The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-11-21
HUNTING A LEGACY.

The 18th of June, 188-, was an inn
portant day for Henriette Bardonnel,
milliner, at Rouen.
She was seated at about 10 in the
morning in front of her window, which
faced on the Rue des Charettes, busy
shaping and trimming a superb bonnet,
when Nine. Dufresnes, her employer,
opened the door suddenly, and flourish
ing a paper burst into the room.
"Henriette! Henriette! Haven't you
read it? Don't you know?" shouted
she, out of breath. Look, see!"
And she thrust the paper-The Petit
R0ue7andie-uEder her eyes, pointing
out notice on the fourth page as fol-
lows:
"Mme. Henriette Emilienne Bardon-
mel, daughter of Pierre Auguste Bar
donnel late piano tuner Rue de Grand
Pont, at Rouen. is requested to send
her address to NJ. Thie5ault, lawyer, 50
Place du Vieux-Marche, Havre prop
erty."
"You must write the lawyer at once
my dear-at once"
ayes, am going to, of course, Nine.
Dufresnes, right off," said Henriette.
The following evening, in reply TO
H6T lSIISI, D1ilS. DdIuOuu6I 10COlN GU
word from M. Thiebault asking her to
come at once to his Office.
To pay current expenses check for
so francs was inclosed. Decidedly
things were looking we'll, and Nine.
Dufresnes remarked upon it.
you were born with a silver spoon
in your mouth. my dear. l have al
ways said so. And M. Leonce-he, too,
is very happy, is he notP Is he going
with you to HavreP"
M. Leonce, or Leonce Lecarpentier,
was the son of linen draper in the
Quai aux Meules, promising young
bachelor of %, blonde and hearty, but
as gentle and timid as lamb.
Employed in his fathers shop, for
papa Lecarpentier did not believe any
more than was necessary in throwing
his money into the gutter, Leonce could
only indulge rarely his passion for the
pretty little milliner. A bracelet or a
gown on her birthday or at New Years,
few picnics on Sundays during the
summer, and few parties occasionally,
and that was all.
Restrained, however, by paternal and
business exigencies, Leonce had to let
Henrietta take the journey alone from
Rouen to Havre.
The lawyers office was in the second
story of an old, dilapidated structure at
the end of courtyard.
M. Thiebault, a thin little man, with
bent figure, sharp eyes under his large
copper-rimmed spectacles and black
velvet cap on his head, motioned to the
young girl 10 take seat on his left op-
posite the window,
"Mile. Bardonnel, ! supposed"
"Yes, sir"
You have taken care to bring your
certificate of birth, as I suggested"
Here it is, SIR"
The lawyer unfolded the paper and
carefully read the statement.
"Pierre Auguste Bardonnel-so far so
good. Correct! Your father left France
about 1866, did he not, missP"
"Yes, sir. / was then 5 years old.
We were going to meet him in New
York. Ny mother has often told me
the story. He wrote US three or four
times, as nearly as I can remember.
But we never received any further news
from him-never. My mother has been
dead six years. and / have no living re-
lation except cousin at Elbeuf."
"Your father, miss, died on January
%, 1879, in South America, leaving q
fortune valued at 10000 piasters, OF
600, 600 francs, of which you are the
sole heir. To enter into the possession
of the whole of this fortune it will be
necessary for you to go there in person
in order that you may see my colssague
NJ. Guastella, who is the executor
go way down there. But, mon
sieur, p
"We shall advance the necessary
amount. Have no fear on that score.
"And when must / startP"
"Let us see-the Fury dice-the Meust
Friday, Saturday. All, here it is
the Iberie. for Buenos Ayres. You will
sail next Monday. That's rather soon
You have just time to get back to Rouer
and make your preparations. l shall
expect you then, mademoiselle, OF
Monday next without fail"
Twenty-Five days after Henriette Bar
donnel, fortified with M. Thiebault's in
structions and suggestions, and will
the address of NJ. Guastella. Aniba
Guastella, abogado, 1872 Bolivar street
in her pocket, landed at Buenos Ayres
and repaired, with her trunk, to thu
hotel, SO favorably named De la Bonn,
Soupe.
Within an hour after Henriette's ar
rival and before she had finished he
dinner all her neighbors at the table. a
well as the proprietor and three serv
ants, who spoke French, were alread,
informed of the motive and the obiec
of her journey.
One of her neighbors. the one on tn
right. was al elegant and seduetiy,