Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-07-31
A FAIR USURER.
After Gaining the Baron's Fortune
She Claimed the Baron.

Young Baron Paul de Brantel, pale
and agitated. entered his cosy bache-
lor apartments in the Rue Tatbout,
threw his hat on the sofa, pulled off
his gloves, and examined some papers
which lay on a table. These were
tradesmen's bills and dunning letters.
A bitter smile played about his lips as
he murmured
when the stag is at bay all the
dogs rush upon him. 1t is the way Of
the world"
He pulled the bell-rope imp atiently.
The summons was answered. by a
white-haired servant, whose face pre-
sented the impassivc, almost enig-
NAUTICAL gravity peculiar to domestics
employed in old families.
Pierre" said the Baron, shave you
been to see M. Alcide Dantierp"
"Yes, monsieur. He said that it
was impossible for him to come, as he
is to start on journey this evening"
"And M. DeslogesP"
HE said that he was short of
money and that he regretted much
that he was unable to oblige YOU"
"And Comte d'AutrinP He could
hardly offer such an excuse"
81 was told that he was away from
home"
They are all alike. One has plenty
of friends in prosperity, solitude in
adversely. Did the tradesmen's replies
vary MS muchp"
mo, monsieur; they were unani-
nous in declaring that they could not
wait"
"But you told them that they would
be paid in fullp"
IL have carried out your instruc-
tions, monsieur"
THAT is we'll. They shall be paid;
not one OF them shall lose a cent"
AS his master ceased speaking to
him Pierre retired.
The Baron. left to hiNself, again ran
over the papers which lay before him.
Besides the bills there were memo
randa Of mortgages and other bust
ness documents of different kinds
which testified with brutal eloquence
to his irretrievable ruin.
The Baron was twenty-five years of
age and three years had elapsed since
he had received his paternal inherit
ance-years of dissipation, during
which he had spent money recklessly,
au nh cd ~ i,,~ 4
BILE purse. Young, handsome, the
bearer Of a name we'll known among
the noble families OF France, he had
friends without number who sought
his companionship in their pleasures,
and now he was brought face to face
with the somber reality and knew that
when his debts were paid he would be
as poor as Job.
In answer to second summons
Pierre presented himself before his
master.
Pierre" said Paul de Brantel,
''you know my situationp"
Yes, monsieur, you are ruined. It
was, unhappily, easy to see that such
would be the end"
III you foresaw 1t why did you
make no effort to oppose my folliesp"
Eat my first suggestion you gave
me to understand that IL was your az
fair. II / had insisted you would
have sent me away. l gave your
father solemn promise never to leave
you; i have keptit."
The Baron knew he had only him
sell to blame for the position in which
he found himself. At last he said:
II was ignorant of business matter
as child. When l needed money IL
was you l intrusted to produce it for
me. Why have you, who had the ex-
perience which / lacked, accepted the
usurious conditions which have been
imposed on meP"
III know, indeed. that the conditions
were exorbitant. but also knew that
young noblemen who were not willing
TO regulate their wants according TO
their resources are forced to submit to
the terms OF the usurors. IL was
necessary for you to have money at any
cost; procured It for you"
And you have delivered me into
the clutcans OF 'hc pitiless Shylocks
simply because you did not wish to be
Sc" rated from me?"
,cs, monsieur"
And has not your intelligence seen
that n ruined master is not able TO
keep a servantp"
THAT view OF the case may apply
TO otherl, not 70 you and me. / am
bound by the promise ! made your
father"
II see that you arc obstinate and
tNat you have ready answer for all
my questions. There is, however. one
thing OF which you have not thought
tho possibility OF my taking "a fancy
to put a bullet into my brain"
III have never feared that extrem-
ity."
"You probably think have not the
courage TO do IL.
''On the contrary, have thought
that II you were tempted TO commit
such q cowardly act all that would be