The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-05-26

are you not?"
Yes"
Something has happened that ]
felt would happen n of these days
It is proved to me that some one be-
side me has the right to love N OF
you"
"Ah, father, what do you mean"
"You know you own history-you
know that one of you is not my
daughter"
1--WE have never liked to think OF
it,"
well, children, this evening I had
an appointment, Of which I told you
nothing, so much did I dread it. II
was with an eminent lawyer. He has
proved distinctly to me the person
who claims one of you; told me the
whole story; but how am I to part
with either of your"
(which of us, father, is not your
child?"
Here precisely is the puzzle; we
cannot tell; but I cannot give uI
either of you, for I love one as we'll az
the other"
eve both love you as Jul father;
we do not want to leave you; we
can love no other father but you"
"The daughter that is not mine
has neither father nor mother; it is
her mothers mother who claims her.
But she will give her what I cannot
give-a great name, riches, and a
position In society far above the one
I have placed her in. Which of you
is it,"
Jeanne and Marie both kissed his
cheek; neither spoke. Jeanne was
thinking that the advantages he set
before her would have removed the
obstacles which separated her from
Octave, but she only sighed deeply;
not for an instant did she dream that
she could ever lay claim to all this
brilliant fortune; but Marie, taking
her fathers hand, calmly asked him
if there was no sign by which they
thought to recognize the rightful heir.
THE heiress Of the Marquis de
Valbourg has a sign-so says a letter
from her mother. I do not think 1t
is love that makes them so anxious
to find her, but the Duo de Blossac
is heir to the property, >and the rev.
enues of all the estates have been for
years accommodating; until the death
of this girl is proved, the Due de
Blossac cannot touch a penny.
Jeanne, what is the matter with
you?"
Nothing, father; I feel faint"
"My darling, sit down."
"Well, you must know that by an
amicable cement made years
ago. when the existence of this daugh-
ter was suspected, it was decided that
when she should be found and in
stalled in her rights, she should be-
come the wife of NJ. de Blossac, that
young, handsome duke, you know;
he has been here often to buy dia-
monds; but-Marie, Marie, look at
your sister; she has fainted!'
Jeanne was conveyed to her room.
for she had indeed tainted. An hour
afterward Marie slowly entered the
room, where her father was anxiously
pacing the floor.
Father" said Marie, Jeanne IS
better; she will sleep soon, and then
all will be right. Father, have you
a favorite between u.s."
eyes; the one who was sick when
you we're children I always loved
best; but now Jeanne is suffering and
seems unhappy, why, darling, I think
I love her.
mot better than your Marie; that
can never be. But would you be con-
tent to see Jeanne happy"
cat any cost"
"Tell me the sign By which this
lady says she can recognize her
granddaughter"
"a violet mark imprinted in the
way in which sailors mark their arms.
but over the heart"
Then" said Marie, "you must love
me best, father, for I am your child,
and Jeanne is Duchess de Blossac."
ITO lose one Of you is terrible, my
darling; but do you think that will
console herr"
"I do, though she will never forget
u.s."
That night Marie knelt by her
Jeanne's bedside; the door was locked
and the sisters were alone.
"Marie!" exclaimed Jeanne; II
cannot hear of this sacrifice. What
right have I to deprive YOU
"Of nothing, my sister. You love
the duke, I do not. if 1 claim the in
heritance. I must become his wife.
I cannot; so now submit"
Still Jeanne resisted; but Marie
was firm, and drawing aside the
night-dress, with a firm and light
hand she pricked the shape of a vio-
let just over her sisters heart. Then,
rubbing it with gunpowder, she made
the mark indelible.
NOW, JEANNE" said she, that Is
exactly like the one I have on-the
one, probably, my poor mother made.
But 1 love Pierre, who has been to US
a father; 1 have no taste for splendor.
Be happy, my own sister, and do not
forget u.s."
So Jeanne, in great state, was rec
ognized as the heiress of Madame de
Valbourg, and a few days afterward
was married with great pomp and
ceremony to the Due de Blossac.
For a few days she had hesitated;
then she had determined not to accept
how e;efa,,, eaor;foa. hI,t che lnvaH