The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-12-06

he was in the presence of burglars, and
horror-stricken at the thought, he at
tempted to run away; but ere had made
two steps he received blow on the
head which felled him to the earth in
sensible.
When he returned to consciousness
he was in the Office of monsieur, the
examining magistrate. From the testi-
mony of Richet he learned that the
building had been broken open and en-
tered, and that NJ. Bertrand, the pro-
prietor, had been murdered. OF all
that he knew absolutely nothing The
friendly person whom he had started
out with had made his escape, 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
the cross-examination by NJ. CASTOR,
however, at first he sustained himself,
but at length he stumbled, hesitated
and became confused, and it was evil
dent that his testimony was considera-
bly, shaken. The chief clerk of the
murdered man was then put on the
stand, and to the questions put by M.
CASTOR it was learned that no blood
had been found on the floor below the
one where NJ. Bertrand's body was
found, and where Richet had testified
that the prisoner had struck his head
on the counter.
| The officer who first discovered the
prisoner testified that on the spot where
Gourard's head rested there was a great
| pool of blood. Nj. CASTOR then called
the surgeon, who testified that the
wound on the head of Gourard could
not have been made as Richet had
sworn-that it was inflicted by club
or some heavy instrument.
With this evidence the young lawyer
rested his case and it went to the jury.
The jury retired and after an hour s
absence returned into the courtroom
with verdict of not guilty, The
great, the rich reward of NJ CASTOR
was the almost frantic joy of themother
and son.
The God of the widow and orphan
has sent you to us, sir, in our distress,
and His blessing will descend upon you
through ali your days."
"Some day shall reward you," said
young Gourard. The glittering drops
which stood in his eyes evidenced his
| gratitude. And thus the mother and
son took their leave of their generous
benefactor.
Years rolled on; the coup d'etat of
December 2, 1851, had made and un-
made many. M. Pierre CASTOR had de-
voted all his energy and eloquence
against the usurper. But, like many
others, he had been crushed. His great
practice in the law, that he had been
years building up, had been swept
away, as had been his fortune and his
| friends. As he sat down one day in his
own dingy Office, pondering over his
misfortunes and erowding his brain for
some means to obtain q sufficient sum
with which to start again in life-for he
was still young mana gentlemanly
! appearing man entered.
''Do you not remember me, M. Gas
tonP"
81 do not was the reply.
my name is Gourard-Henri Gou-
rard-whom you once defended on q
serious charge in this city,"
Another glance at the visitor con-
yinced Castor that it was the prisoner
he had defended four years ago.
Gourard then in few words in-
formed his benefactor that he was a
well-to-do wine merchant; fortune had
smiled upon him and given him pros
perity. After cenyersing half an hour
he rose to take his leave.
''Here is a small package that my
mother, my wife and myself have made
up for you. I trust that it will con-
vince you that my words to you have
not been forgotten. May God bless
you; good by.
He was gone.
With trembling hands NJ. CASTOR
opened the package. 1t was with diff
Guilty that he could suppress his emo
ton. There spread out on>the table
were 5000 francs.
sThis is indeed a rich reward. In
turn ! say God bless the widow and or.
phan."
With this small fortune M CASTOR
soon built up his practice and regained
his friends, among whom he cherishes
none dearer than Mime. and Henri
Gourard.
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