The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-02

With regard to his life in England, con-
| corning which Mr. Darville was anxious to
| learn some particulars, the report of the
London police had been referred to for 1t.
| IL appeared that Privas passed as a
| spectacle man, and had employment as a
| journeyman matchmaker. This was his
| trade in Paris. which he had quilted soon
after the fall Of the Commune, no doubt
| fearing that he might find himself in bad
odor with the police, should they discover
| the share he had had in some of the worst
deeds of that reign of terror. 1t only
the police who knew that in London he
was the constant associate of some of the
most dangerous members of the Interna-
| tional Society. To every one else he passed
| as respectable specimen OF the many for
| egn workmen employed in his trade.
And he had wife in London?" inquired
| the young barrister, anxiously.
Eyes, he quite family man. He
| lived in street in Soho, with his wife and
her child, little girl of about four years
| OF age
This wife was an Englishwoman. IL be-
! lieve?'
Eyes. When he was in Paris he was not
| known to be married. His marriage with
the Englishwoman-if marriage it was
| probably took place in England. 1t must
| have been soon after he left Paris in 1870,
| as the child about four years old; and
| he returned here and was arrested and exc
| cuted in 1870.
land the wife-was she here with him
, when he was arrested? Is anything known
of what became of her?'
Nothing; but she probably did not come
| to Paris with him, because when his lodg-
| ings here were searched by the police
letter was found among his papers. 1t was
written in English. and it was concluded at
| the time that it was from his wife. have
taken copy Of it for YOU"
NJ. Goron referred to his pocketbook and
read:
II refuse to tell you where the child is,
and you cannot make me. have found her
a home, and now that know she will not
suffer shall be able to earn my own living.
what you are"
"And the letter is signed-?"
Lillian
CASTOR Darvilles head sank on his breast.
The story had been pieced together, and
every part fitted. Lillian Privas had left
her child with Madame lie Beau that night
and returned to her husband without it.
He had probably threatened her or ill treat
away, leaving this letter behind her.. Privas
had returned to Paris without learning that
little Lillian was with Madame lie Beau.
What had become of the mother was a
mystery still to be solved. 1t seemed strange
TO him that if she had been alive she had
not appeared at the inquest, or afJerward,
| and claimed her little one.
Unless-and that was the theory which at
once suggested itself to him-she had feared
| that she would have to give her name, and
| Privas would read her name in the papers,
and find her and the child again, per-
haps even come forward and claim it of the
| authorities. Lillian had evidently been left
| with Madame LIE Beau in order that she
might be saved from the stigma that sooner
| or later would be to attach to her if she
still continued to be known as his daughter.
The next morning CASTOR Darville arrived
| in London and at an early hour called at
Madame Denier's Lillian received him with
delight, and asked him thousand artless
| questions to the reasons for his going
| to Paris. He satisfied her as we'll as he
could, and presently Father Andre came in,
and Lillian. seeing that they wished to talk
together, left them alone.
CASTOR told the priest the result of his
mission, and they both agreed that so far it
had only confirmed their worst fears.
What shall you do?" asked the priest.
Marry Lillian in spite of everything. No
one but you and l need ever know
Father Andre shook MS head. NO no, my
son." he said sadly. You must not ask me
to keep this from your father He has a
right To know. He is the head of your fam
| lily, and his consent TO your marriage would
be withheld, L am sure, if he knew the
truth. Therefore he must know it, cannot
help you to deceive him."
AT least give me till tomorrow" said
CASTOR. This woman may not have been
his wife. There is only one hope 1 have
And that is?'
Il will tell you tonight
CASTOR Darville went away and drove to
Somerset House. He was anxious TO find out
where and when the marriage of Leon Pri-
had been contracted. He filled in the
necessary form with all the particulars
within his knowledge, and handed it to one
of the professional searchers who are al
ways hanging about in hope of a job. He
waited for nearly an hour, and then the
man returned. He had found the marriage
and handed d copy of the certificate to the
barriSter.
He read it and gave a great cry of joy.
Inc marriage was between Leon PrlVaS,
bachelor, and Lillian lie Beau, widow, and
the date was 1874.
Remembering the letter Father Andre had
had given him by Madame Obert, it was all
clear now. Lillian PIivas was the widow of
Madame LIE Beau's dead brother, and Lillian
was his daughter. No drop of the blood of
the wretched criminal ran in the veins of
Father Andres niece.
The wedding took place on the appointed
day, and Father Andre pronounced the
nuptial blessing on the young couple, and
they were as son and daughter to him all
the days of his life. But neither Father
Andre nor her husband ever told Lillian OAR
Vile the secret of her parentage which they
had so strangely discovered after the lapse
of many years
There was only one thing which was a
mystery still, and that was why Lillian
Privas had never come forward to claim
her child. Father Andres idea was prob
ably near the truth. He thought the poor
woman had in some way learned that her |
child had been taken by Madame Denier |
and himself and had sacrificed her own |
feelings TO little Llian's future. She knew |
il would be better that she should grow up |
as Father Andres niece than as the daugh- |