San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-05-31
The Treasure Of Franchard.
By ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

mgr he pursued.
Jean Marie, after long silence, professed
that he hardly knew.
''You hardly known repeated Desprez
ave hardly know anything, my man, until
we try to learn. Interrogate your conscious
ness. Come, push me this inquiry home.
Do you like it,"
EYES, said the boy slowly; Eyes, I like it. {"
Sand why do you like itfn continued the
doctor "NVe are now pursuing the Socratic
method.) Why do you like itg'
at is quiet" answered Jean-Marie; land
have nothing to do; and then I feel as II
were good"
Dr. Desprez took seat on the post at the
opposite side. He was beginning to take an
interest in the talk, for the boy plainly
thought before he spoke, and tried to answer
truly. at appears you have taste for feel
ing good said the doctor. "Now, there you
puzzle me extremely, for thought you said
you were q thief; and the two are incom-
patible."
ais it very bad to stealf' asked JEAN Marie
"Such is the general opinion, little boy"
replied the doctor.
"No! but mean ss STOLE" exclaimed the
other. "For had no choice think it is
surely right to have bread; 1t must be
right to have bread, there comes SO
plain want of it. And then they beat me
cruelty if returned with nothing" he added.
81 was not ignorant of right and wrong; for
before that 1 had been well taught by a
priest, who was very kind to me-" The doc
tor made horrible grimace at the word
"priest.m "But it seemed to me, when one
had nothing to eat and was beaten, it was a
different affair. would not have stolen for
tartlets, believe; but any one would steal
for bakers bread"
"And 50 suppose" said the doctor, with
o rising sheer, you prayed God to forgive
you, and explained the case to him at length"
"Why, sirr' asked Jean-Marie. 81 do not
seer
"Your priest would see, however" retorted
Desprez.
"Would hes" asked the boy, troubled for
the first time. II should have thought God
would have known"
"Ehf' snarled the doctor.
81 should have thought God would have
understood me-" replied the other "You do
not, l see; but then it was God that made me
think so, was it notr'
"Little boy, little boy said DR.. Deprez, 81
told you already you had the vices of philos-
ophy; if you display the virtues also, must
go. l am student of the blessed laws of
health, an observer of plain and temperate
nature in her common walks; and l cannot
preserve my equanimity in presence Of q
monster. Do you understands"
mo, sir" said the boy
II will make my meaning clear to you"
replied the doctor. "Look there at the sky
behind the belfry first, where it is so light,
and then up and up, turning your chin
back, right to the top Of the dome, where it
is already as blue as at noon. Is not that a
beautiful color? Does it not please the heartl
We have seen it all our lives, until it has
grown in with our familiar thoughts. Now"
changing his tone, suppose that sky to be-
come suddenly of a live and fiery amber, like
the color of clear Goals, and growing scarlet
toward the top-I do not say it would be any
the less beautiful, but would you like it as
wellW
II suppose not" answered Jean-Marie.
Neither do / like you," returned the doc
tor, roughly. 81 hate all odd people, and
you are the most curious little boy in all the
world"
Jean-Marie seemed to ponder for awhile,
and then he raised bis head again and looked
over at the doctor with an air Of candid In
quiry
"But are not you very curious gentle
manr he asked.
The doctor threw away his stick, bounded
on the boy clasped him to his bosom and
kissed him on both checks.
admirable, admirable lnpr" he cried
H. g.
rist Of AZ! No." he continued, apostrophizing
heaven, ~ did not know taat such boys ex-
listed; was ignorant they made them so; 1
had doubted of my race; and now! 1t is
like" he added, picking up his stick, like a
lovers meeting. l hava bruised my favOrite
staff in that moment Of enthusiasm. The
injury, however, is noe grave" He caught
the boy looking at hun in obvious wonder,
embarrassment and alarm. "Hullo!" said
he, why do you look at me like thata Egad,
believe the boy despises me. Do you de-
spise me, boyr'
sob, no." replied Jean-Marie, seriously;
"only do not understand"
You must excuse me, sir" returned the
doctor, with gravity; 81 am still so young
Oh, hang him!" he added to himself And
he took his seat again and observed the boy
sardonically. "He has spoiled the quiet of
my morning." thought he. ~ shall be nerv-
Gus all day, and have a febricule when l
digest. Let me compose myself. And so he
dismissed his preoccupations by an effort of
the will which he had long practiced. and let
his soul roam abroad in the contemplation of
the morning. He inhaled the air, tasting it
critically as a connoisseur tastes vintage,
and prolonged the expiration with hypienie
gusto He counted the little fecks of cloud
along the sky. He followed the movements
of the birds round the church Concentrating