Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-03-01

money-how it could procure every.
thing pleasurable to man, even to q
pretty wife-when o loud ring OF the
door.bell broke the current OF his
thoughts.
Its a woman, sir; she says she
must see you," said the servant, re-
turning from the door.
But the visitor had followed without
waiting permission to enter. She was
q tall, dark faced woman, advanced in
years, whose step was feeble, and her
form bent.
Richard Stroude looked up scowl-
ingly; but u second glance, and his
face paled, while his whole frame
shook.
Hastily dismissir. I. the servant, he
motioned the woman to chair.
"Jeanette Dupre.' he faltered, half
inaudibly.
Jeanette Duprc, when you knew
me-" was the answer with a strong
French accent but, at present, Mad
anne Armand"
"Well, why are you here, may I
ask?"
because the time has come!"
The time 1Or Wnat
"For exposing your eillainy, and con-
Tossing my o,Cn share IN it," she ex.
claimed, with defiant CLEAN of her
dark eyes.
"What is it you propose doing?"
asked Richard Stroude, gradually grow
ing more composed.
ITO declare the truth-that it was
my child, and not your brothers that
died and was buried that you pre-
vailed upon me, with money, to cheat
the poor mother into believing that the
dead babe was her own-a cruel decep-
ton which finished the breaking of her
heart that Andre Armand, who passes
for my son, is your nephew, and entitled
to all the wealth you now call yours!"
"And do you know what shall say
to all 2" replied Richard, with a sneer,
again quite treasured. 81 shall simply
deny your story. You have no proofs. l
have power and influence. My word
will far outweigh yours, and you and
your pretended inheritor will pass for
brace of impostors."
Don't be too confident" retorted
the other. 81 haze proofs. You for
get that required Of you full writ
ten statement of the truth, to be held
by me as security till you paid the last
portion of the money"
"And when I did that you gave me
back the statement, and it was de-
stroyed."
"There you are deceived. I had q
copy made by skillful hana-an exact
imitation of the original. 1t was the
copy you destroyed. The original l
hare here !"
Both had risen 10 their feet. Rich
ard Stroude made movement, as if to
snatch the paper from Jeanette's hand,
but the CLEAN of dagger, which she
poised aloft, sent him covering back.
"What is it you demand 2" whined
the trembling wretch.
"That you resign all claim to the
hand of Mabel Douglass, make over to
your nephew what is Justly his, and
join with me in acknowledging the
truth to Andre, trusting to his generos-
ity to keep the secret of our crime.
You are not so scrupulous but you may
find some way of explaining your un-
suspected discovery Of 'aepheW!"
But suppose should still be will.
ing to purchase your silence?"
"That is no longer within your
power. I am growing old, and have no
more than sufficient time left to atone
for past sins without committing new
ones"
n
Richard Stroude, VINO is very old
now, leads a retired life, in a distant
city, on O comfortable annuity.
Andre and Mabel are the wealthiest
and happiest couple in all the country
round, and though verging toward
middle-life, are as blithe and cheerful
as when fortune first smiled upon their
love.
Jeanette has been dead for many
years.-N. Y. Ledger.
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