The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-02-22

| VIC. tho NhOWioiRo 'H't Sou aSlub hihi,
in your own Judgment. of this hi,leous
crime, will take some of his grief away.
After all, he is my father-you love his
childw
ayes, Alrienne, and for your sake we
will do this and everything else that we
can do in honor. / hear footsteps now.
He is here"
The sound of muskets striking the
ground was followed in II moment by the
opening of the folding doors. Adrenne
had glimpse of line Of soldiers; then,
one figure advanced alone, the doors were
closed, and Jean Renaud stood in the
presence of his old colonel. Their eyes
met--there was II pause. Perhaps both
men were recalling day when. as proud
members OF the same noble regiment,
they had fought side by side in the midst
of a dreadful carnage. AMI had escaped
unscathed; of night when. us officer and
private. the one had uttered, and the
other had Indignantly denied, II charge OF
murder; of the twelve years. during
which one had served his country rs
Governor of Provence, aud the other had
worked in chains. wearing the shameful
red of the galley-slave.
A moment of hushed suspense. and Adj
rienne, breaking from the duchess, flung
| her arms around the convict's neck, and
lay sobbing on bis breast.
Renaud looked at her; his strong fea-
lures were convulsel with grief; he
smoothe,l the fair hair from her forehead.
rs he had done on fearful night years
before. but now the carcssing touch
brought 10 relief to her pain.
"Adrienne, my child. this is hardest of
ALL thought you were so happy"
II was, j was happy-until-"
Until you found cut what your father
was. Well. Adrienne. do not weep for
me. l do not suffr now as l once did.
Now. know that my child believes me
innocent. l know hat she is safe. l can
suffer on alone. You need never blush
for me. child, for in he face of Heaven
swear that am innocent!'
"Oh. Renau,l, you forget the evidence,
the proofs against you!" cried the duke,
unwilling to alter his old opinion.
What proofsY The prattling OF a babyf
Oh, colonel, il was you who condemned
me. yet you knew that was a brave sol
dier, an honest man. Madame, you gave
me my wife; you knew that she was a
pure, loving woman; and then, to unite
us still closer, came our child, a little an
gel, so gentle and so sweet. Why, why
should kill her mother2 my wife, my dar-
ling Madeleine2"
Adrienne's dropping figure alarmed him.
He put her in chair and turned to the
duchess, who had watched him in silence.
"You will not forsake her, madame! You
will not, because of my disgrace, turn
from herr"
"Oh, no, never! She is our child by
love as well as by adoption. We shall
never part with herr said the duchess,
bending over Adrienne, who seemed per-
fectly to understand what was said, al
though too much exhausted to take any
part in the conversation.
"Oh. madame, you are indeed mother
to her. thank you for all your kindness
to my poor child. and freely give her to
you. My hopes Of ever proving my inno-
cence are fast leaving me-"
"Alas, can nothing be donei Think of
her Swallowed life!'
"You are right, madame; as long as the
doubt remains she will be miserable; and
no matter what say, it is still there to
blast her happiness. I see, thought
had suffered everything that an innocent
man could suffer, and yet live; but never,
never have 30 rebelled against the in
| justice OF my sentence; never has my
heart cried out to Heaven for pity and
mercy as it does now-now when see
her thus blighted by my shame! Oh,
know now that / am not reconciled TO this
strange fatality! am a man, and 1 de-
mand justice at the hands Of my fellow
men. / cannot, l will not submit to this
crushing wickedness! Twelve years,
twelve years of my manhood spent among
vile criminals have taught me the value
of the existence / lost! Oh, colonel, ask
you once more, have pity on me; help me
to prove that am not q wretched muir
derer suffering the just penalty of his
crime, but a brave soldier; man &C.
customed to face death, who asks only
justice--simple justice!"
The duke brushed away his tears, and
spoke in husky tones.
"Renaud, I sent for you to- day because
Adrienne had been fretting about you,
and longing to see you; but l had also
another motive for bringing you here"
Adrenne saw the startled look in his
face, and rising with an effort, she went
and stood near him, eagerly watching his
gestures. The duchess put her arms
around her. and thus supporting her,
glanced in turn ut the two men.
"O'Rourke, who had entered, also APP
preached Renaud, attracted by the pecu-
liar tone of the dukes voice.
The dukes experiment was at once
comprehended by his wife, and she mo-
toned to him to proceed.
"Renaud, during your trial you fire.
quently alluded to a certain man. saying
that if he were living and could be found
your innocence would be proven. Do you
rememberT
sI 10 xyalI 7 o,,oGa ~ tho Cnopt ia