The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-05-16

, here during the months OF May, June
and July, 1876, and that while they
were here, daughter was born to
them. Think again--have you no re-
collection OF them or OF the event?"
| The little notary sat for some mo-
ments with knitted brows. At last he
shook his head. ,
THAT would be the height of the
season, you see, monsieur" he said
\ apologetically. There are q great
many people here, at that time, and !
cannot know all OF them. Never
that there was about the name a cer-
tain familiarity-as Of an old tune, you
| know, forgotten for years. Yet IL must
have been my fancy merely, for have
no recollection of the event you men
| tion. / cannot believe that such a
| birth took place at Etretat."
There was another chance and / gave
| Mr.. Royce the clew.
Monsieur Fingert," he asked, ARE
| you acquainted with a man by the
| name of Pierre BethuneY'
And again the notary shook his head.
''Or Jasper MartingyT'
II never before heard either name,
! monsieur" he answered.
We sat silent a moment, in despair.
Was our trip to Etretat to be OF no
avail? Where was my premonition
now? II we had lost the trail thus
early in the chase. what hope was
there that we should ever run down
the quarry? And how explain the fact
that no record had been made Of
Frances Holladay's birth? Why should
her parents have wished to conceal IT !?
Would they not naturally have been
anxious to see that 1t was properly re.
corded? n
An hour had passed; the shops were
opening and hustle Of life reached us
through the open door. People began
to pass by twos and threes.
The first train for three days Il
about to arrive" said the little notary.
You see, this is a very small town,
messieurs The arrival of train Is
an event"
Again we fell silent Mr.. Royce got
out his purse and paid the fee. We
had come to an impasse-a closed way,
we could go no farther. could see
that the notary was a-hunger for his
roll and coffee. With sigh, / arose to
go. The notary stepped to the door
and looked UP the street.
"Ah," he said. ''the train has arrived,
but it seems there was not many pas
sengers. Here is one, though, who has
finished long journey"
He nodded to someone who approach
ed slowly, 1t seemed. He was before
the door--he passed OMIT was Mar
tigny!
THAT is the manp' I cried to Mr..
Royce. THAT is Martigny ASK who
he really Is"
He understood on the instant. and
caught the notary's arm.
Monsieur Fingert. who is thai
MANI"
The notary glanced at him, surprises
by his vehemence.
That" he said, "is Victor FajoIle.
He is just home from America and
seems very i'll. poor fellow"
And he lives here?"
"oh. surely; on the cliffs just above
the town-the first house-you cannot
miss it-buried in a grove Of trees. He
married the daughter of Madame Alix
some years ago--he was from Paris"
And his VIII, is living?"
"Oh, surely she Is living; she her
self returned from America but thres
weeks ago, together with her mother
we'll and he finished with signi.
flcant gesture toward his head.
saw my companions face turn
white-I steadied myself with an eff.
fort. knew that, at last. the veil was
to be lifted.
And they are at home now?"
II believe so," said the notary, eying
him with more and more astonishment.
They have been keeping close at home
since, their return-they will permit no
one to see the-invalid. There has
been much talk about it."
Come, we must go!" / cried. He
must not get there before us!"
But a sudden light cleaned in the
notary's eyes .E
wait. messieursl" he cried. "A mo-
ment. But moment. All, I remem-
ber 1t now--it was the link which was
wanting, and you have supplied it.
Holladay, millionaire OF America, his
wife, Madame Alix-she did not live
In the villa, then, messieurs. Oh, no;
she was very poor, q nurse-anything
to make a little money; her husband,
who was a fisherman, was drowned,
and left her to take care or the child.
rem as best she could. All, remembeI
-one mere babyi"
He had got down another book. and
was running his finger rapidly down
the page-his finger all a-tremble witt
excitement. Suddenly he stopped
with little cry of triumph.
Here it is. messieurs! I knew ]
could not be mistaken! Seev'
Under the date of June 10. 1876. wa,
an entry Of which this is the English:
"Holladay, Hiram W., and Elizabeth
his wife, of the city OF New York
United States OF America; from Celeste
Alix, widow of Auguste Alix, her
daughter Celeste, aged months. All
claim surrendered in consideration OF
the payment OF $4,000 francs"
Mr.. Royce caught up the book and
glanced at the back. 1t was the REQ
ord Of Adoptions."
"a. fConnIudad Nexf waaLN ~