The National tribune., 1882-02-18

ment.
Monsieur Noel is in difficulty" he said,
gravely looking down and rubbing his well-kept
nails as though in embarrassment. His returns
to the firm-there is q deficiency of several thou
sand pounds"
Hester went quickly up to Noel. There was
something wholesome and invigorating In her
decisive step, in the keen common sense lighting
her brown eyes.
"You can set this right Of course ?" she said.
II have not spent the money. 1t was in my
desk yesterday"
She looked at him moment, then for the first
time in her life laid her hand on his arm.
"Monsieur Noel, you are not yourself! You
have been robbed. Why do you stand here !?
Why do you not make search arrest the ser
wants ?"
Noel avoided her eye. L will not do that, he
said. "They did not take it."
"He does not understand of what you accuse
him." she said impatiently to Wall, who laughed
contemptuously.
II do not understand. I will search for the
money again" He turned to Wall: "The boat
will not be in for an hour. Give me that time"
The stupor was shaken off. Something of his
usual gusty awkward vehemence was in his
manner as he went cut. But when Wall said,
He knows he will not bring the money back"
Miss Pagesecretly felt that he right. She took
up her netting and seated herself by the window.
1--WE will wait hereuntil the hour is over,' she
said quietly, and Wall recognized himself as
prisoner stronger will than his had resolved
on Justice for Noel. He could not go out as he
intended to publish the theft in Tadousac.
Unfortunately" he said suspicion has been
directed against this young man for some time.
A charming fellow, toe! thousand pities."
Hester's fingers steadily went in and out of the
blue web, but she remained silent.
Noel on the upper floor halted at the door of
a chamber next his own. Within the French
horn sounded wailing cry. He stood a minute,
drew long breath Of gathered strength and
went in smiling. NJ Noel seated by the win
dow, rose quickly to meet him, laying down his
instrument carefully. He wore a velvet Jacket
and cap on his long white hair. Noel took as
much fond pride in devising picturesque cos
tunes for his father as woman would for her
baby His features were sensitive and fine as
those of Louis, but the eyes were shallow and
CLASSY and there was a perpetual deprecating
smile on the mouth.
as it time for our walk, my son 2" he said,
speaking the pure French of the old families of
Quebec.
Louis with smile still on his face placed
chair. ave will talk a little first, father"
Standing behind him. his hands on his shoulders. |
ne glanced at the clock Not an hour Yet if |
le frightened the old man he could discover
nothing He talked OF Indifferent matters and |
hen said
"How did you amuse yourself to-day, sir?"
with N. music 4 I strolIed across |
he mounta
With tn also 4 from a drawer a |
Jack of gres.sJ el started up pale /
nd trembling as guilty child.
"They are not mine! They were lent to me, |
only play little game of solitaire"
"Why, assuredly! Do you ever wager with
ourself, sir? One hand against the other?"
"Why I never tried that!" chuckling, de-
lighted. II wager with Jacques when we play
trif1e-bah!"
"And the money to play with? You hide it
S you used to do? re-there-where Jacques
annot find it?'
hat. Nobody will ever find it. Why, there are
mong the rocks y
Louis looked out at the vast stretch of noun
ain lodges over which his father had wandered
hat day The clock licked faster.
Father" he said, coming in front of him
"My son! Who has hurt you?" The gentle
ice was full of wild terror. What have they
one to you? You never looked like that in
our life, Louis"
"Never mind. It's all right, father, all right"
neeling down before him and soothing him
-e thought if he told him the truth surely God
ould waken some spirit of intelligence in the
oor dead brain to help him. The hour was
early over. His strait was desperate.
There was some money in package in my
esk, father. 1t is gone. Do you know where
is?"
The tenderness faded out of the blue eyes
hey grew by turns perplexed, vacant, then cum
ing "Ah, Louis You want to find out my
ding-places to store your money. Va Va!
Te old people have our little secrets, eh 2"
ucking with his tongue
Noel started up "Oh, for Gods sake! You
e my father! Be man again! Come back
lis once to save mel"
'cant face, like life galvanized into corpse. ,
hen it died out. "You frighten me" he cried
did not see the money" ;
Louis was no fool. He saw how he could shell {
r himself bY leaving the crime where II nm | 6