The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-02-13

E0r Armand had deem 0C6006 1ot %
few days and wrote that his return was
yet delayed.
My faith. my good amt" be said,
after hearing her tale, when he at last
arrived and inspecting curiousiy the
bottle of chlorofCrm, 1T looks as il
some one wanted TO get rid OF you.
Have You made your will in favor Of
our fair cousin? But, no. perhaps it is
only that young Indies like jewelry."
.Eliscl'' exclaimed madame in hor-
ror. 1T is impossible!"
ooh, of .courscp' responded her
nephew, struggling his shoulders.
"Nannette perhaps" murn.ulea ma
dame. Bet tho loss Of her beloved ring
had soreiy preyed upon her temper, and
with awakened suspicion IN her mind
Elise and tho little maid had u sorry
time of it.
Then Francois suddenly took courage.
ard coming to madame declared his
passion and begged her permission TO
address her lovely charge.
"A thief, perhaps" said madame
soCrly. "Bnt, no. she added, ashamed
Of having let slip tie word.
WHO dares soy that-of one SO good
and beautiful;' l,e asked fiercelv. II
Low it Is that black hearted nephew Of
yu1Fs. It Is he. You--you. madame,
are too kind to believe such siardarsl'
Perhaps it is, Nannette, she MUIR
INJURED, frightened at his fierceness.
Find ms my ring and YOU shall have
my consent. Without that-begone.'
Tho young mar departed somewhat
discouraged, but not utterly cast down.
Who could tell what lucky chance fate
might have in store for him? BY the
way he met Nannette. weeping bitterly.
"Nhas is it, little one?" he asked
kindly.
"Oh. madame is angry! Madame will
send me away from my beautiful young
lady-aEd | cannot tell!'
What is it you know. p%etite?'' be
urged gently. Perhaps at this very mo-
ment some clew to the mystery lay
within his reach.
.'Oh, the poor young ladyl'' cried the
child, soobiug. L love her! Iwonid do
anything to ia her pain
"Tell me, ma bonne.n
will you help? Will you find oat:''
questioned Nannette, h~esitatiRg. 1T
was the black ghosti"
1.-THE black ghost!' echoed Francois
in amaze.
Yes she went Oh hastily, the re-
lief u~nburdening her secret too great TO
be resisted. 1.-The night the ring was
taken | could not sleep. / woke and
crept down from my room. II wanted
to be near the dear young lady, but !
was ashamed to have her see me. So
when ] saw her coming toward me with
q light III her hand | hid behind u cur
tain hear madane's door. She wore her
~nightdress. with a loose gown about
her, and she had a candle III her hand.
FIer eyes were wide open and staring,
but she did not seem to see. She looked
as if she were blind or asleep. Then she
turned into the room where the medi-
cine chest stands, took out a bottle and
locked the door Of the chest again. I
looked behind her, and far down the
corridor | saw a black ghost all mufled
up III a mantle, and it pointed to ma
DANES room. And, oh, she went in and
held the bottle to madame's nose and
slipped the ring off her finger. And she
came ont again and went down the cor
ridor, and then | slid down behind the
curtain and tainted and could not re-
member anything till the dawn came,
when crept back to my own room.
But. said Francois sternly, you
said you knew nothing. You lied then,
or You arc lying now"
Yes cried the child, sobbing
afresh, Il lied then. | was afraid they
would hurt my dear young lady. But
now-now | swear by our Blessed Lady
| am telling the truth. It was the black
ghost that made her do it. She did not
know. She looked as if she was blind.
You will not let them hurt her."
1.-The black ghost!" murmured Fran
co.'s to himself. 1T is Armand st.
Fanre. he added savagely. He would
fight him and force him to confess the
knavery he had practiced. But it must
he on some pretext which should not
involve Elise's name.
And you have told me tho truth
now, little one? You swear it:'
1T is true" asseverated Nannctte
with great earnestness.
"Then repeat no word Off to any one
else as you love mademoiselie, and /
will do what I can to set all straight"
So, much coH1fortcd. Nannette went
her way.
It CHANGED that the two men met be
fore long and exchanged glances in
which friendliness bore no part.
Confess, monsieur cried Francois
suddenly. that you know more Of the
missing jewel than you will admit"
For an instant Armand paled, then
he struck fercelv AZ hia infarlocntor