Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-16


ped suddenly. Two men sprang from
it. Before 1 could utter a word,
was seized, gagged, lifted bodily into
the vehicle and hurried away to a
madman's cell in the Bicetre-you
know the Bicetre, in the Department OF
the Seine, in the southern environs of
Paris? That was the revenge my for
mer father-in-law took for the blow
had given him."
Another fit of coughing choked his
utterance. With a transfgured face,
Lispenard flew to the husband OF his
dead sister, tore the rich cloak from his
own shoulders and wrapped 1t tender
ly around Laurent.
You are perishing with the cold,
brother" he said in a broken voice.
II can foresee the end of your story.
You were imprisoned by your relatives
in the Bicetre, and Lillian was left,
destitute and alone, in a strange land"
Yes, yes! For seventeen years I
was confined there. Then my uncle
died, and the doctors suddenly discov-
cred that 1 was a sane man. They re-
leased me. Seventeen years! Can you
imagine my sufferings in that time.
parted from Lillian, ignorant Of her
fate? Heaven only knows how I pre-
served my reason through 1t all!
More dead than alive, I staggered out
into the free day again. Where was
Lillian? l hurried 10 the miserable
quarter where I had left my darling,
and / found-only the old concierge.
1.-The woman recognized me, and
from her I learned tha; a child had
been born, and that my beautiful young
wife had suffered unspeakahle things,
both from want and from the belief
that l had deserted her, for alas! she
never knew the secret of my sudden
disappearance-never dreamed Of the
Bicetre and the madman's cell. My
uncle, 1t appears, paid her visit at
last, assured her that l had abandoned
her, and offered to put her aboard an
American ship and send her back to
her own land. She was sick and
starving, the concierge said. She ac-
cepted his offer He carried her to
Havre, and paid her passage on some
trading vessel, bound tc the port of
Boston"
Unable to contain himself moment
longer, Lispenard burst out:
Then there was a child! She used
to rave of it, especially toward the last
Of her life. Once, remember, she en-
treated me to go and take it from the
ship. l then thought it but the fancy
of diseased brain, for when Lillian
came back to me delirious, it was with
empty arms, and not till long after did
she mention a child"
"Oh, great Heaven!" groaned Gus
tave Laurent. What sufferings, what
misfortunesl 1 need not tell you more
about myself. l played the violin In
TIE public streets until l had gather
ed money enough to pay my way to
LiliaE's county. One year ago / landed,
sick and penniless, in this city. Friends
once had here, but none remembered
me. made inquiries cautiously. and
learned of Lilian's return and death,
long years before. Then-then l knew
II was time that I died, too. But the
child-the child" wildly; what be-
came of the child?"
IF it is still above ground" answer
ed Lispenard; 1--WE will find 1t. My
sister returned to America in trading
vessel, you say. Do you know any
thing beyond that fact?"
II travelled to Havre," replied Laur-
ent, feebly, land after a weary while
I discovered the name of the ship in
which my darling sailed, and that of
the captain who commanded her. They
are odd names. I wrote them some
where here" fumbling again at the
old wallet; II have no other clue
God help me! Lillian sailed in this
vessel with the child. but she reached
your door alone. Perhaps the little
one died on the passage; perhaps 1t
But his voice failed him, and at the
same moment the guttering candle
went out. leaving the garret in dark
ness. Lispenard put the old wallet in
his own pocket, rose up rrom the side
of the sick man and groped his way
out of the attic.
In a few minutes he was back again
and his servant with him. While
Abel Lispenard held lamp, which he
had borrowed from a room below, the
coachman flung a warm carriage robe
about Gustave Laurent, raised him in
his arms and bore him carefully down
the foul stairs to Lispenard's waiting
carriage He placed him on the soft
cushions. The dwarf followed, bearing
the violin.
Drive to st. Margarets," ordered
Lispenard, and away went the bloodeG
horses. out of the North End street to-
ward the better portion of the city.
"St. Margarets was a home for in
curables, founded by Lispenard him
self and supported entirely by his
bounty. A noble charity, philanthropy
lists called it, Inside it's walls Lispen'
ard was reverenced, almost adored
There, at least, his personal deformity
awakened no fear, no aversion. Tt
the grateful inmates of st. Margarts
he was an angel of life.
The carriage drove into a retired
street and stopped before big, sub
stantial building. up the steps of whicf
Gustave Laurent was carried, and Civ
en- to the care of the matrOn.
LiSpenard went into handsome re-
ception-room to wait. After while
an attendant came to the door ant
made a signal. Lispenard hurried Il
the warm. bright, luxurious chamber
which had been assigned to Lillian:
husband
He found the man against whom h'
had. in past times. breathed so man,
vows of vengeance. resting in a great
sleepy hollow OF a chair his violir
across his knees. He had been fee
with soup and wine and warmed anC
comforted. The tense lines of his fac