The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-25

tearing nelr way INTO MS very fltdS' 40,
AS quickly and gently as possible, the
wounded man was placed upon an lmpro-
yised stretcher and borne into the house.
Even a cursory examination caused the
surgeon to shake his head dIstrusluIl}y va, as
he turned toward Cesar, who sat soDplnS
by his fathers bedside.
MY poor boy" he murmured, 1t looks
bad"
But after the wound had been dressed
Hautot opened his eyes and gaze9 inqui a3
ingly from one face to another rs IL 10 col-
lect his scattered thoughts. ,
"Egad! it's all up with me-" he whispered:
"Oh no." replied the physician, VINO sa az
with his fingers on the mans pulse, ,not 50
bad as that. A few days rest Is all Sou
mo. no." came from Hautot, don't try
TO deceive me. / tell you I'm done for;
Where's Cesar? want to speak TO nun M, /!
have time All my Gb poor Poy Snd dT now YOU
others. leave US alone for few minutes,
Every one passed out of the room. and
father and son with joined handS rlVeIeu
their eyes upon each others lace
There was a moment OF silence, so deep
and awful that an attentive ear might have
caught the rustic of deaths pinlons Ill the
chamber
Listen, my son; you are not quite "a
wears old rather young perhaps for me to
make a confidant of, but this thing has
struck me SO suddenly that | have no time
to look elsewhere, besides you are so noble
so tender, so faithful that feel / may trust
you, my boy. You know your mother died
seven years ago. leaving me widower at
40, rather young man not to marry again.
But Tor some reason your mother on her
deathbed eXacted solemn promise that l
should not take another wife. Rather than
disturb the serenity OF her last moments |
gave the promise, although | had married
very young, for l had always felt that | was
not one OF those men made to live alone.
You know. my dear boy. what a wilderness
this great house became after her death, eS-
pecially as you had already entered college.
Well about q year after your mothers
death, l met a Mile. Donet at R0uen. She
was girl OF so many good points, not beau
tiful You know, but so steady and lovable,
SO admirably fitted to bless a mans life,
that l fell in love with her, and her devo-
ton to me has never wavered a hairs
breadth or tagged for an instant. And
now that this sudden and violent ending
is to he set to my life that I'm 10 be
denied even the satisfaction of seeing her
before l 60, my heart and soul yearn TO
break the terrible force Of the blow which
my death will deal the poor child. | want
TO provide for her, TO put her in position
in which she will be made absolutely com
Portable for life. Do you understand me-
my son?"
- Yes, father" murmured Cesar Hautot.
Have no misgiyings, my boy con-
tjnued the dying man, as his breast heaved
cOuVulSlVelY; " she Is an honest woman and
had it not been for the promise which your
mother eXaCted from me and" here
Hautot's voice grew thick and Cesar almost
feared that a mercieSS fate would close his
fathers lips ere they had made known his
dying wishes. " had it not been for you
whose devotion to your mothers memory
| knew TO be so like religious faith |
should have married her and brought her
here. under this very roof, as the mistress
Of this mansion. Listen, listen, my boy, |
might have made Will, but lave not done
so. | didn't want to. Its all yours. |
don't love the world any too well. | didn't
want to crafty il by making known even
the name of Mile. Donet. You understand
me perfectly, don't you, my dear boy?'
Il do, father. do, perfectly" was Ce-
sar's reply in tone SO impressive that a faint
smile ran over the dying mans face, now
chalky white and terribly drawn.
thanks, thanks, my beloved son." re-
sumed HautOt. ~ our words, your eyes
touch my very soul. strange and almost
blssful feeling of contentment is stealing
over me. 1 know what it means. l must
make haste felt that there was no neceS-
sity of a will. | knew that | could trust
yon and so l determined to wait and some
day make full confession to you. You
have never failed me. why should you now?
Aud You Will not either, will you, my son?"
No, dear father" exclaimed Cesar; your
W shes shall be sacred to NE. I'll be your
other self"
ION. how sweet those words to me.
Cesar" replied Hautot- "Ah, YES, her name
IS Caroline Donet, Is Rue de PEperlan, third
ilOOr, second door. Don't forget and
listen: Go there Immediately after my death
and arrange things so that She Will nave no
cause 10 think otherwise than kindly of me.
on know give you all. There's plenty
OF 1t. Listen, my son, During the week she
IS not always hOme-She's il business. /
tried to make her give II uD long ago, but il
was useless to argue with her. Her partner
Is Nine. Moreau, Rue Beauvoisine. Go TO
see her on Ihursday-thats the day l
always 60. Poor little girl, it will break her
heart Be good, be kind to her; don't let
her cry too much. I'm ready to 90 now, my
son, since I've told you these things. How
fortunate l am 10 have you By nv side at
such moment, my dear boy, for these are
things which one doesn't tell every one, not
even 10 the family notary or the village
priest. Give me your sacred word. Cesar,
that YOU viii comply with nay wishes"
ca have 1t, father, whispered Cesar in
his fathers ear, for it was plain that the
wounded man was sinking rapidly. My
sacred word that l will provide for Mile.
DOuet."
"Oh, how thankful am to you, my dear
bow" murmured Hautot. That's right,
you always were so good and noble, but go
yourself, Cesar, 90 yourself; don't send any
messengers to that sacred little home. You
will do as | ask, Cesar?"
Yes, dear father, exactly as you ask"
was the young mans reply.
Then Pm content" answered HautOt
with SO deep drawn sigh that. 1t seemed
almost to use uD all the breath left within
his body. GIVE me a farewell kiss, my
son. Remember Caroline! Now cali them
ill.,"
Cesar sank upon his knees rs the priest
and his attendants filed into the room.
There was a moment of silence, so deep and
solemn that even the low and softly spoken
words of the priest Jared upon young HUI
tots ears.
1t was too late for earthly forgiveness, if
that was needed. Although Gaspard Hau-
tots soul had not yet taken fight, still the
very moment he had finished his charge to
his son, the agony of death was over and a
strangely calm and peaceful expression
spread over his features The holy man of
God was powerless To draw from those
bloodless lips any signs Of Consciousness
GaSpard HautOt's confession had been made
and the sacred offices of the church went on
to their end. apparently unheard save by
those gathered around the bed.
AT midnight the physician announced in
low voice that all was over.
CHAPTER ILL
1t was on Tuesday night that Cesar
NN