Wichita eagle., 1888-06-03

them be Is Innocent as am mysenI 1 mow
what you think-both Of you-though you
Hare not say It'll Shame upon You both-M.
Marsal, you ere not his frisndi Mother, you
are not-you are not my motheri 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.
Isle has not wept before" Nine. Dumaine
said to ne simply. turned my back upon
mother and daughter, with the feeling that
10 look upon such grief was to profane IT
heard Their broken ordinations:
my child Ny own Gabrielle!'
ION, mother, you that loved hiu-called
him your son.n
my childl VIII believe what you believed
Yes, he is my son! ne is i2ncceat.7
/ do not say that my eyes were dry at this
moment. know that felt myself more of
q 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 man s friendship to faill-
l cast my doubts to the wind Iswore TO atone
for my cowardly suspicious.
Forgive me, NJ Marsal, heard Gabrielle
say; '.look round, and say you forgive me!n
/ looked round and saw her kneeling by her
mothers side One hand was held in Nine
Dumaine's, the other she stretched forth TO
me. took it and kissed it, and nlurmured
something about the forgiveness coming from
her
mo, no." she said; II know that all the
appearances are against hin-I know that
men reason, where women only feel But
there are times when you may trust woman
who reasons with her heart Believe me,
Raoul never did this-cannot have done it.'
Il believe it, ] cried; Il swear 10 you
never TO doubt again"
''Only think, how could he have dore it,
On that Monday night he came here; he
tapped at the door; I 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 II is late Wont you come
in, Raoulf said to him: mother and are
sewing; come iii and talk TO US for an hour
Not tonight, dearest, he s,ii1i; L 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 Boulevardsr Then
l said good night to him, and-and he kissed
me- Oh, mother NJ MarSall can You think
that he went from me-straight from me,
with that kiss upon his hps--to murder the
old man for his money! Oh God, what evil
will people not believer
my darling, we do not believe it, We
think as you dds it not so, NJ Marsalf'
/ could see that Mime Dumaine's belief was
not SO firm Us she would have liked it To
appear. But for my part, after such advo-
cacy as Gabrielle's, the court Of assizes could
not have altered my opinion.
t'Mademoselle," I said. sit is true that ]
suspected Raoul at first. / do not seek ia
defend myself; 1 think of it with shame.
The evidence is against him just now
strongly against him; that cannot be denied
Well, let us wait meanwhile; he himself viii
explain it. If his explanation needs proof
will find it; pledge myself to that, before
the Virgin and you'll"
''Thanks, my friend" she murTnured, again
holding ou+ her hand to me.
''Do not grieve, Mademoiselle. Raoul is
innocent; therefore he is safe. | shall see
him, and tell aim what you said 10 me to-
night; that will give him courage"
''And you VIII help himF'
"While the breath is in my body, and a
SOU in my purse! devote myself to this-it
is a preparation, an atonementl Ma1emoiselle,
| thank you. You have kept me from utterly
betrayi1g my friend
/ sought to comfort the two women, and to
some extent succeeded. When l lett them
Gabrielle was more calm.
''Do you really think--?' faltered Nine.
Dumaine, as she opened tie shop door for
me-
''Madame, l an certain. Your ANGEL Of n
daughter is right; let us take our inspiration
from her"
The poor woman sighed; noticed tho can
die shaking ii her hand.
IF they find him guilty she viii die she
said; goodnight, NJ Marsal, and thank you
for all your goodness"
was followed honeward, as he'd been in
coming. Onreaching the Rue Dauphine,
found Pierre in a state of frantic excitement
and his wife in tears she had an affection for
Raoul. Everything was known now; Pierre
was to give evidence at the inquiry; hs had
been visited during my absence by an agent
of police.
''He is upstairs now said the servant 20
has been waiting for Monsieur
more than an hour. All, Monsieur, can You
believe itl NJ Girard, who would not hurt IA
fy?-surely it is not possiblei"
''You are right said; sit is not possible"
And | went upstairs To face the agent Of DO
lice.