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

Time had dulled the remorse and anx-
iety of Valentine. In the genial atmos-
phere of a happy home she had found
rest, and almost forgetfulness. She had
suffered so much at being compelled to
deceive Andre that she hoped she was
now even with fate.
One rainy November day her husband
had gone to Provence on business. She
was sitting, gazing into the bright fire,
and thankfully meditating upon her pres
ent happiness, when the servant brought
her letter, which had been left b, a
stranger, who refused to give his name.
Without the faintest presentiment of evil
she carelessly broke the seal, and in an
instant was almost petrifed by the
words which met her terrified eye:
Madame: Would it be relying too
much upon the memories of the past to
hope for half an hour of your time? To-
morrow, between two and three, | will
do myself the honor of calling upon YOU
THE MARQUIS OF CLAMERAN."
All! she had hoped and believed that
the fatal past was atoned for, and buried
i'll oblivion; and now it stood before her
p!tiless and threatening.
The dreaded day came, and with it the
man. Her emotion was too deep NOT to
serve his purpose, and though she pre-
served enough coolness not to place her
self in his power by accepting his fiction
of Castor dying in his arms and consign-
ing him to the care of his son, she could
not altogether shake him off.
On the other hand, she dared not con-
fess to her husband, who would never
have confidence in her again, and she
refused the sympathy of Madeleine. The
girl had OWNED that she was in distress,
and pleaded hard to learn the cause.
The plotter gave time for the poison
to work; when he communicated with
her again, it was to ask her to call at
his hotel. The poor woman, in the coils,
dared not stay away. Here another sur
prise awaited her. The marquis was not
in the rooms. He who received her was
cherubic YOUTH who announced him
self in sweet voice, which wrung her
heart, as Raoul Valentine "Wilson." 1t
was her castaway son!
This voice was so like Gaston's that
she seemed once more to be listening to
the lover Of her almost forgotten youth.
had pressed her to his faithful heart;
she saw him STILL saying, gently:
I'm three years, Valentine! Wait for
mew
Andre, her two sons, Madeleine-all
were forgotten in this new-found affec-
tion. She imagined that Madeleine look
ed at her strangely on her return from
the Hotel du Louvre. She must suspect
something, but she did not suspect the
truth.
For several days she asked embarrass-
ing questions as to where her aunt went,
and with whom she had been during
these long absences from home. This
disquietude and seeming curiosity chang
ed the affection which Nine Fauvel had
hitherto felt for her adopted daughter
into positive dislike.
She regretted having placed over her
self vigilant spy from whom she could
not escape. She pondered what means
she could take to avoid the penetrating
watchfulness Of a girl who was accus-
toned to read in her face every thought
that crossed her mind With unspeaka-
bile satisfaction she solved the difficulty
in way which she thought would
please all parties. She would have her
married and thus removed from her
path and her sons.
Clameran espoused her idea, but want
ed to modify it; it was himself that he
proposed for the girls hand, undertak-
ing to shelve Bertomy, to whom she had
been tacitly engaged, and he promised,
as a substantial inducement for the
bankers wife to consent to this change,
to transfer to Raoul all the dover that
came with the bride
This time the creature in his talons
presumed to rebel. He left her with
fear that his plans were not working
smoothly as before Clameran had cause
for fear. Nine. Fauveis determination
was not feigned. She was firm in her
resolve to confess.
YES" she cried, with the enthusiasm
of noble resolution; Eyes, l will tell
Andre everything"
She believed herself to be alone but
turned around suddenly ut the sound
of footsteps, and found herself face to
face with Madeleine, who was pale and
swelleyed from weeping.
you must obey this man. she quiet
ly said. Il despise M. de Clameran, and
shall always regard him as the basest
OF men; nevertheless, l will marry him.
will not suffer dishonor to fall upon
this house, which is my home, while l
have power to prevent it. Am I not
indebted to you for more than life?
What would now be had you not taken
pity on me? A factory girl in my ma
tive village. You warmly welcomed the
poor orphan, and became a mother to
her. Is it not to your husband that |
owe the fortune which excites the Gu
pidity of this wicked Clameran? Are
not Abel and Lucien brothers to Inc?
And now, when the happiness of all who
have been loving mad generous to me is
at stake, do you suppose would hesi-
tate? No. l will become the wife Of
Clameran."
Then began struggle of self-sacri6ce