to tell you about Mrs. Durnford's I
iness. He wants to make an affidavit I
t she was innocent, think. She were, l
he wants to right the woman, as he r
s he can, Before he dies"
Where has your father been :" asked NJ. 8
riot. b
West Australia. He will do right now. {
q afraid he is going, and he has been
d father to me-"
!. Escriot shook his head. Nothing
Id be done with these English, they Fl
Q such fools. Akers had been twice a
risoned for starving and beating his g.
dren, and here was his son and heir 81
ng over the loss OF an excellent parent
ct it Is so. A few pence and few kind a
DIS, now and then, will, in an English or a
erican boys heart, atone for months or
rs of cruelty and neglect. As for the f,
nch, we have nothing 10 say. Their Il
Y Tin the old Latin sense) toward their n
ers is more like a craze than anything b
al
was late in the night before NJ. Escriot la