Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-06-04
CHAPTER XXI.
THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX.

The CONTENTS OF THE BOX.
One day very soon thereafter my
servant presented me a box, which he
said had been brought there by an In
dian from Colonel d'Ortez, with the re-
quest that It be delivered into NV own
hand. And further, to beg l would
maxi him a visit as soon as my duties
would permit.
The evening being advanced I could
not go that night. so COntented myself
with the promise would cross the bay
on the morrow.
Later, nay company being my own,
| gave attention to the box. such q metal
receptacle as was commonly used for
articles or value. II responded easily
to the key, and opened without diff
Guilty.
The reasons for d'Ortez's fear and
retirement Lay bare before me, If
would but search them out. Within
the box. bound together by deerskin
thongs, were many writings, some on
parchment, some paper, of different
dates and degrees Of preservation.
Some were we'll worn from age and
handling, others more recent, were ! N
better condition. Some there were
which appeared quite new and fresh;
these must have been the latest to find
a resting place in his keeping.
All were arranged in due and sys-
tematic order; of whatever age, each
bore a careful superscription, giving
In orief he contents Of the paper writ
ten by his own exact hand. Beside this,
each document was numbered and
placed In sequence. Verify, it was most
methodically done, so any child could
read and understand.
1t was with much misgiving 1 ap-
preached the task Of making myself
familiar with my old friends secret.
nc n hn D1nfatNfa1
crime which weighed heavily upon his
trembling age, and had driven him to
THESE savage shores, where, shut out
from all companionship with his kind,
he did a lonely penance. II so, I pre-
ferred TO remain in ignorance, for his
was a friendship 30 dear, SO pure, I
desired not to faint 1T with the odor
Of guilt.
He had, however, MADE his request
in such urgent terms. even pathetic,
l could not disregard it, and putting
aside the reluctance l felt, I took nm
the paper which lay on top, directed to
myself, and began its perusal. 1t was
as follows:
My Dear Placide: The great reebleness
OF my WORKOUT frame warns me again
that time for me is almost past. II NAV
be, when you recross the seas, L shall have
gone to final Judgment. remember
my request, and carry on to the end that
work which generations of towards have
left undof.e. All is here contained
In these papers, except some recent news
l have of the Pasquiers from the northern
colonies.
Possibly If you went to Quebec and
sought out the Cure of st. Martins (who
wrote this last, No. 32) you may right it
AL ah1 WHY siHe 10 my soul its eternal peace.
bodily infirmities have in no wise dimin,
ished, / am, you old friend.
Raoul Armand Xavier d'Ortez.
OF Cartillon, Normandy.
Having carefully read this letter. I
then proceeded to peruse the various
documents in the order he had ar
ranged them.
The first, written by the hand of the
Benedictine, Laurent Of Lorraine, alb
bot OF Vaux, old of the admission to
the monastery Of a child, son Of Henri
d'Artin, to whom the good monks gave
the name Bartholomew Pasquier. This
child. though designed for orders, left
the monastery, cast his fortunes with
the king Of Navarro, and became a
great officer in the household of King
Henri the Fourth.
Other documents gave an account
of the posterity OF this child down TO
n Francois Rene Alois de Pasquier.
who fled to America in 1874 to escape
the vengeance of a certain great lord
son he slew in a duel. This was
he who was reputed to have been
Killed In battle, m to have left no Is
sue. And this was he whom l after
ward found to be my own good father.
Ihere was also contained an account
OF the later life of Pedro d'Ortez, who,
profting not by his blood-gotten gains,
threw himself, while in delirium, into
the same old we'll whereon he had
hanged his brother, Henri d'Artin.
Some further notes by the good alb
bot told OF how Raoul, the second son
OF Pedro, slew his own brother, before
their fathers eyes,, in order that he.
Raoul, might be count of CartiIlon'
this same Raoul. some years later,
did I've the locket made and forced
his W son to swear that he would
restore the real sons of d'Artin, the
true children Of the Black VOLTS Breed.
their w again. All of these ac-
are or surprising interest, old
and quaint, to a perusal OF which I
my children.
For the first time, In reading these