The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-03-17
CHAPTER XVII.

a.. ~'~t
ton that you may well understand
The last letter shown me simply an
bounced to Madame Gerdy the arrival
IL Claudine Lerouge, the nurse who
was charged with accomplishing the
substitution. l know nothing beyond
that
These proofs amount TO nothing"
muttered the count "A man may
form plan, cherish 1t for a long time
and at the last moment abandon it;
it often happens so.
He reproached himself for having
answered SO hastily
There can be no possible doubt
he said to himself: Valerie has de-
stroyed the most conclusive letters,
those which appeared to her the most
dangerous, those | wrote after the
substitution. But why has she pre-
served these Others compromising
enough in themselves? and why, after
having preserved them. has she let
them go out Of her possession"
tsPerhaps she is dead!" said NJ. de
Comr,arin. aloud.
And at the thought that Valerie wns
dead, without his having again seen
her, he started painfully His heart,
after more than twenty years of vol
untary separation, still suffered. so
deeply rooted was this first love of his
youth.
,:.roor woman!" he murmured
-.You have not told me. viscount,"
he safd. who sent you that messenger
Of 1liiAfortune."
a"Hs came in person, sir, not wish
ing,,ihe told me. to mix any others up
in this sad affair. The young man
was no other than he whose place |
haye, occupied-your legitimate son,
Nj NIGEL Gerdy himself
.rEes," said the count in a low tone,
'Noel, that is his name. I remember"
Ahd&ihen, with e dent hesitation, he
added: did he speak to you of this
Of yi!6bir mother?"
-..SSearcely, sir. He only told me
thatthe came unknown to her; that he
Alphabetically discovered the secret
which he revealed to me-
:.Gptne, viscount. do not stand; sit
down here by me. and let us discuss
this matter. Let us unite our efforts
to, .shhh, if possible. this great misfor-
tu1fe. SConfide in me, as a son should
In, bis father. Have you fought of
what is to be done? have you formed
any determinations"
1T seems to me, sir. that hesitation
is IMPOSSIBLE"
"In what way?r
my duty, father. is very plain. Be-
foreslyour legitimate son. l ought to
gitanRay without |. murmur, if not
without regret. Let him come. l am
ready to yield to him everything that
have.,so long kept from him without
suspicion Of the truth-his fathers
love his fortune. and his name"
At this most pralseWorthy reply,
the old nobleman could scarcely pre-
serve.$he calmness he had recommend
ed 'tOShis son in the earlier part of the
interview. His face grew purple; and
he struck the table with his fist more
furiously than he had ever done in his
life.
:s.AnaaI tell you, sir, that this dream
of .yRl1r, shall nev.r take place. No;
that it shan't. swear it. I promise
you, whatever happens, understand.
thatEehings shall remain as they are:
baeaosa it is my will. You are Wis
count de Commarin. and Viscount de
CoMmaIin you shall remain. in spite
Of Bdfself, IL necessary. You shall
retS3n the title to your death, or at
Leaf to mine: for never. willie live,
shat your absurd idea be carried out"
Hut, sir" began Albert timidly.
ou are very daring to interrupt
meEEhile am speaking, sir" ex-
claimed the count. do not know
all Jour objections beforehand? You
aresgoing to tell me that it is re-
3 voting injustice,a wicked robbery.
confess it, and grieve over it more than
YOU possibly can. Do you think that
I ndH for the first time repent of my
youEA ful folly7 For twenty years, sir,
N hiRe lamented my true son; for
twe14y years have cursed the wick
4 edns ts of which he is the victim. And
( yet learned how to Keep silence. and
to He the sorrow and remorse which
4 hav& covered my pillow with thorns.
IN single instant. your senseless
yield ing would render my long suffer-
tngssbf no avail. No, will never per-
NIT The count read reply on
his bn,s lips: he stopped him with 9
NTH ing glance. "Do you think" he
cont )ued, that have never wept
over The thought Of my legitimate son
PAST Is his life struggling for a COM
peteI Eef Do you think that have
aeve kelt q burning desire to repair the
FroI done him? There have been
timed sir. whom ! would have given
half q my fortune simply to embrace
that hild Of ! wife too tardily appre-
ciate The fear 81 casting 2 shadow