The Morning herald., 1877-09-06
CHAPTER XII.
-, THE TRUE HEIR.

=, THE TRUE HEIR.
"These, then, are the facts-the simple
facts" commenced his friend, "as far as
can CLEAN them from the pile Of letters
I've lust perused; and if you'll allow me,
III repeat them 10 you in sensation para
rraphs, after the fashion of some OF our
fayorite novelists. Your father, the pos
SCISSOR of great name-I surmise this
though the letters are without signature
and an immense fortune, while yet a
very young man, devotedly loved young
girl.
"The young girl was far beneath him in
birth and worldly position. Unable to
marry her without the consent OF his par
ents, the love Of the young people took
wrong turn.
"Valerie Gerdy, yielding to fatal i'm
pulse, lived with your father as his wife,
though without the right to that sacred
title.
"Diplomatic relations took him to Italy,
and there, in the absence of Valerie, who
remained alone in France. notwithstand-
ing his most ardent desire that she should
accompany him, one Of those grand mar
riages was formed by his aristocratlc fam
ily. which consists in simply bringing two
great names and an unlimited quantity OF
land together utterly irrespective OF any
Of the nobler feelings Of the heart. =,
"To Judge by the tone OF the letters 1t
proved most unhappy union, bringing s;
! in its train sorrow, sin, shame and death.
Old Corkscrew paused for moment, as
if searching for a new point to start from
in his story. ;,
"What we're your fathers motives" he
asked, breaking silence at last, "for his
heightened stay abroad?,,
"Mv father" answered the young bar
rister, notwithstanding his age, was an
intimate friend of Charles the Tenth, and
had undertaken for him secret mission
in Italy. My father is the Count Lionel
de Valcourt."
Daddy Tabaret started.
The name pronounced by Noel was one
; of the most ancient i'll France, and i'ad'
hitherto, been handed down wlthon,
hlemish or stain from father to son until
the present time. -. =:
"Yes," continued the young man, IN
low voice, taking up one OF the letters
and glancing at its date, "it was at Naples
IN the middle of the month Of May, ls2"
that nv father, a man in the full possession
of his intellect---a statesman, celebfiteu a
for his willy policy---a gentleman OF hlGn
birth and education, led away by an alb
sorbing passion, committed to paper d
scheme as monstrous as it was unjust!
aston a bit---stop bit" again said
Daddy Tabaret. Let's stuck 70 the oar'
and simple facts. which are as follows -
Two children were born in the san(
month of the same year. One the chill
of the poor girl called Valerie ; the Other
of the Countess de Valcourt.
"At the instigation Of the Count Lone
de- Valcourt, the children were changed
and the real heir to his name and estates
was consigned to the care OF Valerie
whilst her child was brought up as th'
future Count.
"The accomplices in this scheme wer'
Germain, the Counts valet; wet Nurse
named Claudine Lerouge; the Coun
himself and, of course, Valerie.
,.sThe manner in which the plan was ex
ecuted was simple and effective. n
"The two children, few days alIe1
their respective births, were sent IN tllt
care of two wet-nurses into Normandy
where the De Valcourt estates are stu
ated.
"These women were, Of course, un
known to each other.
"An accident on the road, prevlousl!
arranged by Germain, the valet, wno, ac
companied the nurse who had taRe'
charge of the Countess little son, cause
the two women to pass the night in tn
same w room at a wayside inn, where tn
change was effected. ,..
"a munifcent reward for her service
had been given. to Claudne Lerouge' tn
wife of an honest but poor salior' "n'
carefully kept the secret, and tenoerl!
umrsed the child of Valerie. who was thu
brought up as the future heir Of the coun
"'.. Am I right so far I" asked Daddy Tab
aret. .o.o 80 ocoui
escence. ~, ro,1,scrow srd
lenlv sitting bolt upright in his chair, an AZ
Gxing his piercing eyes on the pal" iace = . ,
his Young friend, where are yc''r Pyot,ss !'
a Noel took back the Packe. 0i o. a'Ioe1 ,onI
renlaced them in his desk, ana ,nen a',n io"n
ad M steadily into the sharp connteh"''
= that was peering into his own.
u u VIC" "snnpose," he said, slowly, and IN meas s
Il ,,,od accents. "that all the proofs l pos
sess ne in the world sto" here. "hat 'nen