The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1902-09-26
.JI)lje JIluJO 0UpIjaT)S.
BY ID'IEsnne1,y,
CHAPTER I.
FROM NORMANDY TO PARIS.


The dusty diligence which rolled
over the hard road from Evrcux to
3 Paris, on q certain warm summers
day in the year 18, contained but
two passengers, and they young girls.
AS they sat on the hard lcathern
long ride, which would cause more
mature persons to look jaded, one can
see that, so engrOssed arc they with
the thoughts Of their arrival In Paris,
they have forgotten the discomforts Of
their reception. {,
Are you quite certain that the kind
monsieur Martin will meet us, SiStcr?"
n asked the younger, for at least the
twentieth time since the commence
ment Of the ride.
lie must be waiting our arrival,
Louise; for did not write to say that
we were coming?'' replied lenriettc,
as she smootlcd her sisters fair hair
with a carcssing motion which was
unusually tender even for u sister, and
+ as one looks In to the young girls face,
they see the reason of tile watchfui
care which she exercises over her sis
& ter. M
Louise Is blind.
But II he should not be therc?"
/. PStoIoUSNt OitO Olllit r III,
"Then we will 90 to Ills house; |
have the address. We viii not think
OF his not being there, but rather enjoy
the ride. will describe to you every
thing we meet"
For answer, Louise nestled close be-
Z side her sister; and laid her head, with
It's wealth Of golden hair, on her shoul-
II der.
sf, While IIcnrictte was thus engaged
!et us explain why the two girls were
thus journeying alone to the great
city n,
y Nearly six months previous to the
= Dening Of ours story, the two girls were
bcreft 1f tfIrir only protector by the
cold hand Of death; and had been Of
fered q home in Paris by M. Martin,
who was q cousin Of The deceased
mother. n
For several months the girls remain
ed with their kind friends in Nor
mandy, lingering near their childhood's IS
nome, as If intuition had warned them
Y OF the long train Of evils which would
attend them at the capital.
Ihcy had started for Paris, thinking
that no other warning to their rcla,
& tive. save q letter that was dispatched
the day previous to their departure,
Y was necessary.
So much for the reason OF their iour-
ney, and before they arrive in Paris.
we will visit the hotel occupied by The
Marquis de Preslfs, whose vile schcm-
Ing hsg{oinss Gaased 50 much misery to our
The marqfs was the representative
@ or one OF thf oldest families in Paris;
4 rious asSe fIbertinc and a roue. m - 49,
Every pleasure that Wealth or sin
a could purchase was his, and in that
4 city, OF crime and pleasure, none SO
ready as he to adopt any scheme, how
ever vile, to attain some new pleasure
which should crafty his dcpraycd
tast. -
Seated before breakfast-table, load
ed with every delicacy which could
tempt an appetite already blllntcd by
dlsSlpatlon, the marquis was partalling
Sparingly OF his morning meal when
his valet entered and waited pcrmis
sion to speak.
What Is it, Antonc?"
nMonsieuur Laflcur has some impor-
admit him." cyclercd the marquis
who saw In this early visit some nov
i scheme; for Laficur was one who. for
the sake Of q liberal reward, which the
marquis was ever ready to give his
tools, pandered to the nobleman's
sASoo' iIttHcul cllGcICu WlUll CfnElng
Z bow, and remained standing in 4 re.
spectful attitude until Ills patron
should allow him to unfold his budget
OF yillainy. ''
Three O'clock in the afternoon IS
not an early hour for Laneur, mon
sieur," replied that worthy as he
: availed himself Of the marqilis's per-
mission to be seated.
People who have such vile taste as
to, retire at night, must expect to be
out OF their beds at any unreasonable
hour; but tell me what brings you
here2" "
"Monsieur has heard Of tho bcautv
Of the girls Of Normandy" '
Yes, what Of that?" asks Dc Pres
4 les listlessly.
- ",Ihere are two young girls from
Normandy who are to arrive in Paris
this evening. They are without rcla-
tlvcs, except you call the cousin OF
their mother, who, by the way, is my
brother-1n-laW, a relativc," answered
Lafienr, as he watched the face OF his
employer carefully; and us he saw it
light up at his information, he added:
My brothcr-in-law Is in Lyons, and
have opencdlthc letter sent by tho
tended arrival tonight. Therefore, j
shall be obliged to meet Them"
And you propose what?'
Anything Monsieur the Marquis is
+ pleased to wish"
How old are these girls?"
1.-The oldest Is seventeen, and the
blind One-----''
'Is .Iso one i, 2, of them blind?"
IA, ;1A,h, 4, then, I do not see how she
But the other might, monsicur.o
You are right" exclaimed the mar
qu1s, after q short pause; "but what
should we do with tho blind onc?'
Never fear for her. She can 20 wher-
e ever she chooses" said Lafcur, in n
Y careless tone Blindness Is a good
\ stock 0ftrade in this city. Before /
( kneW the libcrality Of the MARQUIS de
PrcSleS, T was often tempted to wish
\ that / was blind myself; for 1t Is said
Il that the good God has such under Ills
especial Keeping"
~ am afraid, Laheur, that if you
were deaf and dumb as we'll as blind,
9 the Lord would show you very little
( favor, ssaid tho marquis, with a laugh.
fts" Perhaps not, But have you any
\ commands for nac?" rcjoincd Laflcn',
quickly. IL,
Is,M",Yes. Ifsyou bring me the girl
without the blind one, rcmcmber--l
VII pay you ono hundred louis. Ifyou
fall, II VIII not Y----.--p ii 9lE&
We do not think of failure, nv dear