The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-06-03
Ole Black sszg
VOLTS Breed
) es.,..n. ,s.. IS p,n~,r'. DICKSON

of the later life of Pedro d'Ortez. who,
profiting not by his blood-gotten gains,
threw himself. While in delirium, into
the same old well 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 u of Cartillon.
And this same Raoul, some years later,
die have the locket made and forced
his own son to swear that he would
restore the real sons of d'Artin. the
true children of the Black VOLTS Freed,
to their own again. All of these ac-
counts are of surprising interest. Did
and quaint, to a perusal of which l
recommend my children.
For the first time, in reading these
manuscripts. did l BEGIN clearly TO as
sociate the name d'Ortez with the
name used by the mailman in his story
at the old Norman ruin. With this new
light, link by link did the whole knot
ted chain untangle. C~uriously enough.
the tale l had heard at the ruined
castle tailed in the main with the
monkish documents here preserved. In
deed 1t supplied me with knowledge of
much which otherwise would not have
comprehended so completely. The
horrible reality OF that weird recital
was still fresh and distinct before me,
undimlmed by time and u~nforgotten
through all my troubles.
l had sought refuge many times from
brooding over my own affairs by turn
ing to this for interest and occupation.
Every further detail was supplied by
a number of quaint documents, which
Colonel d'Ortez had digested into this:
Table showing the male descendants of
Henri d'Artin:
Henri Francois Placide d'Artin. died
August 26, 1872.
bartholomew Pasq1ier (son of above)
| died 1909.
Sons of ahoye-Bartholemew Piaclde
Pasquler, killed In wars of the Fronde;
Henri Louis John (brother to above), died
Francois Rene Xavier de Pasquier Cen
Francois Rene Alois de Pasquier, fled to
america; Supposed to have been killed
about 1851. No known descendants. Well
Known 10 the cure OF st. Martins, Que
Pedro Ortez: -
Pedro d'Ortez, suicided 1904.
Sons of above-Charles Pedro. killed nv
Raoul 1902 Raoul, died 1918.
Charles Francis Peter (son Of RaouD,
died without issue.
Pedro d'Ortez (brother to aboye). died
1868. '''' oeu
Henry tson of above), killed in battle.
r Sons Of aboye-Alphonze, killed in battle:
--Nt - AotA ltdOul AIlldnu
Xavier d'Ortez, born 1911 Cmyself). Died
-. No children.
She who was born my daughter 1 dis
owned, and she died without issue.
1t appeared that the only thing to
be done was to visit the good cure of
st. Martins, and, enlisting him in the
search, find whatever descendants
might have been left by this Francois
Rene Alois de Pasquier. The ask need
not be a difficult one, as many old peo-
pie should still be living who might
have known of the man,
"A very slight investigation showed that
this last named Francois Rene Alois de
Pasquler was none other than my own
gpoo iather. who assumed the name de
Mouret to avoid the consequences of a
fatal duel in France. This learned from
the pious Cure Of st. Martins, who knew
him we'll.
l now b%ethought me of this enter
prise as a fair excuse whereby I could
leave Biloxi for a space. / would,
therefore, a upon my old friend, and
having obtained leave, matters now be-
Ing safe with the colony, make the
journey to Quebec.
But, alas for the weakness of fallen
humanity; my last act before putting
to run full tilt into it.
While this came so near to causing
my dlshonorable death, yet 1t was, un-
der divine providence, the direct means
of spreading before me a long life of
happiness and honor. After a hard bat
tie with my weaker self l lost he
fight.
Just as on the day 1 departed from
Versailles, l determined, cost what it
would, to see Agnes once again. So
L wrote her a note. Such a blunt and
clumsy billet as only a love-sick SOL
der or a country clown could have
written. 1t craved pardon for the heat
and the haste displayed by me when
we parted at Sceaux; it in,nIored one
last interview before L left the colonies
forever. L had not the art to conceal
or Veil my meaning, but old it u and
plainly. Such a note as an idiotic boy
might pen, or a simperiug schoo lass
be set iuttering to receive.
i bade my man deliver this to
Madame de la Mora on the morrow,
charging him nlinutely and repeatedly
to see it safe in her own hands. So
careful was l. l did not doubt that
even so stupid a lout as JACQUES nm
derstood me perfectly.
His further instructions were TO meet
me at the bay when / should return in
the evening from my visit to Colonel
d'ortez, and there beside its ripping
waters-or so / had arranged-I was
to receive her answer.
1t had now turned late of the night,
and l sought repose. Sleep evaded my
bed. What with my own restless de-
sires, my Gliding sense of ill-doing.
and the d'Ortez story l had read. /
tossed and tumbled through the re-
naming hours of darkness. Tumbled
and tossed. whilst the sins and suffer-
ings of men long dead passed and re-
passed with their spectral admonitions.
Early, on the morrow, while
the day was yet cool,
crossed the bay. and climbed the slope
OF sand before the lonely house. 1t
looked more deserted and desolate than
l had ever seen it. The stiffness of SOL
ltary death chung as a pail about the
place. Pachaco, the Indian servant, sat
beside the gate, as motionelss as the
post against which he leaned.
How Is the master, Pachaco?" L in
CURED. passing in.
Him die yesterday" came the stolid
reply.
What? Dead. When?"
The shadows were at the longest"
he answered, indicating by a gesture
the western horizon.
l hurried into the masters room. In
the same position he had occupied,
when, months ago. he had beckoned me
to remain, he sat there, dead in his
chair. His clothing hung about him in
that sharply angular fashion in which
garments cling to q corpse. Long, thin
locks We're matted above his brow,
awesomely d~isarranged. But the pose
of his head, dropped a little forward,