The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-04-11

notes concerning the Clameran family
| by your father. who knew them well.
They are brief, but | expect more"
"What did my father tell youY'
Nothing favorable. you may be
sure. will read you the synopsis of
his information:
'Lous de Clameran was born at the Chateau de
Clameran near Tarascon. He had an elder brother
named CASTOR. In 1912, in consequence of an af-
fray in which he had the misfortune to kill ore
man and badly wound another. he was compelled
to fly the country. CASTOR was an honest, noble
youth, universally beloved. Louis on the con-
trary, was wicked, despcable fellow, detested
by all who knew him.
''Upon the death OF his father Louis came to
Paris and in less than two years had squandered
not only his patrimony, but also the share
of his exiled brother.
''Ruined, harassed by debt, Louis entered the
army, but behaved so disgracefully that he was
dismissed from the service.
"After leaving the army we lost sight of him.
All we know is that he went to England and
thence to a German gambling resort, where he
was mixed up in scandalous affair.
'Tn 1865 we find him again in Paris. He was
in great poverty, and his associates depraved.
"But he suddenly heard OF the return of his
brother CASTOR to France. CASTOR had made a
fortune in Mexico; but being still young man
and accustomed to very active life, he pur-
chased an iron mill Oloron, intending to
spend the remainder of his life in working it.
Six months ago he died in the of his brother
Louis His death gave De Clameran an i'm
mense fortune and the title of MARQUIS
A light began to break in on Pros
per.
'"Then," he said, "from all this l
ind ho NT n tlo
poor when met him for the first time
at NJ. Fauvel's."
Evidently"
"And about that time Lagors arrived
from the country?"
Exactly"
pearanee Madeleine suddenly banished
me-"
"Well," exclaimed NJ. Verduret, 81
am glad you are beginning to under
stand the state of affairs
He was interrupted by the entrance
of a stranger. The newcomer was
spruce looking coachman, with ele-
CANT black whiskers, shining boots
with fancy tops, buff breeches and a
yellow waistcoat with red and black
stripes. After cautiously looking around
the room he walked straight up to the
table where NJ. Yerduret sat.
"Well, Master Joseph Duboisq" said
the stout man eagerly.
"Don't speak of it," answered the
servant. '"Things are getting warm"
Prosper concentrated all his attention
upon this superb domestic. He thought
he recognized his face. He had cer-
tainly somewhere seen that retreating
forehead and those little restless black
eyes, but where and under what cir
cumstances he could not remember.
Meanwhile Master Joseph had taken q
seat at table adjoining the one occu-
pied by NJ. Verduret and, having called
for some absinth, was preparing it by
holding the water aloft and slowly
dropping it in the glass,
"Speak," said NJ. Verduret.
"In the first place, l must say that
the position of valet and coachman to
M. de Clameran is not bed of roses"
$50 on. You can complain tomor-
row."
''Very good. Yesterday my master
walked out at 2 o'clock. OF course /
followed him. Do you know where he
went? The thing was as good as a
farce. He went to the Archangel to
keep the appointment made by Nina
Gipsy."
''Well, make haste. They told him
she was gone. Then"
"Then? All, he was not at all pleas
ed, l assure you. He hurried back to
the hotel where the other, NJ de La
gors, awaited him. And l have never
heard so much swearing! M. Raoul
asked him what had happened to put
him in such bad humor. Nothing
replied my MASTER except that little
devil has gone off, and no one knows
where she is. She has slipped through
our fingers Then they both appeared
to be vexed and uneasy. Does she
know anything about us?' asked Raoul.
Nothing but what I told you,' replied
Clameran. But this nothing, falling in
the ear of man with any suspicious,
would put him on the track of the
truth Then Lagors exclaimed, If it
Is as serious as that, we must get rid
of this little serpentp But my master
shrugged his shoulders and, laughing
said: You talk like an idiot. When
one Is annoyed by a woman of this
sort, one must take measures to get
rid of her Enthusiastically This idea
seemed to amuse them both very
much"
II understand" said NJ. Verduret
ut is an excellent idea. But the mis-
fortune is it is too late to carry it out.
The nothing which made Clameran
uneasy has already fallen into know
Ing ear. Nevertheless | must not let
them see my hand"
With breathless curiosity Prosper
listened to this report, every word of
which seemed to throw light upon past
events. This Raoul, in whom he had
confided so deeply, was nothing more
than scoundrel. A thousand circum-
stances, unnoticed at the time, now re-
Cured to his mind and made him Won
der how he could have been so long
deceived.
Master Joseph continued his report.
yesterday after dinner my master
decked himself out like q bridegroom.
l shaved him, curled his hair and per-
fumed him with especial care, after
which drove him to Provence street
to call on Nine. Fauvel."
What" exclaimed Prosper, "After