Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-20
THE PERIL OF
RICH ARD PARDON.
BY B. L. FARJEON,
Author of "Great Porter Square" "G1tt,"
"Bldde-o- Grass The Nine of
Hearts," "DeUIjn the
Barber" Etc.
BY B. L. FARJEON,

As she held my hand to her lips she was
seized with sudden faintness, and would
have fallen to the ground had / not sup
ported her in my arms.
What was it that glided past us2 A
shadow, or the form Of a man, who, with
his eyes turned upon Us for one brief mo-
ment, sped swiftly on, and was gone!
What was thaL?" asked Mdlle Rosalie,
in whisper, clinging closer to me in af-
fright
Il do not know" answered, in the
same key: and truly did not. 1t was like
spiritual Requirement.
1T must have been fancy" said Mdlle.
Rosalie. "a shadow-an apparitionl Yes,
yes-seer'
A slight wind had risen, and the branches
of the trees, gently swaying, cast shadows
around, which heated imagination could
easily have transformed into the shapes
and forms of living creatures. | breathed
more freely; what had seen could have
been nothing but freak of fancy.
1T is time that we should part, made
moiselle," said, coldly at would have
been better had you spoken to me in day
light"
ct should not have had the courage"
she said. You must not leave me till
you hear who this man is who is falsely
represented as my lover. | feel that you
are not alone in this belief; / feel that an
other shares it,"
Yes | said, thinking of Samuel Fleet
wood, my belief is shared by another"
'Will you tell me who that other ISL"
mo; do not think I have the right"
'At least, SIR" she pleaded mournfully,
"you will tell me whether it is a man or a
woman who traduces me?'
did not wish her to believe that it was
my wife or Eunice, and therefore replied,
81 will tell you so much, and no more; it
was a man"
''Will You see this man again, sir?''
Il shall see him, almost to a certainty,
tomorrow"
''Tell him, then, sir, from me, that the
person he suspects is my lover, and whom
you saw me embracing this afternoon, is
my brother"
''Your brother! 1t is simple, natural
explanation; but what reason was there
for secrecy, for concealment?"
Il was fearful of giving you grounds to
suppose that / had deceived you, sir.
did deceive you, but it was an uncon-
scious, an innocent deceit. When you
first received me in your house / said
was an orphan, without a relative in the
world. Indeed, indeed, sir, believed that
to be the unhappy truth. My parents were
dead and the only brother had was killed
on the ramparts when the Germans be-
sieged Paris. He was but lad at the
time, and when they told me he was dead
had no reason to doubt them. But in
stead of having been killed, he was only
wounded and taken prisoner; and when he
was released he went to America, intend
ing to make his fortune there, and return
and throw it in my lap. He wrote to me,
but | did not receive his letters. In Amer
lea he was unfortunate. Trustful by ma
ture he was robbed and deceived; and
without penny in his pocket, he made
his way to England little dreaming that
was in this country. His sad wanderings,
directed by Fate, brought him here-here
where | had the happiness of finding a
home and sympathizing friends. We met
by accident; my establishment was great;
it was rs if he had risen from the grave.
What was | to do? l had solemnly as
sured your good wife and daughter that |
was utterly, entirely friendlesS, and
through them You believed this to be So
If now informed you to the contrary l
might be prOclaiming my own death war
rant You might have said, 'Mademoi-
selle Resale has practiced treachery to-
wards us; she presented herself to us in a
false light, and therefore she is unworthy
Of our confidence; she shall be dismissed
| was SO narrowed by the fear of losing
this happy home, in which, after all my
troubles, / had fOu20 peace and rest, that
had not the courage to undeceive you:
but after what you have witnessed, sir,
this afternoon, could no longer remain
silent. My honor, my good name. was at
stake, and it must be vindicated-fOr what
else have | left to nerve and support me
In the trials | may yet have to endure? L
could not wait till tomorrow. About to
seek my couch, I saw you from my bed
room window, and, blessing the chance,
] hurried down to make my confession.
Forgive me, sir, forgive mel and assure
me that have regained my place in your
esteem. Tell me yon do not despise me-"
IF your story is true" | said, and
would have proceeded had she not inter
rupted me.
If, sir, If! Is it possible that you can
doubt me still? / swear, upon Ely knees
swear, have spoken truly"
you are to be pitied," said, mot de-
spised." | saw no reason to doubt her
further. Two angels, my wife and daugh-
ter, had full faith in her; why should not
II In what she had related there was not
a flaw, there was nothing contrary to rea-
son or opposed to the ordinary course of
human motives
''Say that you pardon me, sir" she
pleaded, land give me your hand as a
token of forgiveness" l gave her my
hand, and she murmured, 81 am happy-I
am happyr'
The window of my wife's bedroom was
thrown open, and, by the aid of the light
within the chamber, | saw the figure of
my wife, clad in white. looking out upon
the grounds. I had been absent longer
than she expected, and she was anxious
about me.
"Richardr' she softly called; her voice
was low and sweet, and fell distinctly upon
my ears.
"Hushr' whispered Mdlle. Rosalie,
crouching behind me. ''Do not speak-do
not move! She must not see mer'
1t was perhaps foolish on my part to
obey her, but was dimly conscious that
an injurious construction might be placed
upon the circumstance of Mdlle. RoSalie
and l being together at that time of night
therefore l held my tongue. For a space
of nearly minute my wife stood at the
window, and for that space neither Mdlle
Rosalie nor l moved or spoke, she stand
ing behind me, and clasping me, as if fol
protection. Then the window was gently
closed, and the blind let down.
II am safe!" whispered Mdlle. ROSalie
kissing my hand hUmbly and gratefully
"You will not betray me-you will keeI
my secret?"
at should be told,' said, ''to my wife