The Washington times., 1920-06-27


caught in the whirl OF the great
upheavsl. my friend stayed in the
city, sccumulating details with
the view to writing q history
when he should return TO Eng
land. His credentials enabled
him to see a great deal of the
inner workings OF the Tribunal.
and he spent many days in the
Maison de Justice and at the sit
tings OF the Convention.
1T was from him that ] learned
news OF the Marquis and his gal
liant son-and pathetic story II
made.
Gaspard had an heroic figure,
my friend told me; he had been
wounded in his capture. and his
head was ringed with bsndases.
He laughed at his judges and lis
tened to the farcical formula OF
the law with q sneer on his lips.
"As sentence was pronounced,
q commotion had taken place
among the horde OF ferocious
Parisisns behind the barriers.
An old man forced his way to
the railing and called on the
judges for mercy for his son.
They say that for q moment the
look OF q great love shone on the
face Of the condemned man. then.
seeing his fathers danger, and
seeking TO save him. he turned on
him with an oath. demanding OF
the Judge who this drunken citi-
zen was who dared to claim kin.
ship with the de Dartignys, ask
ing why he was not at home with
his children remark which
must Aave conveyed the intended
message-for, before action could
be taken, the mob, some Of whom
we're kindly at heart, closed
round the old man and he made
mis- escape.
"On hearing this, ! made up
my mind to journey TO Rotung-
dean to search out, II possible,
the remaining member OF the de
Dartignys, the little maid who
had accompanied her grand
father into exile. l had no diff
Guilty In hearing of them: the
host of the White Horse Inn told
me the tale. The English nurse,
II seems. died suddenly week
or two before Christmas, and the
little girl. left friendless, had
been adopted by the wife OF the
medical man who had been sum
moned, too late. to attend to the
nurse. All my efforts to trace
the doctor have been unavaii-
ing; 1t appears that he had been
merely staying at Brighthelm-
stone for his health, and had
been driving through the village
at the time OF the nurses SELF.
ure. He had been seen about the
neighborhood for a week or two
afterward. then disappeared. TAX
ing the child with him.
THE man also told me that,
shortly after the new year, the
old man who had brought the
child to England appeared again
. in the village making inquiries.
He was distraught with misery
and suffering, and, on hearing OF
the disappearance of his grand
child, his brain seemed to give
way. He would speak to no one,
but for weeks haunted the cliffs,
pacing to and fro, muttering to
himself and shaking his fist out
over the waters Of the Channel.
Then, in the gray light of Feb
ruary morning. two fishermen
came upon his body washed up
on to the little stony beach,
81 can only surmise that he
had lost his reason under the
weight of his sufferings, else he
would have communicated with
me. God rest his noble old soul!
"And now, for the past twenty
years the chest has remained In
my strong room unclaimed
Somewhere in the world is that
little maid. She will be woman
by this, perhaps married, and
sometimes think that some day,
when | and my sOn-yes, and my
sons son-will be dead, the mys-
terry may come to the light.
Until that day enjoin my
heirs to respect the trust. The
given word of Adam Baxenter is
given till the end Of time.
"(Signed)
adam BAXENTER.
On the parchment beneath the
old solicitors signature were fou'
endorsements, each with note t.
the effect that the chest was still
unclaimed. Arthur Baxenter hat
signed in 1915, Archibald Baxentel
in 1S45, Edward Baxenter in 1888
and Hubert Barr Baxenter In 1905
The latter was evidently the sig
nature OF the man who now la!
dead upon the roof Of the house II
Mortimer Terrace.
ITO Be Continued Next Sunday.)