Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-02-05

well, but did you see him dong 1t ~
desperately asked Monsieur Roussel-"d did
YOU see himf 81 rH.sa
Joseph Roas iell stared till his little
eyes seemed ready to start out of their
sockets WA |l..ttEE
See him." he at length gasped forth
-'see him opon my desk, and take out
my hard. earned money, seven thousand
i've hundred francs --you ask me Il | saw
him doing thatp No, sir" he Indignantly
exclaimed, answering lis own question.
Il did not see him, because he took care
not to do 1t till my back was turned. But
| can tell you what--Jean, my servant,
heard and saw, He saw your son Henri
at the postothce, handing over to the
post mistress letter with five blue seals
five blue seals-and declaring it to be
worth seven thousand FIVE hundred
francs What do you think of that?"
The notary groaued "For Heavens
sake, nave mercy on me - he said,
piteously. .. .-,... .... .. .l
Il want my money, sir, my money I"
You shall have it, though it will half
ruin me-" distractedly said Monsieur
koussel' "but keep it quiet-O, keep it
quietr
"Aud what did come here for but to
Keep II quiet" screamed Joseph, at the
pitch of his voice." "what did l come
here tor?"
at will ruin me-" said Henris father.
despairingly cit viii ruin me-" ~
On hearing this, Madame Roussel burst
into tears, and with many piteous sobs she
asked why her children were to be plum.
dered tor Henri's misdeeds Her husband
heard her with dull, vacant stare of
misery. There's tragic hour in most
lives, however tame and commonplace
may seem their current, and that tragic
| hour had come to him. Grief and despair
gave a terrible meaning to his little.
peevish face, and Charlotte's heart sank
within her as she heard him mutter, in a
low, dull voice, 81 will not be disgraced.
On the day when this is known in Yer
rieres, | shall just go down the garden,
and make hole in the water. will not
be disgraced"
Even as he uttered the words, the door
opened, and Henri, who;had come back in
his boat and walked up the garden, enter
"Cards ?" he said, carelessly, o,.cardsiq
who wins?'
No one answered. He gave sharp
look round the room, and at once his care
less look vanished. But he did not speak.
lie stood without utterfng one word, evil
IDENTIFY waiting, His father rose"
Henri" he said, sternly, "you sent off
seven thousand five hundred francs to
| Paris to-day"
Henri looked thunderstruck.
~ did," he replied, at length.
"To whom?"
81 cannot tell" ' s
From whom did you get the money ?"
81 cannot tell"
The young man spoke very sullenly,
and looked black as night at that cross
examination.
"You must get that money back" said
his father, trying to speak composedly,
though he was deadly pale, Z" for your
uncle" he added, pointing to the dark
| part of the room, where Joseph Roussel
stood, leaning on his umbrella. "Your
uncle had his desk opened to-day and
seven thousand five hundred francs taken
from it.p
Henri gave sudden start and turned
dreadfully pale a.l- a FL.
"You did not think should miss it so
soon-did you?' asked his uncle Joseph,
nodding grimly at him; but you had
| scarcely turned your back on the house
when / wanted some money, and found
out that my seven thousand five hundred
francs were gone Thank your stars that
am your godfather as well as your uncle"
he added, in a menacing voice. "Thank
your stars, say"
Henri sank on a chair, and thence look
ed at him, then from him to his father.
AT first it seemed as if words would not
pass his white lips. When he spoke at
length, it was to address the notary and
say: sr.
"Father, what do you say to thisP"
Monsieur Roussel raised his trembling
hand towards him.
"God forgiveyou, Henri" he said in a
broken voice.
Henri leaped up from the chair on
which he was sitting his blueeye flashed
like fire, his pale face grew still paler with
wrath, as iron is at its hottest when it is
whitest, and in voice of thunder he
cried, Father father what do you
mean ?"
Do!-threaten your father after dis
honoring him." cried Madame Roussel,
starting up in mingled fear and hate.
Henri gave his stepnother a look of in
dignation and scorn but before he could
open his lips to reply, Charlotte went up
to the notary, and, laying her hand on his
arm, she said in low, Indignant voice,
whilst her other outstretched hand
pointed to Henri Roussel, "Uncle, uncle,
do you not sec that your son is innocent?"
Innocent" gasped the notary, staring
round the room; chow SOP"
z" How SO look at him and see il. Henri
Roussel is innocent-I tell you he Is inuo-
cent" she added, her eyes flashing with
generous indignation, "and that you
ought all to die with shame at having
doubted him"
"Yes, l am innocent sternly said the
young man; "and, what is more, can
prove 1t. That money which uncle so
kindly accuses me of having taken from
his desk, already had when l saw him.
borrowed it on my vineyard above
Yerrieres. Ask Farmer Grange, and see
if he will deny it,"
"Then who took my money :" cried |
Joseph ROussel, looking very wild.
That If your business, not mine," bit !
tterly replied the young man then look |
ing round him, he added al have learned |
this evening what trust in my honor | |
may expect IN this house. Let none of !
you wonder that shall heneefOrth make !
my home among strangers. leave Yer |
rieres this very. .night-now, this moment
and 1t will be strange indeed if ! ever set |
foot in it again" Odd E4lf
He looked round the room once more ; |
then going straight up to the spot where |
Charlotte stood alone, God bless you p |
he said with much emotion. ON 'f
She did not answer. She stood there |
before him, passive aud like one in a |
dream. He said nomore, but turned away, |
and was gone. AS the door closed upon |
him, as they heard his steps rapidly going |
up the staircase, the notary, recovering /
from his amazement, turned angrily on his |
brother, :" How dare you come with your
cock.and-bull stories TO me ," he cried with |
fury. How dare you accuse my son of |
robbery'"
Monsieur Joseph Roussel slapped his
forehead. Then sudden Light seemed to
break upon him.
II know who did it," he cried-"I \
know" and he rushed out of The house |
like one distracted.
The notary threw himself down on a 1
chair, and addressing his wife, said, very
ruefully, Louise, you should have told I