The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-05
The
Claimant
BY EUNICE BLAKE

On the estate Of Lucien Marivaud, in
France, lived poor man named Sou
bise and his wife. Marie, the couple
having little son, Francois. NJ. Mari
vaud had extensive vineyards, from
the product of which he manufactured
wine. Soubise had charge of the grape
growing, and Marivaud not only val
ued his services highly, but was very
fond Of him. Soubise's wife died, and
he soon followed her, leaving little
Francois without a home.
NJ. Marivaud had son. Victor, about
Francois age. When the latter was
left an orphan he was taken to the
chateau and became playmate Of
Victor. There was brother of Vic
tor. Louis, much younger than either
of these two boys.
When Victor was eighteen he enter
ed the military school and became an
army officer. Upon graduating he was
ordered to join his regiment in Ton
kin. Francois was anxious to see serv-
ice and, enllsting in the same regi-
ment, went out with Victor, who
agreed to interest himself in his pro-
motion that he might become an Off
Ger.
A year later after fight Lieutenant
Marivaud was reported missing. This
meant that he had fallen into the
hands of the Chinese. in which case 1t
was quite likely that he had been muir
dered. When nothing was heard from
him for several years he was given up
by his family, and when his brother.
Louis, came of age he inherited the
family patrimony. his father having
died without will. Nj. Marivaud had
purposely omitted to make one because
he never ceased to hope that his son
would one day turn out to be among
the living
Ten years after the departure of Vic
tor Marivaud. when there was no men,
Der of the family living, Louis, who
had for some time possessed and man
aged the wine business, became engag-
ed to Hortense Villaret. the daughter
of neighbor. Mile. Villaret belonged
to an aristocratic family, but the es-
tate had been confiscated during one
of the many changes in the sovereign
ty of France. ana she was very poor.
She and Louis We're much in love with
each other. and her father favored the
match because Louis was wealthy and
could enable lIortense to return to the
style of living to which the family had
fprupnrly hnnn nccucfnp,ad
All went happily for the lovers till
few weeks before the, day set for the
wedding. Then one day n man appear
ed at the chateau claiming to be Vic
tor Marivaud Louis was but twelve
years old when his brother left home,
and, granting that this man was Vic
tor. he would not\ have remembered
him. There was no other person at
hand who had been familiar with Vic
tor to identify him.
But the claimant was able to tell Of
many incidents that had happened on
the estate. which went far to prove
that he was what he claimed to be- He
explained his long absence in this wise:
During the fight In which he was re-
ported missing he was knocked on the
head by the butt of a musket in the
hands Of Chinaman and stunned.
When he came to himself he remem-
bered nothing of the past, not even his
name. The dead were lying about him;
the wounded had been removed. He
arose and walked till he came to Il
city, where he eventually entered the
service of French merchant. After
passing through various vicissitudes he
was taken suddenly i'll and was remov-
ed to hospital. After having been de
lirious on returning to his former con
dition he had exclaimed, "You rascally
Chinaman, take that for yours!' But
seeing a nurse before him instead of
Chinaman he appeared much sur
prised. He had returned to normal
state, remembering that he was Vic
tor Marivaud
His appearance was terrible blow
to the lovers, for, according to the
French law of inheritance. Victor Ma
rtvaud was the owner of the estate, in
Guiding the wine business. He told
Louis so many things that had occur
red during the latter's childhood that
Louis became convinced that the stran-
ger was his brother. Nevertheless 1t
was not to be expected that he would
be pleased to see n brother of whom
he had no remembrance and who
would dispossess him of his property
But the severest blow was that NJ. VII
laret Immediately withdrew his con-
sent to his daughters marriage unless
it could be proved that the claimant
was an impostor.
There was an old blind woman liv-
ing on the place, who, on hearing of
the claim9nt. desired that he be
brought to her. She asked him few
questions. which seemed to trouble
him, though he answered them cor
rootIv Thon tho old woman diroctad