Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-11-27

Agaln the voice was heard. but
much nearer
this?9
Germaine was shaking SO l thought
she would drop. Then she cried:
Forgive ne. Forgive me. Ger
mainel / promise to atone!"
Boissier jumped up to go toward
her. ! seized his wrist, and whis-
pered In his ear:
Il am not Martin; my name is Cor
on. II you make move or utter a
sound, you are LOST"
The seance broke up in a state Of
excitement. Xavier conducted the half
fainting Germaine to the drawing
room
| went to her and said.
Mademoiselle. . suppose you would
I ike to speak to US now"
Yes" she replied; call your friend
Xavier; but not Bolster"
She shuddered as she mentioned the
name.
| returned to the dining-room.
Professor" / said, keep close to
/ that fellow Boissier till I come back.
| If he tries any nonsense clap the
handouts on him"
I'll look after him, sir" laughed the
professor.
Germaine was sitting in an easy
chair, with her eyes closed, the while
Xavier walked about excitedly.
What does it all"
Hush" interrupted him. you
viii hear the truth now"
Il have deceived you! Forgive
mel"
Suddenly Germaine went on her
knees before Xavier and Selling one
of his hands. exclaimed:
Reckoning Xavier to remain silent,
| raised the girl from the floor, and
said:
Whom is he to forgiven Is it Ger
maine, or"
NO" she shrieked in a paroxysm of
grief. Don't speak. wifi tell every
thing"
And in broken sentences, mingled
with sobs, she poured out her story:
My name is Lily Bradley, and l am
the daughter of the farmers who took
charge of Germaine when her parents
died. Ny father and mother were
very good to her; but Germaine was
sickly, and the doctor said she could
not live long. Then came the letter
Of M. E In Toulouse, proposing to
adopt his niece; and my parents, be-
ing poor, decided to let me take her
place. / begged them not to do this;
but | was only thirteen, and they
pressed me so hard that consented.
Two years later Germaine died, and"
Your parents committed a second
fraud by burying her under your
name" l said.
How on earth. Goron, do you"
Keep quiet, Xavier. Please go on,
Miss Lily"
Some time after that my parents
died. too when one day / received a
visit from that man. Boissier. My ia
theT knew him, and | remember his
saying he fellow was a scoundrel
Somehow Boissier had got hold of the
secret. and he threatened to denounce
me unless consented to assist him in
a plot
He had become intimate with NJ
Xavier; and the plan was that l should
marry Nj. Xavier, and afterward pay
Boissier a large sum of money. He
is rich he said. and | want some of
his money If NJ Xavier had not
gone in for spiritualism. this conspir-
no ct tod
Several times | have felt tempted to
write him an anonymous letter warn
ing him against the plot: but Boissier
terrorized me. and l dared not risk it.
have also
She stopped and an expression of
intense pain asEne over her face.
/ saw she was really Ill; and as, for
several reasons / did not want her to
go back to where she was staying,
sent for a cab and asked the house
keeper to take my card. and convey
the girl to a home managed by one
of my friends. who would look after
her.
Boissier was sitting motionless in
the dining-room by the side of the
professor" who was reading morn
ing paper.
Take him to the prefecture. Lee
roy" said. 81 will see him tonight
or tomorrow morning"
Yes. sir. Come along, my boy, you
and | will look at a few more ghosts"
And he led away Boissier, who shiy-
cred with fright and had not the
strength to utter a syllable.
Well. Xavier" l exclaimed. when
we were alone What do you think
Li our seance? Rather stormy, was It
not?"
"Goron. | am too much ashamed of
myself to dare even to thank you.
feel In a dream. But how did you fer /
ret it all out? What clue did you
have?"
"Oh, had a clue. But there is
your sister. worrying herself to
death. Go at once to her, and tell her
she need not trouble to order we'd
ding cake for you. One word more |
Ask your sister to tell her butler to |
bring up bottle of mouton Roths-
child. l promised to dine with her
and you'll all went we'll"
1t was one of the pleasantest din |
ners l can remember. The Mouton
Rothschiid had been religious!y emp
tied. We were smoking cigarettes, |
when Xavier said
And now tell us what gave you the