Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-12-09
CHAPTER XIX

Vi MS rove ID the same measure as for
his. hate he viewed his neghbor. the
Countess de la Verberie. Stern. old and
arrogant she would have been the gen
eral detestation as she was this individ-
ual one. had it not been for her beauti-
full and gentle daughter, Valentine.
The estates were separated only by
the river here narrow but swiftly flow
Ing 1t was no barrier for love. Valen-
tine saw Castor, and from that moment
his image filed her heart. But so many
obstacles separated them! Yet they met
happily, until one fatal evening, when
she saw her lover swim the tide at the
greatest risk, and fall at her feet, al
most exhausted.
rs it you" she murmured, trying to
life him up. "Then heaven has heard
my prayers, and had pity"
NO. was his gloomy answer, "heav-
en- has not been pitiful, for | am forced
to flee. Our love is the sport of the
rustics, and to punish the insolent have
nearly killed two of the scoundrels But
what does this exile matter? You will
accompany me, and share my home in
the wilds."
Il cannot leave my mother, CASTOR"
But If your mother knows we are
married."
You are poor, and she is determined
shall marry wealthy man, that she
may end her days in luxury"
''She shall have it," said Castor, bit
terly make her wait three years, when
i shall return rich, or you will be free
to wed for money. Meanwhile keep for
me these jewels of my mothers. which
I L.,
alone"
She accepted the pledge. and watched
her lover depart in the gloom. Three
days after he was on ship, bound for
Valparaiso, happy that he had balfled
justice, while she was in misery acute.
Her mother had soon heard the story
of her secret marriage. 1t was tempered
by but two causes for rejoicing in this
wicked woman's heart; all believed that
Castor had been drowned in the Rhone,
and the fear that this was true had car
ried death to his fathers heart
Valentine could have wished death
had included her in this swoop, but for
one reason to preserve her. She was
soon to be the mother of Gaston's child.
She had not revealed this secret to him,
but her mother OWNED it.
She was woman for emergencies.
She escorted her daughter to England,
where the child was born and left with
persons hired to adopt it, without, of
course, knowing what an aristocratic
scion they were fostering.
The young mother, bereft of her son
and of his father, returned home with
her mother i'll passive resignation. She
scrrowed for four years without receiv-
ing any intelligence of either. Then she
learned Castor was dead. Her mother
remained marble image to her. but she
was alive to her selfish interests She
was always looking about her for the
means to rise from her genteel poverty,
and at this period it presented itself.
They made the acquaintance of the
young banker, Andre Fauvel
The first time he met Valentine he
was struck by her beauty, and after
looking into her large, melancholy eyes
his admiration deepened into love-a
love so earnest and passionate that he
felt that he could never be happy with
out her
Before being introduced to her his
heart had surrendered itself to her
charms. He was wealthy, a splendid ca
ttCi W us OptH W anu he NOWtu tllul
Valentine should be his. He confded all
his matrimonial plans to an old friend
of Nine de la Verbere who had no
sooner preached them to the match-mak-
ing mamma than the alliance was ar
ranged.
Eighteen months after her marriage
Nine. Fauve presented her husband
with a son. But neither this child. nor
second son born year after, could
make her forget the first one of all, the
poor, forSaken babe who had been
thrown upon strangers, mercenaries,
who valued the money, but not the child
for whom it was paid.
Louis de Clameran was now Marquis
of Clameran; he was free, and compar
ativey rich. lie who had never had
twenty-five crowns in his pocket at once
now found himself the possessor of two
hundred thousand francs.
This sudden, unexpected fortune so
completely turned his head that he felt
fettered in the country, and hastened,
after disposing of nearly everything, to
Paris. He plunged into the sea of dis
sipation until the day came when he
dragged himself out on the shore, penni-
less, and glad to live quietly while med
itating any means to regain wealth.
Forced to quit his country, he was eigh-
teen years abroad, living from hand to
mouth for the most of the time. when
at gaming resort he broke the bank
and thought that he might see his home
once more, where perhaps the evil he
had done had not lived after his depart
ure. He had been twenty-five years alb
sent, but the old tenants remembered
him. and warmly gave their welcome.
He, the adventurer, the bully, the base
accomplice of London swindlers, delight
ed in these marks of respect and venera-
ton, bestowed upon him as the repre-
sentative of the house of Clameran; it
seemed to make him once more feel lit
tie self-respect, as if the future were not