The state journal., 1884-07-26

through the window, Monsieur-Mon
sieur-?"
Leblanc at your service,'' said the
commissioner, carelessly. Did you say
through the window? That seems
scarcely probable.
But Plon was positive there was no
other way by which he could have en-
tered unseen by him. And now he would
give III. le Commissaire Il dozen guesses
to find out what this rascal had the vii
lainy to pretend. To look at him would
any one suppose now that he could be the
husband Of MadameY'
Apparently" said the other, glancing
at them, Madame herself is not averse
from that opinion.
''Her husband-hee, hee I" said NJ.
Plon, getting red. 'Poor Jean, who was
shot in the eneute three years ago! See
there, Monsieur, it is ridiculous ridicu
lOus If any one should know anything
about those things it is l. | was myself
on the very point Of becoming martyr
for my country; and as for Jean Didier,
whether rightly or wrongly, he was shot,
and their was an end of him. To pretend
that he turns up three years later
Marie was crying, and M. PlOn thought
his elOquenCe had provoked her tears,
but she put aside his hand, walked to the
commissioner, and dropped on her knees
before him.
Monsieur, if you have wife"
Il have not" said the man roughly.
But your mother? If her son
81 have my duty, that is enough" he
said in the same tone. ''Get up, Nine
Didier, and let me know the truth of all
this matter. This explains your unwill.
ingness that | should return with you
Who's the MANI"
my husband Monsieur" sobbed
Marie, springing up and putting her hand
i'll Jeans.
GLOW came he here?"
Monsieur, he escaped and crawled
here"
"And how has he been supportcd?"
."By me, said the wife simply.
Plon had recOiled during this explana-
ton, and gazed helplessly from one to
the other.
''Go on, said Leblanc briefly, taking
out a note book
"IIe has not been out of this room for
three years-thrce years. That is q long
time for man to be shut up" pleaded
Marie, with her heart in her eyes "And
Nj. lie Commissaire, you must understand
it was all q mistake. He tried TO stop
them, but they dragged him along (the
COmmuniSts), and then one of them turns
round and denounceS him. There are
very wicked people in the world. NJ. le
COmmissairc.
His name"
Jean answered for her:
"Ihe name of that man was Fort.
Leblanc turned the pages of his note
book more quickly. 'Dumont-C0urt
-ah, here it is. Jean Ddier, glazier,
with insurgents; pointed out as Com
munist by one Fort executed on spot.
Is that COrreCt?'
He was innocent" said Marie
nervously twisting her fingers.
'But am to understand that you deny
his idcntity2" said the officer, turning
sharply on Plon. "Speak up, mani"
NJ. PlOn looked round, bewildered.
Glow could he have got into the
hOuse2"
'Never mind that. What we want is
yes or mo- Is it Jean Didier Come
close and see for yourself"
''lt is like him, said the landlord eX-
amining him from head to foot, "cer-
tainly it is like him; could almost be-
lieve it was he, only how could he have
got into the house p
CAS- to that-wherc there woman"
said Leblanc, turning away. They were
all watching him except Perine, who was
sobbing stormily on the wooden stool, and
he said shortly; there is something more
in my notebook.
"MOre!' repeated Jean with alarm.
FfWOul1 Won rather MT have If 9''
Marie, who hadnOt taken her eyes from
him, advanced with her hands pressed
| upon her heart. Courage, my friend"
she said breathlessly. eyes, NJ. le Com
missaire, we will hear"
1t had struck her he was smiling.
He began to read in his sing song voice.
Fort, convicted of forgery, died last
month in the Grande Roquettc. Before
his death he confessed his denunciation of
Jean Didier to have been false"
Jean Didier wife turnedrOund, opened
her arms and fell upon her husbands
neck .specchless.
SO this was the end to that affair. As
for No 1859, which had brought Leblanc
in pursuit of Perine, it did not turn out so
romantically as might have been desired,
having nothing to do with the great
robbery of the Rue Vivienne, which re-
mains mystery--to most peOple--to this
day. But oddly enough, it set the police
on the track of a smaller crime; a certain
reward was handed over to the Didiers
for the use of the poor girl, and no one
will deny that it was her unconscious in
strumentality which brought their change
of fortune. Jean is almost always kind
to her, but Marie treats her with sort of
reverence.
You may see them sometimes, of a
summerevcning, walking along the quays.
The great river sweeps slowly down, the
busy lights which flt about the houses, or
point the span of the bridges with golden
dots, fling long reflections on its surface.
Overhead more peacefullig shining.
All about us is the rush of tumult and
change, men drifting here and there,
struggling, weeping, jesting, passing
away; but over all God watches and His
world goes on.-Frances May Rard.