The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-05-26
CHAPTER XIX.

no thanks. / would do anything for
! you or Arthur"
The next morning early he started
| for Goucy, determining to travel
night and day. His mind was full
Of the gravest misgivings as to what
might have become of the man who
was not only his dear friend, but
Tola's passionately loved brother
Mr.. Irvine reached Goucy with the
| ,mallest possible delay, and, desiring
to be taken to the best inn in the
town, was conveyed to la Pie
Blanche" He was very good
| French scholar, fortunately, so had
| no difficulty in understanding all that
was said to him; but the story that
mis- voluble landlady poured out was
so extraordinary and confused that
| he distrusted the evidence of his own
ears.
Monsieur has only to speak to
| Monsieur Tasset, our Mayor" said
the landlady, tossing her head.
Though, as to incredulity, all the
world knows the story of Jacques Ay-
mar, and should not that which
was true in the seventeenth century
prove likewise true in the nineteenth
| -eh?"
Mr.. Irvine had nothing to answer
to this argument, but he followed her
advice and asked for an interview
with both the Mayor and the Cure,
and they not only confirmed the good
/ tond1odu'a etc hut told hA NIL ri
thing with clearness and force that
| left no room for doubt. Moreover,
the story was now in every newspaper
In France, and had created an ex-
| trsordinary sensation.
The criminal had confessed his
crime, and his confession, having
been accepted as an extenuating cir
cumstance, had escaped the extreme
penalty of the law, and was con-
demned to the galleys for life.
"But where, then, is Mademoiselle
Rigaud, and where is my friend?"
| cried Mr.. Irvine, becoming more and
more anxious.
"Mademoiselle Rigaud is still at
Bordeaux" said Monsieur Tasset.
After her extraordinary mission was
over she succumbed, as we all knew
she must-being young and deli
cate girl-to a very dangerous brain
fever. We did all we could for her.
Neither Monsieur lie Cure, nor my
self, left Bordeaux until everything
was arranged in the most satisfactory
manner. Mademoiselle Rigaud was
removed to hospital where sep
arate department is assigned to
| ladies of a good position. She is
nursed there most assiduously by the
good Sisters of the Holy Cross; and
as for her poor, devoted fiance, he
took a room at LIE Lion d'Or,' and is
doubtless still there awaiting her re-
covery. Also his presence was re-
CURED by the authorities, who init
mated to him that he must not leave
Bordeaux until the legal proceedings
we're over and his evidence had been
given"
Mr.. Irvine was struck by the epi-
thet fiance.
81 was not aware. that my friend
and Mademoiselle Rigaud were aft
anced," he said.
Monsieur Tasset and the Cure both
assured him it was fact, and they
iwelt on the extreme and unselfish
devotion that Arthur had shown
throughout, speaking of him with
warmth and admiration which Mr..
Irvine treasured up for Tola's ben
eft
That same evening he started by
the night express for Bordeaux.
Mr.. Irvine arrived at Bordeaux
about 4 o'clock in the morning, drove
straight to lie Lion dor" and as It
was too early to make inquiries or
disturb Arthur that morning, he went
to bed.
He was tired out from the rapid
ity of his late travelling, and he did
not awake from his sleep till 10
O'Clock. He rose, breakfasted in the
coffee room, and asked for Arthur.
He was told, to his disappointment,
that he always left the hotel early,
went to the Hospital of the Holy
Cross, and very often did not return
home before dusk.
Mr.. Irvine thought it better not to
go too early to the hospital, so he
sat down and wrote long journal
like letter to lola, telling her all the
events of each succeeding day.
1t was only when actually writing
1t down in black and white that he
fully realized the strangeness of the
story he had to tell.
Having finished his letter he took
1t out to post, and then made his way
to the hospital and asked for Arthur
Denstone.
He was shown into the visitors
room, where he found already groups
of people waiting about in large
bare apartment resembling the wait
ing room of railway station. Be-
fore he had been there five minutes,
the door opened and Arthur Denstone
came in. He came forward with the
stiff, uncertain look upon his face of
a man who does not know whom to
expect, but at the sight of Mr.. Irvine
his whole face changed. he sprang
forward with both hands out
stretched, and with an emotion which
for the moment rendered him speech
less.
My dear fellow" cried Mr.. Irvine,
"what terrible time you have been
through"
1T is over now, than God!" said
Arthur. But oh, what on earth