The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-10-18

repulsion, your harShneSS towards me.
You are just rs cruel as he was. May
my curse light upon both Of you"
And with last look of fury at the
portrait, tho ex-convict strobe away
without even turning his head.
CHAPTER II.
Madame D'Aubry was alarmed at the
condition of her son when he entered
the apartment the next n orning. He
confessed 20 having passed slccplcss
aight, and it needed only glance at
mis- flushed face 10 see that he was la
boring under some extraordinary eX-
element. The moment the servant had
left the breaktast-room he turned
abruptly to his mother anil INQUIRED the
exact date on wnicn MS father had nrst
occn stricken with loss OF reason.
why, my son." replied Madame
D'Aubry, what turned your thoughts
in that channel? Let me SEQ. it was in
December-yes, Dec. 10, 1S49."
Yes. but mother" pursued Victor.
had he not been ailing lcng before
that, had you not noticed any change in
ais manner, was there not gradual
.ailing OF his mental powers2'
ALAS, yes" said Madame D'Aubry.
with sigh, 1T was the terrible anxiety
the long continued strain caused by the
examinations which he conducted in a
celebrated murder case, the shooting
of Niscount do Varville by Michel
Gouillard, a gamekceper in the employ
nent OF Marcelline's father. I'm con-
| ddent he overworked himself. He
seemed possessed OF tho idea that un-
less he could extort confession from
The murderer that his reputation as a
| committing magistrate would be gone,
that disgrace, in fact, would come upon
mis- name. Time and again during the
| examination he returned home in O
nalf-dazed condition, his face the color
| of crimson, his nerves unstrunS. At
such times even the ticking Of the clock
| disturbed him so that it would be neces-
sary to stop it. And once on leaving
the house he said, Wife, get mo my
yown. That wretch Gouillard doesn't
seem to know who I am, but when he
sees me in my gown he'll begin tc
;remble and tell everything.
These words confirmed the terrible
| suspicious that had tortured Victor's
mind since the. ex-convict had turned
away from him with a curse on his lipe
| lor both father and son.
Mother" he cried out, how do we
know that in the year lS47, the year OF
| Gouillard trial, father may not already
nave been affected by the terrible ma!-
adv which terminated his life in 80 pain
iui and horrible manner? How do we
know that he was not under the influ-
ence OF that morbid excitement, that he
was not suffering for what might be
ID 10 FOR cnnntinn 0nn that
this man Gouillard was really one OF
mis- victims and that the so-called con-
fession was eXtorted from the wretch?"
1Oh, not so loud, my son." whispered
Madame D 'Aubry; its all past and gone
now. 1t would do no good to drag tho
matter to light now. The man was
certainly guilty OF the murder. con-
tession or no confession"
Victor made gesture OF dissent.
But, my son, continued Madame
D'Aubry, there's something we may
do. We may rescue Gouillard.s daugh-
ter Esther from q life of shame. I'm
Informed that she is plying the calling
Of beggar hereabouts; everybody recoils
from her: she is known as the murder
srs child. The people throw her a
crust and then set the dogs on her if she
loiters about the house.
Mother" exclaimed Vic'or, joyfully,
will you cause search to he made for
the girl this very Gay, will you take her
IN your employment, speak kind word
10 her, hold out helping hand to her so
she may not be driven to her ruin from
sheer despair"
Il will, 1 will, my dear son." cried
Madame D'Aubry. Il know where to
lind her. Give yourself no further anx-
tety. From this day forward she shall
lie properly cared for and kindly
treated"
That is beginning, and now for the
next siep. for If the law has committed
wrong, that wrong must be riQhted
even If it disturbs the sacred repose OF
the dead. Gouillard's innocence must
be proven before he dies. The fact
that he fell q victim to the mad perse-
cution OF the father makes it more in
cumbent upon the son to undo the
grievous error"
Victor D'Aubry was young man,
and while he felt he had the necessary
moral courage and strength OF charac-
Ter to begin this battle for Gouillard,
20 charge the courts OF law. OF which
his father was an honOred mCmbcr.
with having been willful az we'll as
blind, yet he was only TOO conscious o;
his inexperience 10 proceed without a
sage counselor at his side. And who
could probably be better qualified to
fill that difficulty than Monsieur Moreau,
who had made q strong but Intellectual
struggle to save the man?
Moceau had lately returned from AL
giers, whittier he had been transported
for political offense. He was now an
old man broken in health. He had sue
rificed his future and his talents to his
opinion, but his welcome to his youthful
colleague was cordial and hearty. After
having listened to Nictor's glowing
avowal to begin his professional life Ly
securing justice for Michel Gouillard,
the aged lawyer replied:
"This is good and noble thought OF
yours, monsieur. You are doing your
duty. Your father crui,lly harassed tho
man and his disgrace Is mainly owing
10 your father. TO me, this magistrates
conduct seemed at the time nothing
short Of Infamous. and / WAS consoled
| afterwards to learn that within two
years OF the affair your father died in
mad house. Here" continued the aged
| lawyer. arc Hy HoteS vi INC tasc, pu1
before 1 say anything more I should
like TO hear whether the principal actors
in the drama are still alive"
AS l have told you, 1 have seen
Gouillard, but am not at al certain as
10 what has become OF the other wit
nesses with the exception OF the woman
,allel The Hag'"
"Uh, indeed, remarked Moreau, this
o., IL hn
! Count de thauvann S. is he ali! C a!so?"