The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-01-18
"At your service, sir: You are the
Duke d'Aubretot" as,
The duke bowed assent.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE COUNT DIE MoRNAssE.

your time when have explained the OBJ
ject Of my visit" said Count de Mornasse.
"Not at all. I am very happy to have
the pleasure Of receiving the Count de
Mornasse. In my capacity as Governor
OF Provence, IL I may be able to serve
you, it will give me extreme satisfaction
to do so. You have recently returned to
France" said the Duke d'Aubretot.
"very recently. Perhaps you may have
known my family in former years."
81 regret to say that did not. Until
appointed to this governorship, I spent
my time in the North. Your family come
from this part of France9'
ayes; our estates lie principally in
Provence. No doubt / shall often have
need Of your good offices, as I renew DOS
session of them"
"very probably; and no doubt the COM
ing visit Of our minister, the Duke de
Choiseul, will enable you to lay your af.
fairs before him. We expect him within
a few days"
~ shall be delighted to meet him." re-
marked the count, his dark, restless eyes
meeting the dukes open glance. "In es-
tablishing my claims here, /, however,
anticipate few difficulties. In fact, my
visit to you to-day was not at all connect.
ed with business affairs. dearer mo-
tive brought me here. When / quilted
France, some years ago, left, for safety,
at the College d'Hyeres, my only child"
Adrienne rose, and advancing n few
Oh han nd ots ~, hot .f klol 4,
spoke impulsively. her large eyes shining
with delight.
at was daughterf"
The count turned quickly, and looked
at Adrienne, admiration and surprise ex-
pressed in every feature.
"Yes; daughter; and her name was
valentine! Oh! knew it. 1 knew it.
Oh! mother, is it not charming3'
The count rose, and approached the Ia
dies.
"Can it be possible that you are my
daughterT
Adrienne changed color, and shrank
away from his eager eyes and extended
hand.
"Oh, no, mol i am not
Her confusion grew painful.
'She is our daughter-our child" said
the duchess, drawing Adrienne to herself
with a curious, defiant gesture, and cour-
tesying to the count.
excuse me; but I called at the col
lege, and was informed that Mademoiselle
Valentine was on visit to the Chateau
d'Aubretot"
sand so she is. 1 will send for her."
said the duke.
ORourke, who had not missed word.
disappeared with alacrity. and after some
minutes returned with Valentine. She
came in, bright and smiling, CHANGING
rapidly past the stranger. Strange gen.
tlemen were not rare at the chateau. The
stranger, however, watched her eagerly.
as the duke tried to prepare her for n
glad surprise.
valentine, my child,' said the duke,
''if fairy should enter at this moment.
and tell you that you might make wish,
which, no matter how great, would be
granted"
"why, should ask to see my father"
"Well, then, let me see, who shall be
fairy3'
"What do you meant 1t is not pos
sible"
Valentine looked at the count, whose
anxious. admiring glances now met her
eager gaze. The duke put her hand in
the strangers, and drew back.
sand are you indeed my father2" she
exclaimed, as the count put his arms
around her and kissed her forehead.
'Yes, my daughter. How lovely You
are"
"Oh, how have longed for this day to
come" said Valentine, passionately. ooh,
Adrienne, did not tell you this morning
that something strange was going to
happeuf"
"Yes, indeed, and it was in the Chateau
La Grange"
1.-THE Chateau La Granger cried the
count, starting. "Why, were you there9"
Eyes; was it not curious, our visiting it
only this morningf"
"Then it is not far awayi" said the
count.
"Only few steps, by the gardens"
Salu Aullenue. NOW we KNOW why IL Is
open and occupied. You sent to have it
put in orderT
IL did, mademoiselle, several weeks
since, as soon as reached Paris, knowing
that my daughter would perhaps prefer
it as a residence, it having belonged to
her mother"
"Oh, Adrienne, was there ever such a
happy girl as II Oh! feel like crying
for Joy. And Henri2"
"Henri2" repeated the count, with
rapid glance around him. Raoul left the
room. The duke undertook the explana-
tion which Valentines bushes rendered
necessary.
"In few words, count, we have had
little romance going on here for some
time. 1t ended a few weeks since in
double betrothal. In your absence, and
from the fact that nothing had been heard
from you for twelve years, the chanoin-
esse, who has been a mother to your
child, acted in the capacity Of parent.