The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-19
THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN
Translated from the French by Alfred Roland
Haven.

amined some papers which lay on 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 impatiently.
The summons was answered by a white
haired servant, whose face presented the
impasSiye, almost enigmatical gravity pc
culiar to domestics employed in old fami-
lies
Pierre" said the baron, "have you
been to see NJ. Alcide Dantier?"
eyes, monsieur. He said that 1t was
impossible for him to come, as he is to
start on journey this evening"
"And NJ. Desloges?"
''He said that he was short of money
and that he regretted much that he was
unable to oblige you"
"And Comte d'Autrin? He could
hardly offer such an excuse"
81 was told he was away from home"
''They are all alike. One has plenty Of
friends in prosperity, solitude in advers-
ity. Did the tradesmen's replies vary as
much ?'
''No, monsieur they were unanimous in
declaring that they could not wait
''But you told them that they would be
paid in full?"
~ have carried out your instructions,
monsieur
THAT is well. 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 himself, again ran
over the papers which lay before him.
Besides the bills there were memoranda
of mortgages and other business docu-
ments OF different kinds which testified
with brutal eloquence to his irretrievable
ruin.
The baron was twenty-five years OF age,
and only three years had elapsed since he
had received his paternal inheritance
years OF foolish dissipation, during which
he had spent money recklessly, as though
possessed of an ineXhaustble purse.
Young, handsome, the bearer OF a name
well known among the noble families OF
France, he had friends without number
who sought his companionship in their
pleasures, and now be was brought face
to face with the somber reality and knew
that when his debts were paid he would
be as poor as Job.
His melancholy thoughts turned to the
old manor of Brantel. In this home,
which had been in the family for many
generations, his childhood was passed.
There he had grown up under the watch
II = - g.
ample of al the virtues and whose men,
ory was still fresh IN the country round
about where she had dispensed charity
with wisdom. He remembered well the
winter day when he followed her dead
body to the village graveyard.
He could see himself seated at the fam
lily table, face to face with his father a
heroic soldier, austere in manner, severe
TO himself as to others, who instllled In
his son the principles of an infexible
morality. He recalled all the scenes of
that patriarchal life, which now seemed
to him an existence of poetic serenity.
And in thought he saw the old terrace
from which one could see the distant hori-
zon, the garden which descended to the
bank OF a stream, in which he used to an
gle for trout, the beech trees of the forest,
whose shade he used 70 seek on summer
days. At the turning OF a walk he saw
the sweet and smiling face of beautiful
girl, whose voice seemed to him to pos
sess wondrous charm; he saw her blush
when his mother made discreet illusions
to her hopes for the future. That dream
was broken, and the young man, rejoicing
in his independence, babe adieu to the
tranquil life of the old manor. Then
came the feverish passions of youth, dis
sipation following dissipation. and nights
without sleep. At last he exclaimed
"oh if could begin my life again."
Sorrow and regret had overtaken him,
not tie cowardly Encouragement which
renders defeat irretrievable. He was one
responsibility of their errors and who
find in themselves the strength with
which to regain their lost ground. One
thing, however, surprised him, and that
was his old servants easy acduiescence in
ali his caprices. Pierre had been for years
in the service OF his father, to whom he
had shown answering devotion. Why,
thought the young baron, had he made
no effort to arrest him in his fatal course?
In answer to a second summons Pierre
presented himself before his master.
pierre" said Paul de Brantel, you
know my situation"
Eyes, monsieur, you are ruined. 1t
was, unhappily, easy to see that such
would be the end"
eff you foresaw it, why did you make
no effort to oppose my follies?"
At my first suggestion you gave me to
understand that it was your affair. II /
had insisted, you would have sent me
away. / gave your father solemn prom
Use never to leave you. Ihave kept it."
The baron knew that he had only him
self to blame for the position in which he
found himself. At last he said:
Il was as ignorant of business matters
as a child. When / needed money it was
YOU | intrusted to procure it for me. Why
have you, who had the experience which
/ lacked, accepted the usurious conditions
which have been imposed upon me?"
81 knew, indeed, that the conditions
were exorbitant, but | also knew that
poung noblemen who are not willing to
regulate their wants according to their re-
sources are forced TO submit to the terms
of the usurers. 1t was necessary for you
to have money at any cost, so procured
il for you"
And YOU have delivered me into the
clutches of these pitiless Shylocks simply
because you did not wish to be separated
from me?"
eyes, monsieur"
"And has not your intelligence seen
that ruined master is not able to keep a
servant"
THAT view of the case may apply to
others not To Won and me- i am hound