The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1882-03-17

Never mind. It's all right, father
all right, kneeling down before hin
and soothing him. He thought if h
told him the truth surely God woul,
waken some spark of intelligence il
the poor dead brain to help him. Th
hour was nearly over. His strait wa
desperate.
There was some money in a packag
in my desk, father, 1t is gone. d.
you know where it is?'
The tenderness faded out of the blu,
eyes. They grew by turns perplexed
vacant, then cunning. 'Ah, Louis
You want to find out my hiding place.
to store your money. Va! Va! w,
old people have our little secrets, eh ?
clucking with his tongue.
Noel started up. Oh. for Gods
sake! You are my father! Be a mar
again! Come back this once to save
mev
A shadow of comprehension strug
gled into the vacant face, like life gal.
vinized into corpse. Then it died out
You frighten me- he cried; Il did not
see the money
Louis was no fool. He saw how he
could shelter himself by leaving the
crime where it undoubtedly belonged
1t would probably be condOned as the
act of an imbecile. He threw his arms
with shudder around the old man
and reverently kissed the gray head.
DO not be frightened, father he
said gently; nothing shall harm you.
A moment later Hester hearing his
firm steps without rose. He has the
money! she said.
Wall also rose. You have found
it?'
No
Noel. all of his life vehement and
passionate, stood now quiet and reso-
lutte, while Wall staggered uncertain
ly.
You know the consequences, Noel
You are accountable. 1 can do moth
ing for you. shall telegraph to the
firm from Quebec and return to-mOr-
row.
The money said Louis slowly, may
be forthcoming by that time
so late repentance will hardly save
yOu,' sneered Wall. If it were not for
Freyteau 1 would order your arrest at
once
He turned irresolutely to Miss Page,
bowed, and without speaking left the
room, going Immediately down to the
little steamer which lay at the pier.
Hester went up to Louis You do
not defend yourself, she said, with a
queer chOkingin in her voice.
No
You did not even say that you were
not guiltyp'
Their eyes met. There was a long
silence. Noel put his hand up to his
mouth uncertainty.
4 can say nothing He turned
away
She stood still, her clear eyes follow
ing him, her unconscious fingers tear
ing the web she had netted bit by bit.
1t fell in heap on the Aoor. She came
to his side with little rush as Pere
Matthew entered the room.
Il will speak for you then, sliding
her hand into his arm. 'Ah, Father
congratulate us! Ihave accepted Mon
sieur Noel. l must announce our be-
trOthal. 1t is our custom in the
states
The good Father was shocked at her
want of decOrum. Her cheeks burned,
her eyes shone with soft brilliance.
Come, GOMEZ she cried We may yet
be in time to tell the news to our friend
James Wall. 1t will cheer him on his
Oyage.'
She almost dragged Louis down to
the garden which overlooked the pier,
on which a little crowd had gathered.
He held her back.
You shall not blast your life for mel
Why do you do thisp'
Because / love you,' she sobbed.
At that instant Wall, stepping from
little bateau on to the deck Of the
steamer, looked up. He saw her cling
ing to NOel's arm; started and hastily
drew back; the bateau rocked. over
turned, and Wall with the Indian boat
man was struggling in the water. The
Indian, who swan like fish, easily
gained the land, but Wall was washed
a helpless lump under the steamer, and
then drifted down into the black resist
less current of the Saguenay.
Hester was gentle creature, but she
certainly did remember at that moment
that the drowning man was the only
witness against Noel. On the con-
trary, Louis in an instant was his old
self, frantic with excitement, shouting,
kicking off his boots.
Where are you goingp' she said sharp
| ly.
why, Wall cannot swim,' he cried,
plunging into the rushing food. Both
men disappeared in the night. The
whole village gathered on the pier,
crying, swearing, talking at once, Pere
Matthew ordered out boats and went
in one himself, which presently brought
both men ashore Louis was conscious
and staggered to his feet They laid
Walls heavy body under the trees and
stood about it with their lanterns,
while Pere Matthieu drew off his coat
and put his ear to his breast.
He is alive, he said. Garry him
But Hester's keen eyes saw what no
one else did. She swOOped down on
the prostrate body like white bird on
its prey. 'StOpp she cried wildly, draw
ing something from his breast. Take
witness all of you that 1 take this from
him. 1t is a package marked Louis
Noel. Five thousand pounds Oh,
Louisl Louisp
Noel put his arm round her and led
her away. Her passionate love filled
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