The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-01-31

WAS wicked. l followed these Two meh.
They walked on their way to Solenthcl
together. dared not attack both, aud
once ar twice thought OF giving mp my
fearful design. Rut nj the house of one
De Pierrrpont they parted, and my vie
tim, Dubois, advanced alone
80 WAS monster enough to think that
heaven gave hum mp Ia me. boundrd
after him | gave myself no time for
thought | stabbed him IN the neck
killed him; took his money and fled. l
spare YOU my thoughts aud my fifteen
years If suffering. | hed my country ;
| became "A merchant nch-reSpect /,
hut have never had one happy moment.
Not only had | numbered HIM, but
Pierrrpont was suspected, aud sentenced
or my crime, only not tO death, because
the Jury hesitated. | thus ruined an
honest man, and sent his family 10 beg
their bread :
He paused. / spoke not too alb
sorbed IN my h rror.
"'De Versan, listen % me. my friend.
Do not turn against me. l have left
YOU my sole heir
=" Never will -
Take my property, and think when You
enjoy it with pity On It's guilty present
owner. and will make n public confes-
sion, pay the heirs Of Dubois their
Id. 600 francs. and. by proving my own
guilt, obtain the pardon OF the innocent
De Pierrepont. Refuse and | wit! die
impenitent, for my only friend will have
deserted me.
II accepted
And may heaven bless Won - said
the weeping and sobbing mother, while
Madeleine laid her head in her mother 5
lap.
"An hour later, in presence of the
French and English eonsuls-four Eng
lishmen and four Frenchmen, two priests
and the Gaillard, a. rather Mes
narl. made his solemn confession, which
was signed by all present, sealed, atd
one OF two copies giyed to lie. That
copy is now in the hand OF the minister
Of Justice. and here" drawing forth a
letter. "is copy Of your fathers free
parion. "
A wild shrek from both women was
his reply.
Aud now, Madeline, said he. tax
ing the girls hand, before / have the
chance OF rivals may renew my request
for your hand aud heart?"
Monsieur, no man on earth can ever
do for me what you have done. In an
hour have llyei years 0f loy that JOY
| owe tp yuu. Give mo my father, and
the love Of my whole life, If You value
II, shall he your reward
This sudden resolution OF the Young
girl, SO natural under the circumstan-
ces. vas approved Of heartily by the
mother. Next morning there sat in a
small inn in Soleuthel, waiting for
breakfast, a man, not old, but bowed by
years Of woe. gray-haiTed and pale. On
each side OF him sat woman-one his
wife, the other his daughter. They had
been talking for hours. and were not
vet wearied. A young man sat opposite,
his face beaming with delight. Several
times the waiter had announced break
fast, but the young man had always
bade him be quiet and wait still awhile.
At length a hurried step was heard,
and the young Edward Dubois entered.
He started as II bit by a snake, and
would have left the room.
"Stopl :" said Arthur. sternly, as he
caught him by the wrist. Rather
kneel and ask for parlon than fly. Read
this, man. >" and be put in his hand the
printed bin proclaiminR the injustice of
PierrepOnts sentence. his free pardon,
and containing the certified confession
of Mesnard
Edward Dubois read il in silence.
When be had finished he turned and
graSped the convict's hand.
"No apology can make up for my
conduct, he said, but what ! can do
will. This bill viii satisfy The whole
country.
Monsieur" replied De Pierrepont,
in husky tones, "you did but as the
world did. Appearances were agains;
me and all condemned me.
Edward. nv friend" said Arthur,
+" you see the danger OF judging from
Had De Pierrepoot been
truly guilty, his wife and child should
have been pitiei, not seorned. As it is,
a vile prejudice has made these two
women for fifteen years outeasts and
pariahs. "
Edward made no reply, ~ the break
fast came in. He. like all the county
round, was Mortified now they found
how unjust they had been ; and never
was wedding more unanimously hailed
and fcted than that Of Arthur DO VerSan
and Madeleine de Pierrepont. Still |
have not heard that one man, women or
child in the forest OF Arleunes has been
cured of the evil habit Of judging always
from appearances, and visiting on the
innocent the sins Of the guilty.