The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-08-19

Ws uihhiaAic appearance before the
military tribunal had been none too
soon. In accordance with the usual
procedure tho court had convened al
six o'clock In the morning. In fact. az
the moment OF my appearance with
h proof OF Charles innocence the
judges were already preparing to re.
tire for the consideration OF their yer.
dict; and that verdict could have been
OF n nature alone
My proofs threw an entirely new
complexion upon the affair. While In.
sufficient TO secure Charles immediate
acquitral. they wero OF a nature so
startling Manipulating. as they did.
three powers OF Europe and unwilling
an International consplracy-that an
adjournment w.s irSaoaiaseiv ~h.
tanned. A week later. when the tri.
bunal reconvened. Charles was acquit-
ted with the merest formalities, his
sword restored 10 him. and. a little
subsequently,, he received the coveted
legion OF honor from the presidents
hand.
He told me aftesward that he had
never doubted the ultimate verdict Of
the court; what had driven him almost
to frenzy vas his inability to learn
anything concerning me. OF my wild
flight TO Corsica he had been kept In
complete ignorance.
OF this. and the ensuing death OF the
chief oonspirators. they say ] told the
presiding Judge IN detail But OF all
that | have not the least remembrance.
A violent attack Of meningitis, the re.
suit OF the physical and mental dis.
tress which had undergone. confined
me 10 my bed for weeks. during most
OF which period ] wac raving In de.
llrium. | lived over again and again
those awful scenes IN Corsica and
aboard the yacht; and eve ! seemed
hurrying 20 catch a special train which
Just eluded me at every station on
each railroad line Of France.
When | opened my eyeG at last to
consciousness they fell first upon
Charles mother. I was back in my
room In Clichy, and she was seated be-
side me. watching me with that anx.
GUS and yet serene gaze which I had
learned TO know during those arduous
days after my first arrival there. When
she saw recognition in my eyes she
began to weep quietly. She bent down
and pressed her lips to my forehead.
"Charles?' was my first word.
"Hushl" she said, smiling, and tip
toed softly ous Of the room. A moment
later she reappeared. Charles at her
side. He knelt beside my bed and
raised my fingers 10 his lips. He was
attired IN his complete uniform; I un.
derstood the meaning Of that. There
was no need 10 ask the judges verdict.
We were supremely happy during
those early days OF my conyalcscence,
when | could cit In my invalid chair
under the pergola In the gardens, In
hallng strength with every breath OF
the soft September alrs. In those days
we four. Charles and /, his mother and
our grandfather. the old comte. forged
a link that has made our lives insep-
arabic. We shall never part, any OF
US. so long as we live; and IN spite OF
his four and eighty years | hope that
there will be many more years OF ac-
tivity for the Comte d'Yves.
One day, when | was almost well. I
suddenly thought OF the bonds which
] had brought back from Corsica;
those famous bonds without which this
history would never have been written.
nor Charles and I ever have met. /
asked for them, aud Charles mother.
who had beun anticipating such a 70
quest. rose and brought them TO me
from the drawer Of her escritiore.
rs II not strange" sa.i. that Mag
min has not inquired for them? Or has
Charles looked at his mother inquir-
ingly. and she nodded her head. "Tell
her. Charlec." she said.
"Magnin viii be here tomorrow" no
answered. Then he will require
But what IL he coming for besides?"
! asked. And then tho dreadful
knowledge flashed over me. For CHI
I demanded.
Charles nodded. "The interest fell
due yesterday" he answered. There
Is no hope Of meeting Il. Anne. Cliehy
must pass out OF our hands; we have
Grown, In a way, reconciled 10 the loss
and have already planned a future.
We have packed everything and start
tomorrow evening for Paris"
Has not the tragic death OF his son
softened him?" / asked
charles laughed. 1T has embit-
him" he answered. "The fact Il.
Anne, he has aged greatly during the
past month; he seems 10 be approach.
ne a mental and physical breakdown;
with the death Of Leopold he has
concentrated all his thoughts upon the
ulniment OF bis Iong-cherished re-
Ienge for the aifronts which he claims
ny grandfather put upon him so many
ieans ago. have pleaded with him 10
make some arrangement which would
Cllchy 10 Ne. Some OF our for.
'ign Investments have turned out un
i~xpectedly profitable and would per
nit us TO take a new mortgage and
leep ~ the estate. But Aagnin's sole
hQuGnt q - reyenEe-and so tos
@-