The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-06-02
TgH WIDOW
LEROU(E /
Z uax slssulA
CHAPTER XVII.

"He told you that, Claire!" ex-
| claimed the count. my child, are
| you sure, are you not mistaken"
mo, sir. told him something, OF
which every one was ignorant, and OF
| which Albert, who is gentleman
4 could not speak. l told him that
Albert passed with me, In my grand
mothers garden, all that evening on
which the crime was committed. He
| had asked TO me-
i put your woru viii not be sum
! Gent
There are proofs, and Justice hae
| hem by this time"
Heavens! Is 1t really possible? ?"
cried the count, who was beside him.
self.
"Ah, sir!" said Mademoiselle CAT
LANCE, bitterly. you are like the mag
istrate; you believe in the Impossible.
You are his father and you suspected
him. You do not know him, then You
were abandoning him without trying
to defend him. All, did not hesitate
one moment!'
One is easily induced to believe trua
that which one is anxionsly longin:
for. NJ. de Commarin was not diff
cult to convince Without thinking,
without discussion, he put faith in
Claires assertions.
But, then, mademoiselle. asked
The count, are they going to release
him."
Alas. sir, | demanded that they
should at once set him at liberty
1t is just, is it not. since he is no.
!uilty? But the magistrate replied
hat 1t was not possible; that he was
.ot the master: tn Albert's fate de.
ended on many o lers 1t was then
hat | resolved to come to you for
,lu"
Can |, then, do something's
II at least hope so. am only q
poor girl, very ignorant; and know
40 one in the world. There ought,
however, to be some means for OBJ
tanning justice. Will you not try all
that can be done. sir, you, who are
his father?
YES" replied NJ de Commarin,
quickly, yes. and without losing q
minute. Let US co." he said.
Suddenly tho radiance in his face
changed to sadness. mixed with anger.
But where" he asked. AT what
door shall we knock with any hope OF
success? We need some one to tell VI
whom we should addres~some guide,
lawyer. barrister. Ali" he cried, II
have it-Noel''
Claire raised her eyes to the counts
In surprise.
He is my son." replied M. Dc Cum
marin. evidently embarrassed. my
other son, Albert's brother. The best
and worthiest of men, he added. re-
peating quite appropriately phrase
already uttered by M. Daburon. "He
is barrister: he knows all about the
Palais; he will tell US what to do"
Noel's name, thus thrown into the
midst OF this conversation so full Of
hope, oppressed Claire's heart. The
count perceived her alright.
do not feel anxious dear child, .
he said. Noel is good: and will
oil you more. he loves Albert. Do
not shake your head SO; Noel told me
himself. on this very spot, that he did
not believe Albert guilty. He declared
that he intended doing everything to
dispel the fatal mistake, and that he
would be his barrister.''
II will send for him." continued M.
de Commarin: The is now with AL
bert's mother, who brought him up.
and who is now on her death-bed.'
"Albert's motherf"
Eyes. my child Albert win explain
70 you what may, perhaps. seem to
You an enigma Now time presses.
But I think r
He stopped suddenly. He thought
that, instead Of sending for Noel at
Madame Gerdy's, he might go thers
himself. He would thus see Valerie,
and he had longed to see her again
70 much.
1T will be quicker. perhaps" OBJ
served the count. ito go to Noel"
Let us start. then. SIR
i As soon as Claire had entered ths
i arriage. he said to the foorman.
Riie ST Ilazare. qnick!''
Whenever the count said 'squick,.
on entering his carriage. the peries.
fila ns had to gsst out OF the way. Aid
i cd " TIE canciesEe's direetiai.s, N,
totlIit sSldi the yolIas. girl Went Jua9s.rs
Madame (Serdy apartments
M. Neel Gerdy?' he asked OF til,
servant.
Tho barrister had Just that moner.
4 gone out.
We viii wait for him. then" "a,
| the count,
He advanced; and the servant drew
back to let them pass. Noel ha.
strictly forbidden her to admit an,
Iytsitors; bL. the Count de Comma,ll
was one Of ose whose appearance,
Il makes servan forget III their ort.ar.