The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-01-06
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of cur plan depends upon SO many
Unlikely circumstances. so many coin
cideEces, independent o! our vii
that. without the evident protection
of Providence, we cannot succeed. if
then, success crowns our efforts, il
will be because Heaven has dccreed
it. Meanwhile l hope
"Just what l expected" murmured
old Tabaret.
And the wretched man." cried
Noel "dares TO invoke the aid OF
Providence! He would make Heaven
his accomplish
But" asked the old fellow. "how
did your mother-pardon me, | would
say, how did Madame Gerdy receive
| this proposition"
"She would appear to have rejected
1t, at first for here are twenty pages
| of eloquent persuasion from the count,
urging her to agree to it, trying to
convince her. Oh, that woman,'
Come, my child" said NJ Tabaret,
softly, try not TO be too unjust. You
seem to direct all your resentment
against Madame Gerdy? Really, IN my
opinion, the count is far more desery-
ing of your anger than she is
True, interrupted Noel. with a
cel tain degree Of violence, true, the
count is guilty, very guilty. He is
the author of the infamous consnir-
acy, and yet | feel no hatred against
him. He has committed crime but
he has an excuse, his passion. More
over, my father has not deceived me,
like this miserable woman, every hour
of my life, during thirty years Be
sides, NJ de Commarn has been so
cruelty punished, that at this present
moment, ! can only pardon and pity
him.
"Ah. so he as been punished?" in
terrogated the old fellow
Yes, fearfully as you will admit.
But allow me to continue Toward the
end of May, or, rather, during the first
days of June the CONT must have ar
rived in Paris, for the correspondence
ceases. He saw Madame Gerdy, and
me final arrangements OF the con-
spiracy were decided on Here is
note which removes all uncertainty on
hat point. On the day IL was writ
ten, the count was on service at the
ruileries, and unable TO leave his
post He has written it even in the
kings study, on the kings paper;
GO the royal arms. The bargain has
seen concluded, and the woman who
has consented to become the instru-
7ent q mv satAer's projects is in
Paris. lie informs his mistress of the
fact. Dear Valerie MANI ln lUrLus
me Of the arrival OF your sons. our
sons nurse. She will call at your
house during the day. She is to de-
pended upon; a magnificent recon-
pense insures heI discretion. Do not.
however, mention oar plans to her:
for she has been given TO understand
that Won know nothing. | wish to
charge myself with the sole respon-
sibility OF the Decd it is more pru-
lent This woman is a native of
NJ. She was born on our estate,
almost in our house. Her husband is
a brave and honest sailor. Her name
is Claudine I.eouge. BE Of good
courage, my dear love. I am eNacting
from you the greatest sacrifice that
a lover. can hope for from a mother.
Heaven, you can no longer doubt it,
protect us. Everything depends now
upon our skill and our prudence, so
that we are sure to succeed"
On one point, at least, M. Tabaret
was sufficiently enlightened. The re-
searches into the past life of Widow
Lerouge were no longer difficult. He
could not restrain an exclamation of
satisfaction, which passed unnoticed
by Noel.
"This note" resumed the barrister,
CLOSES the counts correspondence
with Madame Gerdy."
ChArfILf VIII,
What" exclaimed the old fellow.
ARE you in possession Of nothing
more?"
Il have also ten lines, written many
years later, which certainly have some
weight, but after all are only moral
proof.'
What misfortcne!" murmured M.
Tabaret
Noel laid on the bureau the letters
he had held in his hand, and, turning
toward his old friend, he looked at
him steadily.
"Scppose," said he slowly, and en-
Suppose said he slowly, and en-
phasizing every syllable, suppose
that all my information ends here.
We will admit, for a moment, that j.
knows nothing more than you do now.
what Is your opinion?"
lid Tabaret remained some minutes
without answering; he was estimat-
Ing the probabilities resulting from
M. de Commarin's letters.
For my own part" said he, at
length, Il believe. on my console, ce,
that you are not Madame Gen.y's
son."
And you are right" answered the
l. -s..x- Id