New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-24


"a young woman" she said, "whon
they have killed! Help! I must seeI
help"
She turned from her for whose sake only
she had chung to life, and moved away
toward the door.
At that moment Henriette's lips auiv
cred
Still she never would have found hel
sister in that place but for the action of La
Frochard and her worthy Jacques, who
confronted Louise as she was opening the
door.
She knew he was there, sightless as sht
was.
"Drive her back to the room-leave thu
other to me-" cried Jacques.
Overcome with terror, Louise yielded
and she had even reached the door of the
loft, when Henriette's still scattered senses
were in moment gathered al the sight Of
the blind girl.
"LOuiser'
"Henriette"
La Frochard found herself pushed aside
by the blind girl-such power Of attraction
had the voice of the one orphan upon the
other.
In moment the poor girls were locked
in each others arms.
Every loving" laughed Jacques. "And
what now!'
"Let me pass !" said Henriette.
"Ha! hal yelled the ruifian. TRY"
Henriette moved forward step. when
she was stopped by weak but determined
voice:
Don't touch them ~
He went very pale, being at heart a COW
ard. turned, and faced-Pierre!
The cripple went to his dilapidated tink.
er's truck, and took out sharp-pointed
knife.
Jacques he said, "let them pass! You
often say we are a killing family-I think
at last that am as bad as the rest!'
"Ho! he! here is giant going to fight
poor JacQues!"
Let the orphans pass!'
"Bahl"
"Then let fate decide" said the cripple,
who had been watching to save Louise
from danger, and who was now desperate,
He turned half aside. to take off his coat
and the wretched giant took advantage of
the cripple's momentary embarrassment to
stab him in the back.
But the wound was not instantaneously
to be fatal.
In moment he was on guard; and the
two men, SO unequally matched, ran at each
other; while the Wretched woman, La Fro
chard, fell upon her knees, and began pray
ing aloud for her Jacques,
However, Pierre was naturally far infe-
rior in sire myth to this brother; one foot
was valueless as support during the en-
counter; and, finally every moment he be-
came weaker.
A mere quarter minute. and the giant.
now laughing hideously. had overcome the
trembling cripple, whose right hand was in
the clutch of Jacques left, the point of the
knife being downward.
''Ho, no, King Cripple. thou shalt be
bound fast, and shalt see the end of the
festival"
Then suddenly he shrieked
For King Cripple, by sudden upward
turn of the wrist, had driven his knife NOR
tally into the others body.
The wretched man leaped back yard,
then, with final effort of despair, rushed
at the cripple, and fell dead at the feet of
the poor creature whose whole life had been
made wretched by this monster, yet
against whom he had committed but a sin.
gle act of vengeance. 1t was lasting one.
La Frochard showed no resistance. She
was clutching her tavorite child, and call
ing him all the endearing names in her
vocabulary.
"Go, g0!" cried Pierre, "Or you will be
arrested as we'll as mt! Forgive, forgive.
Louise! One kiss-one. the first and last,
Ah, | loved you'll loved yonw
I'VE shall see you again" said Louise,
who knew but little of what had taken
place.
NOt mere, lt bdlu, uOU uoTt
He did not say that he was bleeding to
death-that already he was as sightless as
Louise herself.
Neither girl thought either him or the
wretched Jacques dead.
1--WE will come back for you," said Hen
riette. ave will find home for you"
And then he heard her blind step upon
the staircase, and, having saved her, was
happy. He had committed but the one
nd fhot for 20 IF
the orphans.
He was dying-and fearless.
vuI.-coNFEssED.
The Countess lay pallid almost as death;
her husband writing at table near at
hand, and anxiously watching her.
"Martre, why will you not tell me your
secret?'
Il have no secret that you may know"
The following silence was broken by the
entry of the doctor.
Countess" he cried, 81 have found your
protege-the blind girl Louise, who sings
in the Streets"
Indeed Where is she! "
"Herew
"Here 2"
Then she battled with herself, but vainly
she strOve to appear calm.
The doctor had turned to the door.
Meanwhile, the Count was watching his
wife.
When Louise was brought into the room,
now plainly but comfortably dressed, the
poor mother did not move.
Thus they met for the second time.
Said Louise, in low voice, 1.-THE good
doctor tells me, madame, you have been
very kind to my sister and to me. We are
very grateful We are going away from
Paris-far away from this wicked city. But
we will always pray for you"
"Going away" said the Countess, family.
"Far away
Now Armand, Chevalier de Vaudry, had
entered the room with the doctor and blind
girl
He saw the Countess, and read her heart.
"Sir," he said to his uncle, 'the secret of
the Countesss life, as written in the
archives of the police, is here. did not
destroy the leaf / tore from the book"
The Count read the paragraph.
"She was secretly married." he said,
land child was born! Then-then-"
at was her fathers cruel ambition
forced her into the marriage with you, and
she dared not admit her relation to De Bar
sac, who, she feared, would be imprisoned.
He was even then in the Bastile."
"De Barsac!' cried the Count, Gle died
by his own hand the night of his arrest"
'"Ha" cried the Chevalier. ."Then she
really became your wife at the altar.
Count, her child, whom she found begging
upon the steps of St. Martins, is the poor
blind girl who is kissing your wife's hand. "
The Counts face cleared. He crossed
the room, and. leaning over the couch. he
said, II know all! She is your child; and
for your sake love her"
The doctor and Chevalier had turned
away from this family group, and neither
moved until they heard the courteous Count
apologizing to them for his forgetfulness of
their presence.