Year: 1878

and most sensational ending. The
suit was interesting mainly because
the parties to it were of high rank.
The document is but 1 had better
let your readers judge for them
selves. The judgment of the court,
rendered only few days ago, had
been to name NJ. E. Chevandier de
Valdrome, ex-Minister of the Inte-
rior, gardian of the young son born
of his dead brothers marriage to a
Nile. Defodon, from whom he was
separated. The boy was placed
in the Dominican seminary at Ar
cueil. and there the mother was to
be permitted to see him twice a week
while on holidays and during vaca-
tion he might visit her, but only by
the authorization and in the custody
of his guardian. On Monday last
New Years Eve) little Armand was
sent in charge of priest to visit his
mother, who was informed that the
child might remain with her for
four hours and ne more. This said,
the worthy priest retired into the
waiting room of Nine. de Valdrome's
dwelling to wait for the time allot-
ted for the visit should have expired.
Hardly were the mother and child
alone than the little one threw him
self into her arms sobbing. "Mam-
ma. save me, take me away. They
said I should never see you again.
I heard them. So take me away
far away"


Probably the mother had had
some such idea in her own mind.
It was a desperate chance; for should
it fail, no second opportunity would
be allowed her; but could she resist
the little ones pleading? "You
wish to go?" she said.


''Yes mother" said the child.


Remember that we will go into
exile for many years-that l am not
rich-that your fathers family will
never forgive you-that we shall be
followed"


"Let us CO."


I'VE will CO." said the mother,
kissing him; then (amiable hypo-
crite!9 she went to the priest and
said: g Father the time you leave my
child with me is very brief. When
my husband was alive the Judgment
of separation gave me half of Ar
mand's time-his guardian should
be as kind as the Court was"


"But my orders are imperative
madam, said the worthy ecclesias-
| tic.


st do not wish you to disobey
them," she replied, =" but will you
not return to Arcueil, and in my
name beg the Superior to leave Ar
mand with me a few hours longer,
little time is trife to him mot to
me-"


The worthy ecclesiastic could not
resist the fearful appeal and set off
on his errand. As he turned
the corner Nine. de Valdrome
hurried her boy into a carriage and
drove to her lawyer. Maitre Allou.


eff carry off my son." she said
to him as soon as they were alone,
can they put me in PRISON."
" For Heavens sake, don't do any
thing of the sort" cried the lawyer.
/" We've lost the case here, but we
can't fail to have the decision revers-
ed in the higher court" And he
went on to give his reasons for this
comfortable belief. But the woman
broke in again, "Can they put me
in prison? Are you sure they can't?"


Why do you want to know"
asked the lawyer.


Because if they could and should
I could do nothing more for my
boy. Can they-yes or no?"


"They cannot-positively."


"That is all 1 wished to know,
and now my mind is made up" In
vain did the lawyer protest against
such irregular and illegal proceed
ings. 81 am mother: they want
to steal my boy: I will carry him off.
Good by" and away she posted to
the still more eminent Maitre Beto-
laud, the leader of the bar, to get
his opinion.


"They can't imprison you," he
said =" but as batonuiea' of the bar I
protest energetically against such
action


"And as O MANI" she said. He
made no answer. It would have
made no difference if he had replied.
A few minutes later she was safe in
the house of friends, the boy. with
the aid of wig and girls wardrobe,
was changed into blooming young
Miss, 1rusty maid was given Nine.
de Valdrome's diamonds and jewels
and the more precious child and the
pair were away. Take care of the
child" said the mother, and if you
need money dispose of some of these.
1 shall go home and try and gain
few hours for you, till you are safe
over the frontier"


When she got home the priest had
returned. The Superior was sorry,
but could not alter his decision; the
boy must leave at the hour. II
expected nothing else." said Nine.
de Valdrome, and went about MAX
ing her preparation for fight. The
foEr hours elapsed, ard the priest