Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-01-29

I'm better now-better now! Ny ser
wants thought was dead--would to heaven
that | were! The doctor says that the
vigor of my constitution saved me: but l
think that God wills that | should live.
for some inscrutable puri &c Of his own."
He stopped abruptly. a rush Of blood
TO his face and throat seemed to sutfooate
him.
The magistrate remained standing,
, hardly daring to move.
After a few seconds. the old nobleman
continued in tone OF bitter Self-reproach:
"Fool that have been. not to have fore
seen it all! Isn't everything discovered
sooner or later! | am punished where l
sinncd. by pride! thought myself above
the thunderbolt, and | have drawn the
storm about my own house! My son 4
murderer! One of the De Nulcourt's u
criminal at the bar! The very thought is
madness! Oh. sir punish me, for alone
am guilty! With me, an ancient name.
that has existed without Il stain for CEN
turies, will be blotted out in ignon my"
Monsieur Dtburon had expected very
different language from this. He thought
to have met Il proud and insolent aristo-
crat. who would have spoken to him with
Il CALLING condcsccnson: and he had made
up his mind 10 level his pride TO the dust
terness remained i'll his i:nrrmo,t heart,
when he remembered how the high born
Glare do Courry had refused to ally her
name with his.
Whatever il was. his spirit changed with
in him into one of profound pity, as he
witnessed TIE deep repentance and self
rcproach Of til" yricf-stric!len man before
him; and his only thou,ht was how to
console. rather than to blame.
Write-wGite what am about to tell
you. for brain and heart alike seem fail
ing me-" pursued the Count, with feverish
excitement, which, a few minutes before,
an observer would have hardly thought
him capable. "Write my confession, and
don't suppress 4 word | want no pity,
no dclcacy on your part. BESIDES, what
have | to fear uowi Isn't our shame
a thing proclaimed on the house-tops2
Won't it be public scandal in II few days
that l, Lionel de Valcourt. will be forced
that have brought on my ancient house
and namei Write, sir, write; and let all
/ the world know that alone am guilty"
He stopped for q moment, as though to
collect and condcnse his Ideas, and con-
tiuucd, III a voice that became tirmer and
more sul.orous as he proceeded.
Without reservation he told the magi,-
trate OF hi, relation with Valerie Gerdy,
OF his passionate and blind passion for
her, Of his unhappy marriage. of his sub
stitUtion of the children, and of the cause
of his de"crtion of Valerie. He told how
Il friend came-a cruel friend. envious of
his happiAes.-and proved to him that
/ Valerie was fnlse-the woman he had
! taken from Il gaGret. where she waS gain
/ ing Il miserable pittance with her needle,
i I...t, L
efactor. NJ caused her to be watched,
closely watched, and found that she re-
( received III" visits of 4 young cavalry Of
iccr. "Ono day. entering her sitting room,
lsaw,' pHis!led the Count, "upon her table,
/ rt'ing-w'i'p. Il rigar-cnd, and pair Of
military gloves, the cigar-end still burn
ng. ! rHtircd," he continued, "unper-
rei'"d. ! was too fond to upbraid, too
shocked to t!t:rr word. Since that time
have never looked upon her face. She
wrote, and l cast the letters into the lire
4 uuop"l 4. S.!c sought again and aga.n
/ TO have an interview with me. but in vain.
/ Ny servants ha" their orders from ms, or
/ pain of dismissal What | suffered tnen
no words can describe. In parting from
her, il seemed as if | were decorating my
own heart; but my anguish did not end
here Agonizing doubts arose in my mind
hs | looked in Albcrt's face. Was he
really my child? and had l sacrificed my
own son for the son of an0thcrt The mere
thought was torture. Sometimes was on
the point Of making u public confession,
and retaining the legitimate heir to my
name and lands; but old pr"judiccs, be-
longing to birth and rank, held mo back.
| reclcd, as ii We're, at the thought Of the
scandal and ridicuie that would be heap
/ al And how ,ln lnl