The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-08-13

there just in time to catch the boat, was
stepping on board, when he was arrest
ed and brought back to Paris to be
charged with crime Of which he had
never even dreamed.
The officers testified to having found
the envelope upon him, directed as
he had stated; but, on opening it, the
inclosure was found to be nothing more
than several sheets Of blank paper. His
story though told with the earnestness
of truth and conscious innocence, seemed
SO wildly far-fetched and improbable
that it only influenced the Judges still
more strongly in the belief Of his guilt
To be sure, the main proof against him
was the bankers word, but the whole
chain of circumstances also favored his
assertions, Where or how the clerk hid
hidden the money was certainly an un-
explained mystery, but the supposition
was natural that he had laid his plans
well beforehand, and made arrange
ruents SO that it would still be secure in
case he was arrested before he could
make good his escape. Weighing the
evidence carefully. though not perhaps
without taking into account the high
social standing the banker had always
occupied, the Judges pronounced the
clerk as guilty, and sentenced him to
the galleys for term Of twenty years.
When the prisoner heard this doom,
to which even death would have been
preferable, his head fell upon his breast,
and an understandable vail Of agony
broke from his lips. The following day
he was sent to the galleys at Toulouse.
-Four years passed away, during which
time the banker had resumed his bust
ness, and had reached an even higher
social position than he had occupied be-
fore. His only child, daughter Of
more than ordinary beauty and sweet
ness of disposition, had blossomed into
womanhood. The wealthy young Mar
quis de Reaunois was smitten by her
charms, and ambitious hopes we're en-
tering the bankers mind that through
her he might even enter higher grade
Of society and become associated with
the nobility. He could now afford to
laugh at the threat of vengeance uttered
four years ago by convict whose rivet-
ed chains were clanking in the galleys at
Toulouse. He did not even know il he
were alive or dead.
Had any one told him, or had he hap.
pened to read, that one Of those galley
slaves, who was not even allowed Q
name, but was known as No All, had
escaped, it would have passed out Of his
mind at once. Convicts often escape-it
was nothing to him.
Time still passed on, and the date q
the wedding Of the bankers daughter
with the young nobleman was fixed t.
! take place with an elegance that was e
, surpass all former bridals Of the season
All Paris knew Of it, and one may judg'
Of the sensation when, on the night be
fore the wedding, the bankers hous,
vas broken into, and not only all th'
} valuables taken, but the bride hersel
carried away. A large reward was Of
, iered, but in vain and the most earnes
efforts of the whole detective force wer
Q fruitless to discover the slightest clew
to the perpetrators Of this bold outrage
i The days went by and grew into weeks
e and still no tidings Of the missing gil
z could be found, and the bankers forr
S grew bent, and his face hollow and care
|. worn with anxiety and grief. The whol
0 affection Of his life had been wrapped u
d in this girl.
S Late one night, after more than tv
k weeks had passed, as he was seated
is his library, in conversation with one
g the detectives engaged on the fruitle'
q search, note was brought to him.
d II must see you at once" was wri
q ten in large, sprawling hand. i ca
e give you tidings of your daughter"
10 Almost overcome with emotion, Il
{, banker gave orders for the bearer to
y admitted, while the detective rose quie
d ly and took his position behind the Gu
3 tain Of the window. Scarcely had
e. done so, when the servant opened d
er door and admitted man who, thout
n fashily dressed, carried in his face al
to manner the unmistakable stamp of t
m lowest criminal class. The bank
sprung from his chair. his face flush
lis with glad expectation, to meet him
he "You bring me news OF my daug
Ne. ter 2" he cried, eagerly.
,is Eyes" the man answered; tina
to what / came for. "
T. aha ztfol