San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-06-02
The Treasure Of Franchrd.
By ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.


.,ow, marn me, uney nave never been found
In the reign of Louis Quatorze some fellows
were digging hard by the ruins. Suddenly
tock!-the spade hit upon an obstacle.
Imagine the men looking one to another;
imagine how their hearts bounded, how their
color came and went. 1t was a Golfer, and,
in Franchard, the place Of buried treasure!
They tore it open like famished beasts. Alasl
it was not the treasure; only some priestly
robes, which, at the touch of the eating air,
fell upon themselves and instantly wasted in
to dust The perspiration of these good fell
lows turned cold upon them, Jean-Marie.
will pledge my reputation, if there was any
thing like cutting wind, one or other had a
pneumonia for his trouble.
~ should like to have seen them turning
into DUST" said Jean-Marie. "Otherwise
should not have cared so greatly"
"You have no imagination" cried the doc
tor. "Pcture to yourself the scene Dwell
on the idea-a great treasure lying in the
earth for centuries; the material for giddy,
copious, opulent existence not employed
dresses and exquisite pictures unseen; the
swiftest galloping horses not stirring hoof,
arrested by spell; women with the beautiful
opera singing, orchestras, castles, beautiful
parks and gardens, big ships with tower of
sail cloth, all lying unborn in a coffin-and
the stupid trees growing overhead in the sum
light, year after year. The thought drives
one frantic"
ST is only money" replied Jean-Marie.
"It would do harm"
"Oh comet" cried Desprez, "that is philoso-
- =, all, I,,% 30 h.
just now. And, besides, it is not only
money! as you call it; there are works of art
in the question; the vessels were carved You
speak like child. You weary me exceed
ingly, quoting my words out of all logical
connection, like paroquet"
"And at any rate, we have nothing to do
with it," returned the boy submissively.
They struck the Route Ronde at that mo-
ment; and the sudden change to the rafting
causeway combined, with the doctors irrita-
ton, to keep him silent. The noddy jigged
along; the trees went by, looking on silently,
As if they had something on their minds. The
Quadrilateral was passed; then came Fran
chard They put up the horse at the little
solitary inn and went forth strolling. The
gorge was dyed deeply with heather; the
rocks and birches standing luminous in the
sun. A great humming of bees about the
flowers disposed Jean Marie to sleep, and he
sat down against a clump of heather, while
the doctor went briskly to and fro, with
quick turns culling his smples.
The boys head had fallen a little forward,
his eyes were closed, his fingers had fallen
lax about his knees, when a sudden cry called
him to his feet 1t was a strange sound thin
and brief; it fell dead, and silence returned
as though it had never been interrupted. He
had not recognized the doctors voice; but, as
there was no one else in all the valley, it was
plainly the doctor who had given utterance
to the sound. He looked right and left, and
there was DespreZ, standing in a niche be-
tween two powders, and looking round on
his adopted son with a countenance as white
as paper.
"a viperl" cried Jean-Marie, running to-
ward him. "a viper! You are bitten!"
The doctor came down heavily out of the
cleft, and advanced in silence to meet the
boy, whom he took roughly by the shoulder.
"Ihave found it," he said, with gasp.
"a plant!" asked Jean-M Marie.
Desprez had a fit of unnatural gayety,
which the rocks took upand mimicked. "a
plant" he repeated scornfully. "Well-yes
"a plant. And here" he added, suddenly,
showing his right hand, which he had
hitherto concealed behind his back-"here is
one of the bulbs"
Jean-Marie saw a dirty platter, coated
with earth.
"That" said he. "It is platew
SIT is a coach and horses" cried the
doctor. boy" he continued, growing
warmer, 81 plucked away a great pad of
moss from hatween these hOwlderS and dis
closed crevice; and when l looked in, what
do you suppose l saw? saw house in
Paris with a court and garden, saw my
wife shining with diamonds, saw myself
deputy, l saw you-well, II saw your
future" he concluded, rather feebly. 81 have
just discovered America" he added.
But what is itp asked the boy
"The Treasure of Franchard," cried the
doctor; and throwing his brown straw hat
= |tt;::IjIt4E@hn 1