The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-02-04

brella.
"Iy money !" he gasped. "My money"
he shouted, recovering breath, and striking
the floor with his umbrella. Where is
my money!"
They looked at him aghast Monsieur
Roussel remained with the uplifted card
he was going to play in his hand, and
stared at his brother with open mouth and
eyes.
81 tell you I want my money" doggedly
| resumed Joseph. II want my seven thou
sand five hundred francs"
"Sevcn thousand five hundred francs -
repeated the notary, turning livid, and
dreadful light seemed to break upon him
as he heard the amount of the sum.
"Yes, seven thousand five hundred
francs" sternly said Henri's uncle and
godfather-"seve thousand five hundred
francs, which were taken out of my desk
this afternoon when Henri was in the
house do you hear?" and he rolled his
eyes about and winked at them all with
Monsieur Roussel tried TO speak, but
words would not come 10 him. He sank
forward on the table, and, with his head
lying there, uttered deep, heart broken
groan. Madame Roussel raised her
hands to heaven, and uttered despairing
cry.
"We are ruined-ruined, disgraced. un-
done :" she said, wildly; and falling back
into her chair, she went into Mysteries /;
upon which Marie began sobbing violent
ly, and little Louise, who had been staring
round her in dismay, uttered a succession
of piercing shrieks. Charlotte, alone, pre-
serving some presence of mind, ran to her
aunt's assistance, and endeavored to
calm her. Joseph Roussel looked around
him in grim and gloomy triumph, wink
ing rapidly.
"Spare the rod and spoil the child" he
said. 81 knew how it would bel always
said So"
"For Heavens sake, have mercy on
us!" cried Monsieur Roussel, looking up
wildly. Perhaps-perhaps Henri did
not do it."
"Then who did p" angrily retorted his
brother. "Do you want to cheat me out
ofmy money, eh? You told me yourself
he came to borrow seven thousand five
hundred francs-did you not? Well, tell
you that left Henri alone in the room
with my desk, and when l came back at
the end of quarter Of al hour, Henri had
vanished, the key, which l had forgotten
on the table, was in the desk, and seven
thousand and FIVE hundred francs in notes
were gone But if YOU think that | am
going TO bear with that loss Just because
Henri is my nephew and g0dson, you are
very much mistaken, all Of you," added
Monsieur Joseph Roussel, glaring at the
dismayed family, and striking the floor
again with his umbrella.
Henri shall return that money; he
only meant to borrow it, Of course" agi-
tateily said the notary. But he shall re-
turn it, Joseph"
"And do you suppose am going TO wait
till he returns my mOncv?" exclaimed Jo-
seph Roussel, looking indignant anu
amazed at the suggestion. What brought
me here, pray?"
"And how do l know that my son took
your money ?" asked Monsieur R0ussel,
with feeble effort at scepiicism.
"Did Inottell youso? p cried bis brother,
enraged
"Well, but did you see him doing it 2"
desperately asked Monsieur ROussel-" did
you see him ?"
Joseph Roussell stared till his little
eyes seemed ready to start out Of their
sockets
"See himl' he at length gasped forth
=" see him open my desk, and take out
my hard earned money, seven thousand
five hundred ancs!-you ask me if saw
him doing that? No, sir" he Indignantly
exclaimed, answering his own question.
II did not see him, because he took care
not to do it till my back was turned But
l can tell you what-Jean, my servant,
heard and saw. He saw your son Henri
at The post office, handing over to the
post mistress q letter with five blue seals
five blue seals-and declaring it to be
Il
francs What do you think Of that?"
The notary groaned. "For Heavens
sake, nave mercy on mer' he said
piteously.
az want my money, sir, my money"
"You shall have it, though it will hal
ruin me-" distractedly said Monsieur
Roussel: "b but keep it quiet-O. keep il
quietr'
"And what did come here for but tc
keep it quiet ?" screamed Joseph, at th(
pitch of his voice." "what did / come
here tori"
at will ruin me-" said Henri's father
, despairingly; cit will ruin me-"
On hearing this, Madame Roussel burs
into tears, and with many piteous sobs she
asked why her children were to be plum
dered for Henri's misdeeds. Her husband
heard her with dull, vacant stare o
, misery. There's a tragic hour in mos
, lives, however tame and commonplace
may seem their current, and that tragic
{ hour had come to him. Grief and despai
: gave a terrible meaning to his little
, peevish face, and Charlottes heart sanl
3 within her as she heard hin mutter, in
/ low, dull voice, 81 will not be disgraced
, On the day when this is known in Yer
| rieres, l shall just go down the garden
( and make hole in the water. | will no
i, be disgraced."
} Even as he uttered the words, the doc
e opened, and Henri, who had come back il
: his boat and walked up the garden, enter
: ed the room.
"Cards?" he said, carelessly, "cards
: who wins?
e No one answered. He gave shar
}, look round the room, and at once his care
j less look vanished. But he did not speah
s He stood without utteriDg one word, evI
a IDENTIFY waiting, His father rose"
8 "Henri," he said, sternly, "you sent Of
seven thousand five hundred francs t
n Paris to-day"
G Henri looked thunderstrdck.
!, al did" he replied, at length.
e "To whom?"
It 81 cannot tell"
,s "From whom did you get the money
e Il cannot tel"
The young man spoke very sullenl.
" and looked black as night at that croi
d examination.
is "You must get that money back" sal
d his father, trying to speak composedl
tbou,b bo uas deadly MALE " for vOl