The Iola register., 1902-05-02

/
we could only get his record in addi-
ton to what you already haver'
II have been furnished with a few
notes concerning the Clameran family
| by your father, who knew them well.
They are brief, but expect more"
"What did my father tell your
Nothing favorable, you may bo
sure. will read you the synopsis Of
his information:
Louis de Clameran was born al the Chateau de
Clameran near Tarascon He had an elder brother
named CASTOR. In 1912, In consequence OF an AZ.
fray in which he had the misfortune to kill one
| man and badly wound another, he compelled
| to fly the country. CASTOR was an honest, noble
youth, universally beloved. Louis, on the con.
| trary, was q wicked, despicable 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 own patrimony, but also the share
Of his exiled brother.
"Ruined harassed by debt, Louis entered the
| army, but behaved 30 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 n German gambling resort, where he
| was mixed up in scandalous affair.
'In 1865 we hnd him again in Paris He was
II
"But he suddenly heard Of the return Of his
| brother CASTOR to France. CASTOR had made a
| fortune in MeNico but, being still a young man
and accustomed TO very active life, he pur'
chased iron mill 0loron, intending to
| spend the remainder Of his life in working It,
Six months ago he died in the arms Of his brother
Louis His death gave our De Clameran i'm
mense fortune and the title Of marquis"
A light began to break in on Pros
| per.
Then" he said, "from all this
judge that NJ. de Clameran was very
poor when met him for the first time
at NJ. Fauvel's."
Evidently"
"And about that time Lagors arrived
from the countryP
Exactly"
"And about a month after his ap-
pearance Madeleine suddenly banished
me-"
well" exclaimed NJ. Verduret, "I
am glad you are beginning to under
stand the state of affairs"
He was interrupted by the entrance
of stranger. The newcomer was a
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. Verduret sat.
"Well, Master Joseph Dubols?" 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 GER
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 a
seat at table adjoining the one occu-
pied by NJ. Verduret and, having called
for some absinth, was preparing 1t by
holding the water aloft and slowly
dropping it in the glass.
Speak" said NJ. Verduret.
"In the first place, I must say that
the position Of valet and coachman to
M. de Clameran is not a bed of roses"
go on. You can complain tomor-
row."
Every 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 n
farce. He went to the Archangel to
keep the appointment made by Nina
Gypsy"
well. make haste. They told him
she was gone. Then"
Then? All, he was not at all pleas
ed, 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! NJ. Raoul
asked him what had happened to put
| him in such a bad humor. Nothing
| replied my master, except that little
| devil has gone off, and no one knows
where she is. She mas slipped through
| our fingers Then they both appeared
/ 10 be veXed and uneasy. Does she
/ know anything about usT asked Raoul.
Nothing but what l 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 serpent! 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 administratively.' 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 moro