The National tribune., 1882-04-15

a
Maiselles merchant. Then 1t was that his
relatives, who had left me to nurse him on
his deathbed, fell upon me with that paper
in which they charge me with having cir
cumvented the unhappy man, with having
tried to cozen him into marrying me; indeed
they almost hiut that when ] found he would
not yield to me, 1 ended by poisoning him,
so as to become possessed Of what he had
left me the sooner. Ah, it is all too infamous,
NJ Vitalil Do look like n ascheming adven-
turess-do look like a poisoner?"
She had half risen in uttering these words.
. Vitali lifted the Iamp-shade and the light
fell full on her features No, it was not the
face of an adventures nor Of anything but
what was sweet and good. She had large
blue eyes, soft and candid as a childs, q tiny
mouth which no falsehood could ever have
defled, and pale golden hair that seemed to
crown her pure brow with an aureola Of
! innocency like those on angels heads. So
at least thought Justin Vital as his admir-
/ ing gaze foll on the young face turned sup
plicatingly towards his. From that moment
his destiny altered its course.
She had no need to continue clasping her
hands as she did, for her cause was now
right in his eyes, although all mankind
should arise to accuse her There was q look
of protection in the glance he bent on her;
! then something like timidity stole into it,
and sensation which he could not account
| for, but which made his heart beat, took
sudden possession of him He turned
| towards his desk, caught up pen, and to
! give himself a countenance asked his visitor
some desultory questions her full names
and address (hcr Christian name was Clotilde),
whether she had a solicitor what documents
she could furnish to assist her defence, &c
| All this time he felt nervous, and dared not
| look again at Madame Desplans. He stam-
mered, and the consciousness that he was
doing so made him reddcr; then he became
aware that he was prolonging his questions
with an inward purpose of preventing his
visitor from going awny-and this discovery
! filling him with confusion lest he should be
detected, he said abruptly, by manner of
closing the interview:
Your solicitor will have to instruct me
in due FORM madame, but your case is hap
PLY not difficult one. By the way, am [
! to understand that you are entirely depend
ent for support on Captain LecrOix's leg
acy?"
"Yes," answered the young widow art
| lessly; " I brought my husband no dover,
but though destitute probably should not
have accepted the captains money if his
relatives had behaved with common kind
ness to me. l knew nothing about his viii
till it was opened after his death, and [ was
more surprised than anybody to find that a
million had been bequeathed to me. But
low that 1 have been so basely slandered l
would maintain my rights at any cost, even
if were bound to throw the million into the
sea as soon as [ got it,"
THAT is natural" answered Vital, who
was too much of Corsican not to sympathize
with the craving for revenge. "The legacy
is but just acknowledgment of your de-
votedness in tending the dying man-besides,
l suppose. tho captain was aware that your
husband had been ruined" :,
"He was not only aware Of it, but he was,
himself partially the author of our ruin, and
that is just the point, for in his will he treats
the legacy rs retribution," exclaimed Mad
anne Desplans animatedly. II should tell
you that Captain Lacroix often advised my
husband on pecuniary matters, and once he
counselled him to invest in a mining COM
pany which had been started in Corsica"
"In Corsica!" exclaimed Yitali with
10 of
spread his face.
"Yes; and the company soon went to ruin,
for it had been founded by a dishonest banker
ono Della Sebbia. But what is the matter
NJ. Vital ?-you look unWell."
Della Sebbia was not dishonest, I sol
emnly vow," said Vital, standing up and
speaking with considerable emotion. "In
fouading the mining company, madame, he
sincerely believed that he was promoting
genuine enterprise, and when the ruin over
took him and his shareholders ne committed
suicide
"Oh dear!" exclaimed Madame Desplans,
opening wide her blue eyes and assuming
an air of contrition, "but l hope 1 have said
nothing-was that M. della Sebbia-"
Gle was my father said Justin Vital,
whose brow contracted as with pain.
There was a moments silence. The young
widow had risen, and the Corsican and his
client stood for brief space close together
with downcast faces, neither speaking. Mad
ame Desplans broke the silence by saying, in
tone of compassion and regret
81 am truly sorry, NJ. Vitali-I could not
guess-but this will not prevent you from
defending me, viii it?"
"That is question for yourself to decide"
answered Vital, a little bitterly. "But if
you cannot believe in the honesty of the
father, I would advise you not to submit
your fortune and reputation to the care of
the SON"
II will believe anything you tell me, M.
Vitali" said Madame Desplans, without hes
itation; then she added with halfsmile,
"but, unintentionally as it may be, your
father was the cause of our ruin. He was
the cause that am standing before you to-
day; so you owe me kind of reparation.
Prevent me from being despoiled of Captain
Lacroix's legacy, and we shall be quits"
ITO be continued
SAD FATE OF A FAMILY.