New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1905-09-09

open the packet. Then l must toll
you something that has escaped my
mind until now"
Breakfast was soon despatched !;
and, after thanking Madame Teche
for her hospitality, her guests took
their leave, pursued, until out of hear.
ing, by voluble farewells and urgings
to come again.
Murier walked with them to the
beach. -shich they found deserted.
with tie full tide rolling in over the
pebbled sand in a hushed way, as if
its mood were depressed.
Laiitte, drawing a scarlet handker-
chief from his pocket, waved it above
his head; and the master of the fish
ing-smack replied with a speedy hull
loa that came family across the
water.
The fisherman beached his boat
near Greloire, who now called to
them. and stood waiting as they
strolled along to join him.
The captain of the smack was
easily induced to land his passengers
on the French coast; and they were
scarcely under way before the former,
asking Greloire to accompany him,
went below, to open the package.
1t was somewhat bulky, and as his
fingers broke the last wrapping, a
collection of papers, some of them
discolored by years, others evidently
of more recent date, fell upon the
cabin table. And in their midst shOne
the dull gold frame of an ivory
painted miniature.
For a second LATTE stared at this;
then, picking it up, he looked intently
at the gypsy-like face of the portrait.
"Ah, mon Dieu. How came the
emperor by this?" he cried choking
ly, the sight of the beautiful face,
which Margot had taught him to love
as the mother whom he had never
known, making the past more real
than the present.
Greloire, who was lighting a cigar,
said dryly, Examine the papers, and
If they do not tell you, perhaps can
do So"
LATTE glanced at them hurredly.
They comprised his parents marriage
certificate, and all the other papers,
together with the jewels, that had
been in the small iron box so many
years ago. There were also more re-
cent papers, showing that the prop
erty in Languedoc had been released
from sequestration, and held in trust
by Napoleon, emperor of France. for
Jean. son and heir of the Baron -,
and sometimes known as Jean Lafitte,
Of Louisiana, in North America
All the documents were there, show
ing in detail the legal proceedings, in
stituted and perfected under the Con-
sulate, and confirmed under" the EN-
pire.
AS the last paper fell from his
hand, Lafitte buried his face in his
crossed arms amid the heap of pre-
cious things upon the table.
All the past was rolling in upon
him, a sea of living reality, so distinct
and intense that the present appeared
dim and vaporous.
What had. but last night, seemed
to him legitimate in the light of his
every day world, as he met it's events,
now looked honor-stained when con-
fronted with the appealing sweetness
of the pictured face that had repre-
sented to his boyhood all that was
best and purest, and the present sight
of which had brought so vividly be-
fore his mental vision the dimmed
face of faithful Margot, end that
proud, stately man he had known as
father, of whom he could recall no
word or act dictated by other than q
sense of the highest honor toward his
fellows
And Bonaparte, the idol of his |
youthful heart, but for so many years |
doubted and mistrusted,-he had OBJ |
tanned and treasured these proofs OF !
the wayward boys position as that |
fathers son and heir, while the son |
himself was risking in alien lands the |
sacrifice of his rightful name and |
heritage!
An anguished silence kept him
mute; and Greloire, as if understand.
ing this. said nothing.
ITO be continued.)