The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-02-18
CHAPTER XVIII.

since the terrible strain OF his deten-
tion, a necessity, a habit. The dead are
living. They walt, they listen.
II seemed to Dantin that he had but
one aim. Alas. what had been the
wish, the last dream. OF the deed ma
would never be realized! That fortune
which Revere had intended for the
child whom he had no right to call his
own would go, was going to some far
on cousins of whose existence the ex-
consul was not eve aware, perhaps.
and whom he certainly mad 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 n who remained silent,
piously devoting herself to the old SOL
der whose name she bore?
One day I'm February, a sad, gray
day. Jacques Dantin, thinking OF the
past winter so unhappy, OF the sad
secret grave and heavy. stroIled 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 undercurrant OF excite
ment; the cortege, Silence now Allied
the place! Dark shadows could be seen
here and there between the tombs at
the end of paths. 1t was not a visiting
day or an hour usual for funerals. This
solitude pleased Jacques. He felt
near to MIN whom he loved.
Louis Pierre Revere! That name,
which Moniche had had engraved,
evoked many ~remembranees 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 fed, such
ruined years. So much OF. fever, Of
,agftation-so many ambitions, decep-
tons, In order TO end here! K
HI Is at rest at least" thought
'Dantin, remembering his W life,
without aim, without happiness And
ne also would rest soon, having not
even a friend l n this great city of Paris
whom he could depend upon to pay
him q last visit. A ruined, wicked, use
less life!
He again babe 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, oming
that way, between the tombs, as IL 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 RoYere's tomb that shs
was going. Tall, svelte, and az 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 han
friend, haggard, standing In front of
MS open safe, searching through hts
papers for those which represented his
child.s fortune. II this was his friends
daughter, 1t was to him that Revere
had o to assure her future.
"w He UnIka6 olnuylxy MAJ -
The woman in black was now kneeling
near the gray stone. Bent over. ar
ranging a bouquet of chrysanthemums
which h had brought, Dantin could
see only her kneeling form and black
draperies. ~
She was praying now.
Dantin stood looking at her and
when at last she arose he saw that She
was tall and elegant In her mourning
robes. He advanced toward her. The
noise of HIS footsteps on the Gravel
caused her to turn her head, and DAN
tin saw a beautiful face, young and
sac. she had blond hair and large
eyes, which opened wide in surprise.
He saw the same expression OF the
eyes which Rover3s had borne.
: The young woman instinctively made
a movement as IL to go away, to give
place to the newcomer, but Dantin
stopped her with a gesture.
DO not go away. mademoiselle. I
sleeps here"
She stopped, pale and timid.
know very well that you loved
him." he added.
She unconsciously let a frightened
cry escape her and looked heiplsssly
He told me ALL" Dantin slowly said
II am Jacques Dantin. He has spoJxen
to you of me, / think,-
r yes the young answered
Dantin involuntarily shivered. Her
voice had the same timbre IS Rovere's.
In the silence OF the cemetery, near
Inc tomp, before thai name. Louis
Pierre Revere, which seemed almost
ike the presence OF his dead friend
Dantin felt the temptation to reveal to
this girl what her father had wished |
her to know. N'
They knew each other without ever
having met. One word was enough.
n name was sufficient, in order that |
the secret which united them sbo,,IS
bring them nearer each other. what |
Dantin was to Revere, Revere had fold
Marthe again and again.
Then, as IL from the depths of the
tomb, Revere had ordered him to-
speak. Jacques Dantin, in the solemn
silence or that city of the dead, con-
nded to the young girl what her father
had tried to tell him. He spoke rapid
ly. The words, "a l~egacy-in trust
q fortune fell from his lips, but the
young girl quickly interrupted him
with a grand gesture.
Il do not wish to know what any
one has told you of me. 1 am the
daughter Of a man who awaits me
at Blois. who is old, who loves only me.
who needs only me, and I need moth
- $3.50
There was in her tone an accent of
command, Of resolution, which Dantin
recognized as n OF RoVere's most
remarkable characteristics.
Had Dantin known nothing this
in the voice, this ardent look
on the pale face, would have given
him a hint or a suspicion and have
him to think of Revere. Ro-
yere lived again in this woman In
black, whom Jacques Dantin saw for
the first time.
Them" asked this friend of the
G man, as IL awaiting an order.
Then said the young girl in her
ieep voice" when you meet me near
his tomb do not speak to me OF any
thing. II you should meet me out
slde this cemetery, do not recognize me.
The secret which was conided to YOU
oy the one who sleeps there Is the