The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1869-02-06
4DidIn0ttoIlyouso9'o cried isbrother,

i '
enTaged.
We'll, but did you see'him doing it ~
desperately asked Monsieur Roussel1 =" did
you see himP" +"
Joseph Roussell stared till his little
eyes seemed ready to start out Of their
sockets.
"see himl" he at length gasped forth
-"Hee him open my desk, and take out
my hard earned money, seven thousand
five hundred francsi- i-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 1t Till my back was turned. But
can tell you what--Jean, my servant,
heard and saw. He saw your son Henri
at the posi-. office, 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 groaned "For Heavens
sake, nave mercy on mel" he said,
piteously.
want my money, sir, my money |"
You shall have ite though it will half
ruin me-" distractedly said Monsieur
Roussel: " but keep it quiet-O, keep it
quietP ~
"And what did come here for but to
keep it quietP screamed Joseph, at the
pitch of his voice." "what did l come
here tor9" .- ...-rcs.,
at will ruin me,D said HenrPs father,
despairingly; sit will ruin me-"
On hearing this, Madame Roussel burst
into tears, and with many piteous sobsshe
asked why her children were to be plum
dered for Henri's misdeeds. Her husband
heard her with q dull vacant stare Of
misery There's a 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
low, dull voice, !" l will not be disgraeed.
On the day when this is known in Yer
rieres, shall just go down the garden,
and make q hole in the water. WIN not
be disgraeed." r.- F.E -
Even as he uttered the words, the door
opened, and Henri, whoShad come back in
his boat and walked up the garden, enter
ed the room.
"Cards ?" he said, carelessly, ",cardsIS.
who wins2' E
No one answered. He gave sharp
look round the room, and at once his care
less look vanished. But he did not speak.
He stood without uttering one word, eyi-
IDENTIFY waiting, His father rOse.n
Henri, he said, sternly, "you sent off
seven thousand five hundred francs to
Paris to-day"
Henri looked thunderstruck.
"I did" he replied, at length -
ITO whom2"
81 cannot tell. r..5.g
" From whom did you get the moneyHp
cannot tell
The young man spoke very sullenly,
and looked black as night at that cross
examination, FhFREtF
."tYou must get that money back" said
his father, trying to speak composedly,
though he was deadly pale, " for your
uncle" he added, pointing to the dark
part Of the room, where Joseph Roussel
stood, leaning on his umbrella I" Your
uncle had his desk opened to-day and
seven thousand five hundred francs taken
from it."
Henri gave a sudden start and turned
dreadfully pale.
"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 menacing voice "Thank
your stars, say" A.,
Henri sank on 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; ea.
"Father, what do you say to this'"
Monsieur Roussel raised his trembling
hand towards him. z
eGod forgive you, Henri = hesaid in q
broken voice.
Henri leaped up from the chair on
which he was sitting his blueeyes flashed
like fire, his pale face grew still paler with
wrath, as iron is at its hottest when it is
whitest, and in q voice of thunder he
cried, Father fAtherl what do you
mean ?"
"Dol-threaten your father after dis
honoring him." cried Madame Roussel,
starting up in mingled fear and hate.
Henri gave his stepmother look of in.
dignation and seorn but before he could
open his bps to reply, Charlotte went up
to the notary, and, laying her hand on his
arm, she said in low, indignant voice,
whilst her other outstFetohed hand
pointed to Henri Roussel, "Uncle, uncle,
do you not see that yourson is innocent?"
"Innocentr p gasped the notary, staring
round the roomi "how so o2n ,s
How 80 look at him ands it. Henri
RouBsel Is innoeent-I tell you heis inno-
cent, she added, her eyes flashing with
generous indignation, sand that you
ought all to die with shame at having
doubted him.
Yes, am innocent, sternly said the
young man; "and, what is more, I can
prove ita That money which uncle so
kindly accuses me of having taken from
his desk, l already had when / saw him.
! borrowed IL on my vineyard above
Verrieres. Ask Farmer Grange, and see
if he will deny it,
"Then who took my moneyP cried
Joseph Roussel, looking very wild.
That is your business, not mine,n Bit
terly replied the young man then Bok-
ing round him, he added; aI have learned
this evening what trust in my honor
may expect in this house. Let none Of
you wonder that | shall henceforth make
my home among straagers Ileave Yer
rierea this very night -now, this moment,
and 1t will be strange indeed If / ever set
foot in it again -
He looked round the room once more
then going straight up to the spot where
Charlotte stood alone, = God bless you II
he said with much emotion.
She did not answer She stood there
before him, passive and like one III q
dream. He said no more, hutturned 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 mefn he cried with
fury. "How dare you accuse my son oi
robberyw
Monsieur Joseph Roussel slapped his
forehead. Then sudden light seemed tc
break upon him.
II know who did IL be cried--''l
1 lgs.ny,, ~ ey,d bn v,totoI ss5t ~ ftn tn,.af