Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-04-17

She carried herself proudly like q queen.
most of defiance in the glance of the dark
eyes and the curve of the red lips; never be-
fore had Gabrielle seemed to me so superbly
beautiful. She reminded me of Rachel; but
saw that there was no acting here
Her steadfast gaze held me captive; it was
first inquiring, then accusing. I had to lower
my eyes. :.
''You, tool" was all she said.
"My child said Nine. Dumaine, s'you are
unjust to NJ. Marsal, as you have been to
mel'
''Mother, I shall hate you if you say It'll
What? believe that of my Raoul? Believe
that he-no, I shall speak to no one who
thinks It'll Be false to him if you will, but I
shall be true! Desert him if you will, but I
shall go to him, and stand at his side when
they try him, if they will let me-and tell
them he is innocent as am myself! know
what you think-both of you-though you
1are not say it! Shame upon you both-M
Marsal, you are not his friendl Mother, you
are not-you are notmy motherl Oh, mother,
forgive mel My heart is breaking forgivel"
The proud voice passed into sob, and she
threw herself at her mothers feet and buried
her face in her lap, weeping.
e'She has not wept BEFORE" Nine. Dumaine
| SILL w Liz ply. hou LILY DeuCh uJOA
mother and daughter, with the feeling that
heard their broken EXPLANATIONS:
''My child My own Gabrielleg'
ooh, mother, you that loved him-called
him your sonl'
"My child! will believe what you believe!
Yes, he is my son! he is innocentp
I do not say that my eyes were dry at this
moment. I know that felt myself more Of
guilty wretch than the worst criminal that
ever stood at the bar Of justice. Certainly,
Raoul was not guilty, this angel had said so,
and therefore it must be true. Let the evil
dence be what it might, or the police say what
they would, Gabrielle had given her verdict;
| it should be mine. Was woman's love to
stand the test and mans friendship to fail?-
cast my doubts to the wind. Isw Q to atone
for my cowardly suspicious.
''Forgive me, M. Marsal," heard Gabrielle
say; ''look round, and say you forgive mel"
| Hooked round and saw her kneeling by her
mothers side. One hand was held in Nine.
Dumaine's, the other she stretched forth to
me- Itook it and kissed it, and murmured
something about the forgiveness coming from
| her.
''No, no." she said; sI know that all the
appearances are against him-I know that
men reason, where women only feel. But
there ere times when you may trust woman
who reasons with her heart. Believe me,
Raoul never did this-cannot have done It'll"
81 believe it," I cried; 81 swear to you
never to doubt again.
'Only think, how could he have done it?
On that Monday night he came here; he
tapped at the door; knew it was he-I ran
to open. Only word, DEAR he said; Just
to see you and hear your voice, and then
| goodnight, for it is late.' Won't you come
in, RaoulH said to him; mother and are
sewing; come in and talk to us for an hour
| Not tonight, dearest, he said; I have work
to do and friend Paul is sitting up for me.
Good night-don't forget New Years Day
and our walk round the Boulevardsp Then
said good night to him, and-and he kissed
me. Oh, lnotherl M. Marsall can you think
that he went from me-straight from me,
with that kiss upon his ips-to murder the
old man for his money! Oh God, what evil
will people not believer
ssMy darling, we do not believe its We
think as you do-is it not SO, M. Marsalg'
I could see that Nine. Dumaine's belief was
not so firm as she would have liked it to
appear. But for my part, after such advo-
cacy as Gabrielles, the court Of assizes could
not have altered my opinion.
"SLademoiselle,n said, ssit-is true that
--spected Raorl at first. do not seek to
defend myself; think of it with shame.
The evidence is against him lust now