The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1885-07-23

mon thing tor him 10 remain oil night
in his Workshop. and even until late the
next morning. Though 1t was sug-
gested that he should be summoned
Afghan opposed il saying that he had
been moody and reserved Tor some days
past, and knowledge Of what had be-
fallen Buchy might have IN injurious
effect upon his mind.
"Let us remove Buchy," said Aig-
nan, land then We can invent story
about his having gone 70 visit his uncle
ct PrueiIly."
Mad. Louard yielded to his sugges-
ton, but when noon next day arrived
she determined to see whether her hus-
band was in his workshop. On going
thither she found the door locked. and
her repeated applications for xdmis-
sion were unheeded. Greatly alarmed,
she tried to break open the door. but
was unable to do So Afghan. who had
gone with Buchy to Poitiers. had not
returned, and she, therefore. sent
Maria to the village of Lssay for the
blacksmith. He came with his tools
and soon broke open the door. Louard
lay back in an old-fashioned easy chair.
On the floor. ct his right hand side, lay
. shoemaker's knife, which he had
used for the cutting OF leather washers
for screws. The blood was over the
floor and had spurted out upon the desk
In front of which the old man was
seated. On the desk lay Q sheet of
paper. The pen lay at its side, and the
ink was on the left hand side. He had
evidently just been writing before his
death. The paper on the desk bore
three or four lines in L0uard's hand
writing. The paper was spotted with
blood. It contained these words:
my DEAR LOUISE: / know not how
to announce to you what l am about to
write. am afraid it will give you .
great shock. l shall now end my
life"
From the left side pocket of Louard's
coat an envelope protruded. 1t con-
tanned letter from lawyer of Lyons,
announcing the fact that Louard's
cousin. Leon Creuzot had died and left
Lonard sole heir to ali estate of three
million francs. This Creuzot was older
than, Louard, and had been successful
and misery merchant Louard and he
were orphans and brought up to-
| gether by an aunt at Lesay.
All agreed that Louard had COM
mitted suicide. The date Of the letter
showed that he had had 1t in his
possession for some days, and its con-
tents were supposed to have turned his
brain. The body was inferred. and in
due time the widow and her children
came into possession of the large fort
une which LOuard had inherited before
his death. ....,.. ..
Afghan showed himself an expert
man of business. He condoled with
the widow and her children, attended
to the business connected with the in.
heritance, and brought all the affairs Ia
speedy and most satisfactory con.
clusion. Then he suggested to the
widow improvements and alterations
on the estate.
| All the lands formerly sold by Lou.
ard were bought back and greatly i'm.
proved The old chateau was restored
to its former beauty. The tower, in
which was the room where Louard had
persisted, was torn down and rebuilt.
The windows were replaced with more
modern ones. The furniture was re.
paired and restored. All the old pieces
were carefully preserved. but new fur.
niture aIJ4 upholstery were procured
for the rtception-rooms and bedrooms,
all of which were chastely and elegant
ly renovated and fixed up. The stables
and barns were removed from theil
former site, and the ruins of an old
dover house which they had occupied
were beautifully restored. This lovely
dwelling stood quarter of mile from
the chateau, on the banks Of the stream
already alluded to, surrounded witt
beautiful gardens
When Afghan had finished his worl
1t was pronounced perfect. The OUTLAY
had been very small, for Afghan dis
closed himself as an accomplished
architect, and superintendent all tn
work. Every centime expended wa
carefully accounted for. and MADAM
, Louard was profuse with thanks for tn,
way in which Afghan, In less than {
year. had transformed the old. dilapi
! dated estate into place Of unrivale'
|. beauty.
MADAM" said Afghan, modestly
!, Il have done my work. and 1t is tim
! for :ue to depart. You can now man
|, age your own affairs, with the help O
Lawyer Orrilot, Of Lesay. and there
no need of my further trespassing OF
your hospitality"
The widow protested against his d.
parture, but he insisted. Finally, whel
] she closely pressed him. with tears il
, her eyes, to explain his reason for quit
ting Lesay. he admitted with mucl
hesitation. that he was in love with he
eldest daughter, Marie.
THAT need not stand in the way, m
. son." said Madam Louard, joyfully
, ''for am certain that it would be a
agreeable to Marie to become your wifi
as it would be to you"
/ And so the matter was settled, an
, on September 1, 1861, Marie becam
| Madam Afghan, and she and her hus
! band took up their residence at tn
} Dover House already described.
Soon after this 1t was announced tbs
{ Buchy. who had been under expei
medical treatment ever since his n
moval TO Potion. had recovered so IA
: as he ever could. His bodily function
were in good condition, and he had
I better and more healthy look than b
+ had ever had before, but he was hops
q less imbecile and never spoke. He att
( drank. walked and amused himself as
child might, but never showed anv sig