Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-03
TAR: WASHINGTON,

There was just one little formality to be COM
| piled with. Large sums of money would pass
| through the young mans hands. and naturally
the syndicate would require a guarantee-that
| Is, some one would have to be security for him
for the sum of 100. 900 francs.
| There was no difficulty about that. 1t was a
mere matter Of form. His father and NJ. Ho-
| gard would be security for the amount between
them. That matter being duly arranged Claude
busted himself in preparations for his depar-
ture, and in the excitement of getting every
| thing ready for her son Madame ID Argiyal al
most forgot her grief.
At last the day when the first adieu was to be
spoken arrived. 1t was the first time in their
lives that mother and son had been separated
for more than few hours. Claude had deter
mined to be brave for his mothers sake, but
when they stood on the platform and the guard
going" he broke down, and he flung his
arms around his mothers neck he cried like q
child. The old lady broke down at that, you
may be sure, and then Monsieur D'Argival be-
gan to cry, too, and the guard, who stood with
the door open waiting for Claude to get into
the carriage, was SO moved by their grief that
he told another guard afterward that if it
hadn't been that they were a minute behind
time nd the station masters eye was on him he
should Fave had to shed a tear himself.
Claude put his head out Of the window and
waved his handkerchief as the train moved
slowly out Of the station then he sat back in
the carriage and wiped his eyes and thought his
| heart would break. But by the time he got to
Dover the excitement of this great and mar
velous change in his life had begun to Danish
all other thoughts, and when he landed at
Calais he had forgotten the past and was dream
| ing dreams Of the future
But the poor old couple went home sorrow
| fully together, and that night it seemed to
| them that q great darkness had fallen on their
home. and the light had faded out of their lives
forever.
Two years went by, and during that two
years Claude came homo twice. The DAT
givals had lived long enough in England to
| acquire few English customs, and they had
come to look upon Christmas as their English
neighbors did and to treat it as the festival Of
home. 1t was Christmas time that Claude
chose for his home coming His letters wore
always very afectionate and very hopeful The
concern was going well-not SO well as had been
| hoped but still money was being made. The
working showed small profit, and the syndi-
cate believed that with time complete success
| would result They we're satisfied with Claude,
and were convinced that he was clerer and
| that the disappointment was not due to him.
The first time Claude returned his mother
quick eye detected many changes in him. He
| looked older-more thoughtful and serious, and
there was worried look in his eyes that
shocked her.
|
| the house were very great, and NJ. Hogard bore
him OUT and his mother had to be satisfied.
The second time that he came he had
| grown careworn, and his father was alarmed.
He looked perfectly Ill. But the mother was
spared the pain Of seeing the alteration in her
sons face. The first great grief of their life
had been the parting with their son; the second
great grief had now come upon them. Madame
| ID Argival had complained for some time OF her
sight. She had at last consulted oculist an d
he had told her the truth. There was danger Of
her going blind. The oculist told the old lady
that there was danger-he told her husband
that there was certainty. 1t was but ques-
ton Of time.
| Poor old NJ. D'Argival was broken hearted
when he knew the worst, and he cried out
against the cruel fate which threatened to
darken the world to his dear old wife in her last
years. He lived to see the Wonderful hand of
God even in this terrible affection.
| When Claude d Argival came home for the
second Christmas his mother could scarcely
see him. Her sight fading fast. But like
the brave old lady that she was she would not
let her affection make others unhappy. She
was bright and cheerful as ever. and, holding
| her dear sons hand in hers, when they were
alone, che told HIM that she forgot all else in
her gratitude for his love and in her pride at
| his success.
Old Monsieur D'Argival, however, was very
much upset by Claudes haggard and careworn
look. He asked his anxiously if there were
any troubles on his mind.
Claude answered him that there were not
and attributed his health to overwork and the
responsibility Of the big business in Paris,
which made such slow Roadway.
Il think the worst is over now" he said, try
ing to reassure his father. 1.-The prospect is
| brighter than it has ever been, and IL things
| only mend little therell be no more talk Of
winding the affair up
winding it up!' exclaimed his father; "has
| II come to that?"
'well, the directors have been talking about
| it. They don't take such a hopeful view Of
matters as do, and this year there is likely to
| be big opposition to us-an opposition with
more capital The directors say it will be bet
| ter to wind up now and save the capital"
This was u revelation to the old man and ex-
| planned to him his sons anxiety.
'Never mind, Claude" he said, ''if you lose
this situation you can always come home. my
boy. Thank God, there is enough for us all
| Claude gripped his father hand silently and
| no more was said on the subject. In two DAYS
! he bads his parents farewell and went back to
Paris.
| And now the truth must be told. Claude had
| not told 1t to his father, and not even the di-
| rectors suspected 1t.
Brought up in q home atmosphere, rarely
| away from his mother, the young man had not
had proper training to enable him success
| fully to encounter the temptations OF life.
| In Paris he was his own master, and he was
| thrown on his own resources. 1t was all q new
world to him. and he did as hundreds Of young
| men in a similar situation have done-he be-
| came the easy prey Of the first fair temptress
| who crossed his path.
He fell madly in love with beautiful adven-
| turess well-known in the Paris half-world A
| girl who had been in the chorus Of an Opera
| Bouffe theater, and who. when Claude met her.
was the mistress of an old stockbroker.
| Claude was handsome young fellow, and
Anastasia La Doux, generally known as La Belle
Bordelaise was rather proud of her conquesh
| She fooled the young man to the top of his bent
and soon had him at her mercy. Her protector
| soon after falling victim to Misrepresentation,
Anastasia found herself free from incumbrance
and listened readily to Claude's proposition that
she should allow him to como to the rescue and
| present her with new home.
1t was the old story-the young man fell CON-
pletely into the power Of the siren, and her
word became his law. To crafty her extrava-
CANT habits he sacrificed everything but honor,
and at last, when it became question of her
leaving him unless he found means to surround
her with greater luxuries, he sacrificed honor,
too. He made use Of money which was at his
cOmmand-the money belonging to his employ
ers. He began by embezzling q small sum- and
then went on until he was involved to the ex-
tent Of many hundreds Of pounds, and had to
resort to various articles in order to conceal
his delinquencies.
| los tba L.