The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-02-24
THE WIDOW
LEROUGE
CHAPTER XIV.

When he recovered his senses. he
was in his bed, at the foot OF which
he perceived his father.
What has happened?" he asked.
With much caution they told him,
that for six weeks he Wavered between
life and death. The doctors had de-
clared his life saved; and now that
reason was restored, all woulu go we'll.
him. He shut his eyes, and tried to
collect his ideas; but they whirled
hither and thither wildly, as autumn
leaves In the wind. The past seemed
shrouded in dark mist; yet, in the
midst of the darkness and confusion,
all that concerned Mademoiselle OAR
LANCE stood out clear and luminous
All his actions from the moment when
he embraced Claire appeared before
him. He had almost become al as
sassin
Some days later, he was sufficiently
recovered to tell his father all. The
old gentleman shrugged his shoulders,
and ASSN ed him it was but q remin-
iscence OF his delirium. The good old
man was moved at the history of his
sons luckless wooing, without seeing
therein, an irreparable misfortune.
He advised him to think of something
else, placed at his disposal his entire
fortune. and recommended him TO
marry stout Poi.evine heiress, very
gay and healthy, who would bear him
some fine children.
Then, as his estate was suffering
by his 1sence. he returned home.
Two months later. the investigating
magistrate had res lmed his ordinary
avocations. But, try as he would, he
only went through his duties like a
body without 81 u. Once he ven
tured to pay visit to his Old friend
the marchioness. On seeing him, she
uttered a cry Of terror. She took
MIN for a specter, so much was he
changed in appearance. AS she dread
ed dismal faces. she ever after shut
her door to him. Claire was i'll for
week after seeing him.
How he loved me!' thought she
1T has Almost killed him. Can Albert
love me as much?"
She did not dare to answer herself
She felt a desire to console him, tc
sreak to him, attempt something;
but he came no more.
M. Daburon was not. however, a
man to give way without struggle
He tried, as his father advised him,
to distract his thoughts. He sought
for pleasure, and found disgust, but
not forgetfulness. Often he went so
far as the threshold Of debauchery;
but the pure figure of Claire, dressed
In white garments, always barred the
doors against him. Then he took
refuge in work. as in a sanctuary;
condemned himself to the most in
cessant labor, and forbade himself tc
think of Claire, as the consumptive
forbids himself to mediate upon his
malady. At length, he fond, not
rest, but that painless benumbins
which commonly follows a great ca
tastrophe. The convalescence of OBJ.
uvion was commencing.
These were the events. recalled to
NJ. Daburon's mind when old Tabaret
pronounced the name of Commarin.
And now it was his duty to cause to
be arrested to interrogate, and hand
over to the assizes that man he had
once resolved to kill ALI the world.
1t is true, ignored this crime of
thought and intention; but could he
himself forget it? Was not this, of all
others, case in which he should de-
cline to be mixed up? Ought he not
to withdraw. and wash his hands OF
the blood that had been shed, leaving
to another the task of avenging him
in the name Of society? NO. said
he. It would be cowardice I'M
worthy Of me-" A project of mad gen.
erosity occurred to the bewildered
man. IF save him." murmured he,
III for Claire's sake I leave him his
honor and his life! But how can /
save him? To do SO shall be Obliged
to suppress old Tabaret's discoveries,
and make an accomplice of him bv
ensuring his silence. We shall have
to follow q wrong track, join Gevrol
in running after some imaginary MUIR
derer. Is this practicable? Besides, to
spare Albert is to defame Noel; it is
to assure impunity to the most odious
Of crimes. In short. it is still sacrific-
ing justice to my feelings
Resigns" said he to himself
Where. then. would be my courage,
Ought not rather remain the rep
resentatiye of the law incapable OF
emotion, insensible to prejudice? Am
I SO weak that, in assuming my Office
am unable to divest myself of M
personality? Can not, for tie present
make abstraction of the past? MY
duty Is to pursue this investigation
Claire herself would desire me to act
thus. Would she wed man suspect.
ed of a crime? Never. II he is limo
cent, he will be saved; IL guilty, lei
.cI