The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-01-04

The girl seized his hand and pressed it
in her own.
II never loved you as do noww she
exclaimed. "ORourke, you must have
heard him sentencedr'
"That did, miss. They took him of
TO the prison, and left you without father
or mother, or any one in the wide world
to care for you"
''Why, how was that asked the duch-
ess. Tell Us where you found henry
poor child"
"Well, after John was sentenced, saw
her in the great courtroom. Marie was
out as the ambulance, talking with little
Jimmy, who had . ball in his shoulder;
and the poor little colleen was left TO wan
der about, crying for her father. The
ssxt day there was high mass and To
Dsuya, in homo, Of the great victory.
Half the brigsde was at church. Well
Just as his Reverence was about elevating
the Host, and AL was still, footsteps were
heard, and little child, no higher than
that, came walking up the broad aisle.
Some one tried 70 stop her; but bis Rev
erence know the child, and spoke out,
Let her alone; let her come said he, let
her come home, for she has no home. and
this is the house Of Him who said. 'Ssufier
little children To come unto me, and forbid
them pot" ,...
'URourke, you need not he ashamed OF
your tears," said the duke, in q husky
voice. ~ the man stopped.
Faith, and Id be ashamed Of myself II
was"
well, tell usthe rest said the duchess.
.sThere's not much more TO tell. The
saeristan took care Of the child that night,
and then thought II was best TO bring
her b. her father; and SO started with
her for Toulon, thinking John was there.
But John bad been sent u Brest, and they
told me that even II I got there ] would
NOT BE-. allowed TO see him. The child was
weak and feverish, and began 10 think
that she was clipping out Of the world to
Join her mother. Well, one evening, ~ ]
was passing the gates, with her in my
arms, the duchess came out; and when
she saw noe, she kncY. the uniform, and
stopped 20 speak 70 ma. ! told her what
Was true, that the child was alone In the
world. She toskitin. her arms, and you
know The rest" q"
but Why did yon not tell me that she
was Madeleine's childi No wonder I
loved you from The frat" said the Ouch
eos, a. Adrienne'e arms were claeped
about her neck. .....
"And let her grow up to be spoken of as
3 murderers child when knew the man
70 be innocepti Oh, no, better have left
her die"
"You were right. She il now better
able TO bear IT," said The duke.
"Bow can II What will do now II the
years 40 on and he remains tbsre"
my child we must Try TO help him."
but you do not believe in bis inno-
cence"
"Adrienpe, il il difficult 70 change in q
moment settled conviction that for
twelve years has remained unshskeD. No
light has ever been thrown on the evil
dence that told against your father. Here
il the chsnoinesse. Does she kDowS Has
che heardi"
Ill do not know. Valentine heard
all"
The chsnoinesse at once set oil doubts
1t rest by taking Adrienne in her arms
and kissing her.
my dear child, this il very hard for
your"
"And can you, too, love me no dearly
Obi il breaks my heart 70 see how good
you are 10 noe, and ! 20 unworthy-L, I
conviet's child-worse still, child who
convicted her own fAtber." 'F'r p. - :,
"Hush. Adrienne you must not thus
reproach yourself. Next 10 Valentine, I
love you. Did not teach you. help to
form your character, and are you not the
same Adrienne whom have slways sym-
pathized With Surely, il in . trifiing
grief ! could feel for you. why moi in this
heavy, crushing sorrowY"
'And my poor father; do YOU"
Adrienne's tears choked her utterance
"Adrienne, Valentine is 80 thoroughly
convinced Of your fathers innocence that
1 must accept her faith. Her intuition is
wonderful. Besides, circumstance that
came TO my own knowledge. twelve years
ago, inclines me TO accept your fathers
statement about the Count de Mornasse.'
"How is thatf' asked the duke; "you
say you were aware Of some point that
throws light on this subjectf
ALAS! doubt that | ever heard of this
case until to-day. Certainly, if l had
known that the name Of the Count de Nor
nasse was involved, would have offered
the little that could vouch for in favor
Of this poor soldiers defense
"And that WAS"
II cannot enter into details. but the
Count de Mornasse might have been on
the field that day; and. if he was. he had
the papers and jewels 10 which the sol
der refers on his person
.You amaze me. my dear chanoinesse,
Do you remember that the family WAS
prescribed and exiledf"
Certainly. Early in 1745 the decree
was passed ami signed; but in the May
of that year the younger count was still
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