The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-04-07
TOE WIDOW
LER0uCt
CHAPTER XN.

o. my prOLeS{aLlOnS, Ilo uOCleSL auU
purest OF young girls. l made her the
most unhappy OF women. | could not
love her. cherished most passion
ate love for a mistress, who had trust
loved for long time. l found her
rich in beauty, purity, and mind. Her
name was Valerie. My heart is, so to
say. dead and cold in me, sir: but
ali! when l pronounce that name, it
still has a great effect upon. In spite
Of my marriage, I could not induce
myself to part from her, though she
wished me to. The idea of sharing
my love with another was revolving
to her. No doubt she loved me then.
mistress became mothers at nearly the
same time. This coincidence suggest
I'd to me the fatal idea of sacrificing
NY legitimate son to his less fortunate
brother. communicated this project
TO Valerie. To my great surprise,
she refused it with horror. Already
the maternal instinct was aroused
within her; she would not be separated
from her child I have preserved as
= monument of my folly, the letters
which she wrote to me at that time.
I re-read them only last night. All?
why did l not listen to both her ar
suments and her prayers? 1t was be
cause l was mad. She had a sort OF
presentiment of the evil which over
whelms me to-day. But / came to
Paris-I had absolute control over her
l threatened to leave her, never to
see her again. She yielded: and my
valet and Claudine Lerouge were
charged with this wicked substitution.
1t is, therefore. the son of my mistress
who bears the title Of Viscount de
Commarin, and who was arrested but
Z short time ago."
M. Daburon had not hoped for a
declaration so clear, and above all SO
prompt.
$50, count" said he, you acknowl-
sdge that M. Noel Gerdy is the issue
sf your legitimate marriage, and that
he alone is entitled to bear your
uame7"
Eyes, sir. Alas! l was then more de-
lighted at the success of my project
than should have been over the most
brilliant victory. / was so intoxicated
with the joy of having my Valeries
shild there, near me. that l forgot
everything else. had transferred to
him part Of my love for his mother;
Or, rather. l loved him still more, il
that be possible. The thought that he
would bear my name, that he would
inherit all my wealth, to the detri-
ment of the other, transported me with
delight The other hated: could
not even look upon him. I do not
recollect having kissed him twice. On
this point Valerie, who was very good,
reproached me severely. One thing
alone in+erfered with my happiness.
The Countess de Commarin adored
him whom she believed to be her son,
and always wished to have him on
Ter knees. I cannot express what I
suffered at seeing my wife cover with
kisses and caresses the child of my
mistress. But l kept him from her
much as l could; and she, poor wo-
nan! not understanding what was
passing within me, imagined that
vas doirg everything to prevent her
son loving her. She died, sir, with
this idea, which poisoned her last
Jays. She died of sorrow; but, saint
like. without complaint. without q
nurmur, pardon upon her lips and in
Ter heart"
81 did not shed single tear" con-
tinued the count. what had she been
In my life? A cause of sorrow and
remorse. But Gods justice, in adj
vance Of mans was about to take a
terrible revenge. One day, 1 was
warned that Valerie was deceiving me,
and had done so for a long time. I
could not believe it at first; it seemed
have sooner doubted myself than her.
I had taken her from garnet. where
che was working sixteen hours day
70 earn few pence; she owed all to
ne. had made her so much a part
Of myself that l could not credit her
being false I could not induce myself
to feel jealous. However, inquired
into the matter: l had her watched;
I even acted the spy upon her myself.
I had been told the truth. This un-
happy woman had another lover, and
had had him for more than ten years
He was a cavalry officer. In coming
to her house he took every precaution
He usua ly left about midnight; but
sometimes he came to pass the night,
and in that case went away in the
early morning. Being stationed near
Paris, he frequently obtained leave OF
absence and came to visit her; and he
would remain shut up in her apart
nents until his time expired. One
svening, my spies brought me word
that no was there. I fastened to thu
house. My presence did not embar.
ASS her. She received me as usual
throwing her arms about my neck.
thought that my spies had deceived