The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-22
CHAPTER TX.
DESPAIR or NOEL GERDY.

DESPAIR on NOEL GERDY.
A minute had hardly passed, before
| Daddy Tabaret in his turn sprang to his
feet, and stited cry of instructive fear
and surprise.
This is the paragraph which met his
eyes;-
"A Grim" Of the most horrible nature has just
been committed in The little village OF 10 J'n.
chcre, and has plunge. peuccablc inhabitants
into the utmost corst"rnntion. A widow,
numcl Icr",rgr who ~; much esteemed III the
nei-hbmhnod, has been murdered in her own
house, under tlr mosti stei i"lis cicum. .tanccs.
The police were IN c'iiat ly lntuImcl the
facts Of the case, and, we have every rrnaon 10
br;irrc, arc upon the track of the asaassm o. as.
bussns."
"Thunder and lightning" thought Old
Corkscrew. as it possible that Madame
Ger,!y-"
This idea only crossed him like fash
mediat +, and returned to his arm
chair, ~ ging his shoulders as he muir
INJURED, II think am rapidly developing
into an idiot! This Widow Lerouge has
become sort of walking nightmare! 1
can't get her out Of my thoughts"
A curiosity over which he had no con-
troll, and which his common sense made
him despise, prompted him to read the,
newspaper right through from beginning
to end. -.,. < -s,Sissssssf;
There was nothing in it, except the psr-
agraph above mentioned, which could in
any way justify or account for the faint
ing tit or the scream--or, in fact, any emo
ton whatever.
at is a very singular coincidence, al
the same. don't care who says to the
contrary" said the incorrigible old detec-
tive.
He also observed that the paper had
been slightly torn towards the bottom
of the page, and cru lpled, " with the
convulsive clutch of human hand.
Again he repeated, between his teeth,
ats strange---very strange"
At this moment, a door in the drawing-
room, leading to Madame Gerdy'S sleeping
chamber, was softly opened, and Noel
appeared upon the threshold.
In all probability IA" sudden illness Of
his mother had very much affected him,
for he was very pale, and his face. which
usually wore a calm and srlf-roSsessed
expression, was flushed and troubled.
He seemed rather surprised on perceiv-
ing Daddy Tabaret.
"Ah, my dear boy" said the old man
"I'm so GID to see you, for you can ease
my mind about your mother. How Is
shel"
"Madnme Gerdy is as well as can be
expected"
".Nndnme Gerdy" repeated the old
nan. a>:nniShrd at th" stiffness of the ro-
,ly. Cump---comc! see you've had u
great shock, and haven't recovered from
it yet"
"Yes, indeed" repeated the young bar
rister, sinking into chair and passing his
hand over his forehead 80 I've had great
shock"
1t was very apparent that Noel was
making the greatest effort to appear calm,
to listen quietly to his visitor, and to an
swer his questions conn"rtedly.
Daddy Tabaret in his anxiety perceived
nothing Of this. and rntrrHtnd his friend
to tell him the cause of his mothers i'll
ness.
The young man hesitated for moment,
as though he were consulting with himself
as to the propriety of replying to so de-
cided question. After long pause he
said, You are an old friend, Daddy Tab
aret, and we have few secrets from you.
MadameGer,y s. was overwhelmed by an an-
nouncement in the papers of the sudden
and violent dr;, h Of woman whom size
knew and loved"
"Thunder and lightning!" stammersd
Old Corkscrew.
In fact, he was so stupifed for the mo-
ment that he was almost betraying his
connection with the police, and was OH
the point of exclaming, "What! your
mother knew the Widow Lerouge" when
his presence Of mind returned, and he
placed his hand oven his eyes to hide the
CLEAN of intense satisfaction that sparkled
in them at thus being on the highroad to
discover something Of the past life Of the
victim Of Lii Jonchere.
"Yes, Madame Gerdy knew the Widow
Lerouge," continued Noel. "The widow
was her slave---body and soul her rlave.
At a sign of her hand she would have
thrown herself ini. he hames."
"Then you, my dear boy, must also
have known this worthy w0man?"
II had not seen her for a very long
time" answered Noel, whose voice seem
ed yelled and husky from extreme and
ought to add---in fact, don't mind con-
leSSllE 10 you tlltl lONet heE ueaiis' ~
was very natural she had been my wet
nurse when an infant"
"The---that woman" gasped Daddy
Taharct.
This time the poor old fellow felt nj
most dizzy. What! the Widow Lerouge
the n'!r>e Of NOEL!
1t was too good 10 be true. Providence
had evidently taken him by the hand as
its chosen instrument.
His agonies Of doubt---his despair at
obtaining further proofS---seemed nigh
over; and, overwhelmed at his success,
he bent before Noel, silent and amazed.
His subtle common sense, however, told
him that he must bide his time. and not
compromise himself as yet---which it was
very evident he would do unless he made
some remark, howe W: commonplace con-
cerning the revelati{ smade to him
by the young barrist Q he cleared his
: : : -: ] !: !:
I Il. s.abGed.io. the heart by the same
blow that has struck tie poor widow.