The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1884-05-31
THIBODAUX, SATURDAY,

with one hand Oh the arm when Ernest
| was shown i'll to him.
He looked pale and i'll, but held out
hls hand rs Ernest advanced
NelcOlne-welcome, NV son. he
said, i'll tone of deep emotion. .Wel-
heart"
Father" echoed Ernest.
am your father, boy. That sur-
prised, reproachful look is almost sutfi-
cent punishment fer my hitherto un-
CANNED title. Come with me I have
much to say but not here
He led the hewildered young man ,,p-
stairs, and entered bedroom hand
somely appointed, but having an object
within that mace him shrink and
tremble
A splendid coffin stood at the foot of
the bedstead o velvet pail covered Il
sweeping i'll sombre folds to the ground
Reverently lifting the lid, Lord Bow
mont revealed to Ernests gaze the calm.
venerable features of his mother.
Look on her, Ernest" he said sAl-
most with her last breath she implored
me to do you justice. aud [ promised
her. Here, by her coffin, proclaim YOU
my son, and the heir of Bowmont!'
''Then this venerable lady was nv
grandmother 2" said Ernest, kissing the
white, wrinkled brow.
Yes
"You have have said the heir of Bow.
mont, sir; yet l do not understand.
Reginald"
Is younger son. T soas married to
yo',r mother, but dared not acknowledge it. !
'fer,cards married Lady Augusta, and her
10" Is Reginald Boy. can you .ticrgise me
tor dep,issng you so many years Of your
"Forgive2 What right have 1 to
judge my father2 You have been ever
good and kind to Edith and to me, and
If we have not paid you the duty of chill
dren, it is that we have not known the
tie but henceforth our love and duty
shall indeed be yours" said Ernest,
pressing she hand of his father to his
Come to my heart, Ernest. You are
worthy to fill the place that Reginald's
crimes have made vacant
mot 60, dear father. 1 can never
supplant Reginald. am content to be
4 younger son. He has ever been con-
ndered your heir"
Generous boy, your goodness shall
not go unrewarded
With one last look at the venerable
form 50 soon to be hidden forever, they
descended to the library.
"What was it, Ernest" said Lord
Bowmont, that brought you SO unex-
pectedly to town."
"Oh, how selfish am. had forgot
ten fer moment my poor friends"
"Why poor!" asked Lord Bowmons,
:. Alas, the Viscountess-"
GOOD God! What has happened to
hsr? Speak, I beseech you !"
''She is widow and childless"
For some moments Lord Bowmont
gazed on the agitated features of his
son i'll speechless emotion.
Tell me, he said at length, hoarsely,
chow did it happen
''Thre is fearful mystery still unex-
planned, said Ernest. Poor Gerald was
cruelty murdered in the park and the
Viscount, who had been unwell for some
days, on seeing the body of his son, died
from hemorrhage of the lungs"
"And Geraldine i-the Viscountess !"
lis very i'll. All our efforts to restore
her to animation have failed, and 1 have
come to you for advice and assistance
II will come this instant Who SO
well as l, who have-But tell me,
Ernest, have you no clue to the vile
murderer of the boy?"
mo. sir, said Ernest "And yet 1
cannot divest myself of the suspicion
that the blow which laid poor Gerald
low was intended for me-"
For you, said Lord Bowmont, turn
ing deadly pale, and grasping the marble
mantelpiece for support Why-why
should you think that 2"
II can scarcely explain why think
SO but on the evening of the sad catas-
trophe. and a few minutes before it I
received this singular note, brought to
1 have preserved it ~
With hand that shook as If struck
with palsy, Lord Bowmont took the
note The handwriting was evidently
disguised, but in spite of the attempt to
conceal the characters, he recognized it
as Reginald's.
His son was o mIrdeTer-the assassin
of an innocent youth. the pride and sole
stay OF noble house, and more than all,
Geraldine's child. Like one whom the
lightning had scared, Lord Bowmont
fell forward; the note crumpled up in
his hand, his face rigid and white as
corpse.
my sin has found me out" he
mOaned.
Fearfully alarmed Ernest sprang to
his assistance, and placed him in chair,
ringing such frantic peals as brought
several servants to the door.
For mercy's sake. " he said, "come
here. Lord Bowmont is III. Send for
aOma medical man Or. I fear he will
tlie.
The butler hastily unfastened the
cravat, and bathed his temples and nos
trils, and presently, to Ernest's mex
consciousness. He gazed on the white
agitated countenance of his son, and
l. 4. L 4