Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-04

handed to Henri. telling him to pry open
one of the shutters. In moment the
young man understood that he was in the
presence of burglars, and hOTror-stricken
at the thought. he attempted to run away /;
but ere he had made two steps he received
a heavy blow on the head, which felled
him TO the earth insensible.
When he returned to consciousness he
was in the office Of monsieur, the eXamin-
ing magistrate. From the testimony of
Richet he learned that the building had
been broken open and entered, aud that
VI. Bertrand. the proprietor, had been
murdered. OF all that he absolutely knew
nothing. The friendly person with whom
he had started out with had made his es-
cape, while Richet had been captured.
The next morning the trial began. The
eX-galley slave repeated the same story
that he had originally told. On cross
examination by NJ. CASTOR, however. at
first he sustained himself, but at length
he stumbled. hesitated and became con-
fused, and it was evident that his testi-
mOny was considerably shaken. The chief
clerk of the murdered man was then put
OF the stand. and TO the questions put by
VI. CASTOR it was learned that no blood
had been found on the floor below the one
where VI. Bertrand's body was found, and
where Richet had testified that the
ter.
The officer who first discovered the
prisoner testified that on the spot where
GOurard's head rested there was a great
pool of blood VI. CASTOR then called the
surgeon who testified that the wound on
the head of GOurard could not have been
made as Riehet had swOrn-that it was
inflicted by a club or some heavy instru-
meut.
With this evidence the young lawyer
rested his case and it went to the jury. ,
The jury retired, and, after an hours
absence. returned into the courtroom
with a verdict of not guilty. The great,
the rich reward Of NJ. CASTOR was the
almost frantic joy of the mother and son.
The God of the widow and orphan has
sent YOU to us, sir. in our distress, and
His blessings will descend upon you
through all your days"
''sOme day / shall reward yOu,' said
young Gourard. The glittering drops
which stood in his eyes evidenced his
great gratitude. And thus the mother
and son took their leave of their generous
benefactor.
Years rolled on; the coup d'etat of De-
cember ,. 1851, had made and unmade
many. VI. Pierre CASTOR had devoted all
his energy and elOquence against the
usurper. But. like many others, he had
law that he had been years in building
up had been swepI away, as had been his
fortune and his friends. As he sat one
day in his own dingy office, bordering
over his misfOrtunes and crOwdlng mis-
brain for some means to obtain sufficient
sum with which to start again in lite-for
he was still young mana gentlemanly-
appearing man entered.
DO you remember me, NJ. Gaston''
Il do not" was the reply.
My name is GOurard-Henri GOurard-
whom you once defended on serious
charge in this city,
Another glance at the'visitOr convinced
CASTOR that IL was the prisoner he had de-
Tended years ago.
GOurard then in a few words informed
his benefactOr that he was well-tO-do
wine merchant: fortune had smiled upon
him and given him property. After con-
versing half an hour he rose to take his
leave.
Here is a small package that my moth
er. my wife and myself have made up for
YOU. | trust that it will convince you that
nv words to YOU have not been forgotten.
May God bless YOU. Goodbye
He was gone.
With trembling hands VI. CASTOR opened
the package. 1t was with difficulty that
he could suppress his emotion. There
spread out on the table were 5000 francs.
This is. indeed, rich reward. In
turn, say, God bless the widow and or
phan.''
With this small fortune VI. CASTOR soon
built up his practice and regained his
friends, among whom he cherishes none
dearer than Nine. and Henri Gourard.