Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-08-29

ANY name?' says the shopman.
"'The name is of no consequence,
answers the old man. but if you please
you can give mine. Say the parcel
came from Citizen Dubois and then ne
| goes out His name, in connection with
his elderly look. strikes me directly.
Does that cid fellow live at Cha
| lons?' I ask
No. says the shopman. He is here
! in attendance on customer of ours
an CID ex-aristocrat named Danville.
| She is on a visit in our town.
Il leave you to imagine how that re-
ply startles and amazes me. The shop
man can answer none of the other
questions I put to him; but the next
day I am asked to dinner by my en-
pl0ye" (who for his brothers sake,
shows me the utmost civility). On en-
tering the room find his daughter just
putting away a lavender-colored silk
scarf, on which she has been embroid-
ering in silver what looks to me like a
crest and cOat-of-arms.
Il don't mind your seeing what
am about, Citizen Loniaque says she !:
for l know my father can trust you.
That scarf is sent back to us by the
purchaser, an ex-emigrant lady of the
old aristocratic school, to have her fam
lily coat-of-arms embroidered on it,
Rather dangerous commission,
even in these mercifully democratic
times. is it not?' says I.
The old lady, you must know says
she, is as proud as Lucifer; and hav-
ing got back safely to France in these
days of moderate republicanism, thinks
she may indulge with impunity in all
her Old-faShiOned notions She has been
an excellent customer of ours, so my
father thought it best to humor her
without, however, trusting her COM
mission to any of the work-room wom-
en- to execute. We are not living under
the Reign of Terror now, certainly; still
there is nothing like being on the safe
side
Nothing 1 answer Pray what is
this ex-emigrant's name?'
Danville,' replies the Cheyenne
Clairfait. She is going to appear in
that fine scarf at her sons marriage
=" 'Marriage?' l exclaim, perfectly
thunderstruck.
Yes says she. What is there so
amazing in that? By all accounts, the
son, poor man, deserves to make lucky
marriage this time. His first wife was
taken away from him in the Reign Of
Terror by the guillotine'
Whom is he going to marry?' I in
CURED, still breathless.
." The daughter of General BertheIin
an ex-aristocrat by family, like the
old lady, but by principle as good a re-
publican as ever lived-a hard-drink-
ing, loud-swearing, big whiskered old
soldier who snaps his fingers at his an
cestors and says we are all descended
from Adam, the first genuine sans-cu-
Iotte in the world
In this way the Cheyenne Clairfait
gossips on all dinner-time, but says
nothing more of any Importance [,
with my old police-office habits, set to
the next day, and try to make some dis
coveries for myself. The sum Of what |
find out is this: Danville's mother is
staying with General Berthelin's sis
ter and daughter at Chalons, and Dan,
vile himself is expected to arrive
every day to escort them all three to
Paris, where the marriage-cOntract is
to be signed at the generals house. Dis
covering this, and seeing that prompt
ic Of he Wit
lance, | undertake, as l told you, my
employers commission for Paris; de-
part with all speed; and stop here on
my way. Wait! l have not done yet
All the haste | can make is not enough
to give me a good start of the wedding
by which I travel is passed by car
riage, posting along at full speed. I
cannot see inside that carriage; but I
look at the box seat, and recognize on
it the old man Dubois He whirls by
in cloud of dust, but I am certain of
him, and I say to myself, what I now
say to you, no time is to be LOST"
mo time shall be lost" answered
Trudaine, firmly. Three years have
passed" he continued. in a lower voice.
speaking to himself rather than to
LomaQue; three years since the day
when l led my sister out of the gates
of the prisOn-three years since | said
in my heart I will be patient, and will
not seek to avenge myself. Our wrongs
cry from earth to heaven; from man
who infiicts to God who redresses.
When the day of reckoning comes, let
it be the day of His vengeance, not of
mine. In my heart l said those words
I have been true to them-I have
waited The day has come, and the
duty it demands of me shall be full
filled"
There was a moments silence before
Lomaque spoke again. your sister?"
he began hesitatingly.
1t is there only that my purpose fall
ters," said the other earnestly. eff
it were but possible to spare her all
knowledge of this last trial, and to leave
the accomplishment of the terrible task
to me alone?"
az think it is possible" interposed
LOmaque. Listen to what I advise.
We must depart for Paris by the. dill
gence tomorrow morning, and we must
take your sister with us-to-morrow
will be time enough; people don't sign
marriage contracts on the evening aft
er long days journey. We must go
then. and we must take your sister
Leave the care of her in Paris, and the
responsibility of keeping her in igno-
rance of what you are doing, to me. Go
to this General Berthelin's house at a
time when you know Danville is there