Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-10-20

noped 50 mucn, 1t was crusnIng TO IaiI; 70
feel that had"
Come, you have not failed. Courage
and patience are ali you need Courage to
work; patience 70 walt You must restore
your picture and send It to the Salon. You
will soon finish your Beatrice when you
have the original 10 paint from-heyi Stop
that hack and tell the man Rue 81. JAG
ques, S9.'"
Edmee hsa been waiting and watching
IN fever Of suspense and anxiety. She
heard their footsteps on the stairs, and
came out on 10 the landing.
Seeing Leon, she uttered tremulous cry
Of 10Y, which he echoed, and the next mo-
ment she was clasped in his arms.
NJ. Renault watched them as they passed
into the sitting-room, oblivious Of himself
and all the world, then gently closed the
door upon them and went TO his own bed.
room.
He struck match, and lighted candle
and sat down at the table, with his hands
folded before him.
He tried TO think over the events of the
evening, but he could not; he could only
listen to the sounds in the next room.
III.
He has told her by now. She knows who
l am, Vautreau the usurer, Vautreau the
Vampire how many pleasant titles of
the sort have l, wonder?"
He could picture the change in the girls
face; the look of wonder and incredulity,
giving place TO one of disappointment
disgust . His heart contracted with
pang so keen it was like physical pain.
He seemed not to have realized before
how dear she had become to him, how she
had taken root in his heart and his home,
filling them with " sweetness and light I"
never known to him before. A dreadful
sense of desolation settled upon him, he
felt like one who stands on forlorn and
distant shore, and sees all he loved floating
away from him across the waste of waters
A tap at the door reused him. 1t was
Leon. His face was flushed, there was q
smile on his lips, and light of new hope
In his eyes.
al am glad you are come" the elder man
said, before he could speak; II wanted to
have little talk with you. But irst"-he
took out his pocketbook, and selected one
paper from those it contained -" first
oblige me by burning this. l will tell you
what it is afterwards"
He twisted it and handed it to his com.
panion, who, after hesitating glance at
him, lighted it at the candle. As the
scorched paper unfolded, the artist caught
glimpse of the writing.
"What! it is my own note of hand you
have made me burn"
"Just that, so we are quits. As you truly
said this morning, your pictures have more
than covered the debt There is a hand
some balance due to you, which l will re-
turn on condition that you take Edmee
with it,
Leon seized his hand.
"Ah, Monsieur Renault, you have re-
leased me from one obligation only to lay
me under another, which can never re-
pay. Let me call Edmee-"
NO. stay-not yeti" he interrupted.
"Now that she knows I am-what do you
say?" he broke off "you have not told
herr"
"I have told her nothing except that you
found me Just now when | was in despair,
md brought me back to hope and happi-
ness-and here she comes to thank you,"
ne concluded, as just then Edmee entered
,le room.
"But how shall I find words?" the girl
hSl oIho 1ouhNi llOl
uncle's neck. "Ah, I never can be grateful
,nough! But dear uncle" she added
seriously, chow l wish you were not in the
service of that dreadful"
mot word against Monsieur Vau-
treau, if you please" Leon interrupted.
"Uncle Renault has shown me that l was
quite mistaken in his character. The fact
is he is an imposter, lamb in wolf g
clothing"
"But EdmGe shall have her wish," her
1ncle added. IL have served hard mas
ter quite long enough, and now intend to
take ease with dignity Francoise shall
have retiring pension, and we will look
out for a snug little house in the suburbs,
where-there, I am getting on fast. All
that is in the future. For the present, as I
don't seem to recollect having dined to-day,
with your permission I will have some
"And VIC will drink success to that rising
young artist Monsieur Leon Leclerc," said
Edmee, demurely.
"And confusion to Monsieur Vautreau!"
put in her uncle.
"No, mo-" she cried gaily, prosperity to
Monsieur Vautreau; we can afford to for.
give him now. Come, gentlemen!"
THE END.