Louisiana capitolian., 1880-06-12
Had told tho truth, should l have

|
] say anything that would disbonor th
good name Of ono who has been NOR
thnn u mother to me' Besides, ] di
not even know tho name Of her sscre
lover, and had never seen him. No; |
IL better M IL ~, am ready to die. NJ
secret, to all save you, shall die wit
, mo. That You believe In my innocence
is tho only comfort have left.
Your unhappy friend, ERNgsTINE.
: Thank God' murmured the youni
man, pressing the paper to his lipt
'Iiencetorth, | will devote my lilo t.
prove your innocence to tho world. Coz
grant 1t may not yet be- too late
| Late though II was, Bernard Mt onc'
repaired to the Prefects house, aud alte
some difficulty procured admission. Th'
Prelect fortunately happened to be al
old friend Of Bernards father, and il
was because Of this that tho young maj
was admitted ut no late m hour.
But, my friend, said the old man, ais
ter patiently listening to all he had to
say, believe me, IL IL n useless task
there is no doubt that tho Young woman
is guilty either as principal or as accom-.
plice. Still, as YOU no earnestly wish it,
You shall be permitted to search the
apartments Of tho murdered lady. And
now good night he added with smile,
and let me hear tho result of your in.
vesiigation.'
Early tho next morning Bernard nc.
ccmpanlcd by gendarme, repaired to
the Baroness house. Everything lay cx.
| actly M IL had been left on tho fatal
morning, for tho house bad been and
was still IN tho custody Of tho police.
Not drawer nor cupboard escaped
Bernard notice. Thore was no violence
visible on tho windows, as If forcble nd.
mission had been gained from the out
side, Nothing, in fact, presented itself
which gave the slightest clew to the
mystery.
The search had now occupied several
hours, and Bernard felt that 10 was use.
less to remain there any longer With
u sad and heavy heart, therefore, he
proceeded to leave the apartment. But
IN passing out into the cntree, which
was quito dark, his foot struck against
something which. on taking up, he
found to be n Int. Thinking IL belonged
to tho Baron, ho was about to hang IL
up with the Others on tho peg from
which he supposed 1t to have fallen.
That hat. Monsieur, If you please;
! do not remember to have seen 10 be-
fore, II IS strange remarked tho gen
darme, rs he compa,ed tho hat IN 1ues.
ton with the others that hung M in
the cntree, ID IL larger and Of tt differ.
ont shape from them :
Let mo have It, my good friend;
will show il TO the prisoner. If il should
chance to belonS TO this secret lover of
the murdered )adyp thought Bernard
to himself, as he hurricdly drove to tho
prison.
Ernestine was anxiously expecting to |
SEQ her friend, for he had promised TO |
visit her that day again; and she wished !
to learn from his own lips whether he
still believed in her innocence.
DO you know that hat Ernestino ?
said Bernard, on entering the cell.
THAT hat--good heavens lit is the
very hat the Baron had on tho night he
eft Paris said Erncstne, in M excited
manner.
Impossible we compared il with
.hc other hats-aud this is much larger.
believe II belongs to tho Baroness
over
'No--no--a thousand times not il
he Haron's he bought it tho very day
10 lett 1t was too large for him, and
'e asked me TO put some waddinp under
he lining tor him--see if it is not thcrcr
But Ernestino, it must be fancy on
our part-this hat never belonged to
he Baron But-stay-you are right
a'd bernard, rs, on turning up the lin
ng, tho waddlng fell out, and with 10
piece OF paper which had bocn used to
I'D little to it's thickness. Il was n
ill written by the landlord of q hotel
& Strasbonrg, made ont IN tho Baron's
anne, for weeks board and lodging.
: was dated April Just fourteen days
ttcr his departure from Paris.
Ernestine and Bernard looked at each
ther tor few moments in silence, as
TRANCE thoughts passed through tho
lind Of each.
That it was the BarOn's hat was now
roved, but how did it come therc' Had
. returned to Paris secretly before tho {
'nrder' Was he the murderer.
Ernestino turned deadly pale, r