Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-02-12
CHAPTER XVIII.

So 49,
carried flowers. 1t had become TO him,
since the terrible strain of his deten-
ton, a necessity, q habit. The dead are
living. They wait, they listen.
1t seemed to Dantin that he had but
one aim. Alas, what had been the
wish, the last dream, Of the dead mar
would never be realized! That fortune
which Revere had intended for the
child whom he had no right to call his
w would go, was going to some far
off cousins OF whose existence the ex-
consul was not even aware, perhaps.
and whom he certainly had never
known-to some Indifferent persons,
once relatives, strangers.
Il ought not to have waited for him
to tell me what his intentions were re-
garding his daughter" Dantin often
thought. What would become of her,
the poor girl, who knew the secret of
her birth and who remained silent,
piously devoting herself to the old sol
der whose name she bore?
One day in February, a sad, gray
day, Jacques Dantin, thinking Of the
past winter so unhappy, of the sad
secret grave and heavy, strolled along
toward that granite tomb near which
Revere slept. He recalled the curious
crowd which had accompanied his dead
friend to his last resting place, the
flowers, the undercurrent of excite
AAiNAAAp AlC NbS DllNAlNO " AltlCN
the place! Dark shadows could be seen
here and there between the tombs at
the end of paths. 1t vas not a visiting
day or an hour usual for funerals. This
solitude pleased Jacques. He felt
near to aim whom he loved.
Louis Pierre Revere! That name,
which Moniche had had engraved,
evoked many membranes for this
man, who had for a time been sus-
pected of assassinating him. All his
childhood, all his youth, all the past
How quickly the years had fled, such
ruined years. SO much of fever. Of
agitatlon-so many ambitions, decep-
tions, in order to end here.
He is at rest at least" thought
Dantin, remembering his own life,
without aim, without happiness. And
he also would rest soon, having not
even a friend in this great city of Paris
whom he could depend upon to pay
him a last visit. A ruined, wicked, use
less life!
He again bade Revere goodby, speak
ing to him, calling him thee and thou
as of old. Then he went slowly away.
But at the end of a walk he turned
around to look once more at the place
where his friend lay. He saw, coming
hat way, between the tombs. as II by
some cross alley, a woman in black,
who was walking directly toward the
place he had left. He stopped, waiting
yes, 1t was to Rovere's tomb that she
was going. Tall, svelte, and as far as
jacques Dantin could see, she was
young. He said to himself:
1T is his daughter!"
The memory of their last interview
came to him. He saw his unhappy
friend, haggard, standing in front of
his open safe, searching through his
paper for those which represented his
child's fortune. If this was his friends
daughter. it was to him that Revere
had looked to assure her future.
He walked slowly back to the tomb
The woman in black was now kneeling
near the gray stone. Bent over, ar
ranging a bouquet of chrysanthemums
which she had brought, Dantin could
see only her kneeling form and black
draperies.
She vas praying now.
Dantin toe looking at her, and
when at last she arose he saw tina she
was tall and elegant In her mourning
robes. He advanced toward her. Tht
noise of his footsteps on the grave
caused her to turn her head, and Dan
tin saw a beautiful face, young anC
sad. She had blond hair and large
eyes, which opened wide in surprise
He saw the same expression of the
eye which Royere's had borne.
The young woman instinctively made
a movement as If to go away, Il Civ,
place to the newcomer, but Dantir
stopped her with a gesture.
do not go away, mademoiselle.
am the best friend of the one whC
sleeps here"
She stopped, pale and timid.
II know very well hat you love,
him." he added.
She unconsciously let a frightene,
cry escape her and looked helplessl!
around.
He told me ALL" Dantin slowly said
II am Jacques Dantin. He has Spoken
TO you OF ne, / think
Yes" the young woman answered
Dantin involuntarily shivered. He
voice had the same timbre as Rovere's
In the silence of the cemetery, nea
the tomb, before that name. Loui
Pierre Revere. which seemed almos
Ike the presence of his dead FRIEND
Dantin felt the temptation to reveal t
this girl what her father had wishe,
her to know.
They knew Zach other without eve
having met. One word was enough
n name was sufficient, In order tina
the secret which united them shoul
bring them nearer each other. Wha
Dantin was to Revere, Revere had toll
Marthe again n again.
Then, as IL from the depths of tn
tomb, Revere had ordered him I
speak. Jacques Dantin, in the solem
silence of that city of the dead, con
fded to the young girl what her fathe
had tried to tell him. He spoke rapid
~. The words. "a legacy-in trust
a fortune" fell from his lips. but tn
young girl quickly interrupted hir
with a grand gesture.
Il do not wish to know what an
one has told o OF me. / am tn
daughter OF a man who awaits m
at Blois, who is old, who loves only m
who needs only me. and l need moth
ing"
There was In her tone an accent (
command. of resolution, which Danti
recognized as one Of Rovere's mos
remarkable characteristics.
Had Dantin known nothing thi
sound In the voice, this ardent loo
on the pale face, would have give
him a hint or q suspicion and hav
obliged him to think of Revere. Ro
we're lived again in this 1
black, whom Jacques Dantin saw fo
the first time.
Them asked this friend Of tn
dead man, as If awaiting an order.
Then" said the young girl In he
deep voice." when you meet me nee
this tomb do not speak to me of any
thing. If you should meet me out
side this cemetery, do not recognize m
The secret which was confided to yo
by the one who sleeps there is tn
secret OF a dead one whom I adore'
my mother. and of a living perso