The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-08-23

M1uuy 3 1dTcWGll ne WQOlc thing
was unexplainable. Then his own past
the life of wifeless man Of the
world-how would the jury of hard
working men view that? They had
families and no temptations, and he
was rich and had enemies. 1t was So
cial and political death to him.. and he
krsy as !. SIT b ia =. !. ;S5!t
write. .
A week later DR.. John came il,
1nere was no need OF telling MIN. He
had met De Restaud, and had come to
see what Oliver would do.
II have not written her." said Oliver,
awkwardly, except a little note
thanking her for her letter. l shall
not write what he wanted"
II have, though" said DR.. John;
.sboth to Mrs. Minny and her aunt. The
Frenchman cannot trouble them long.
and after year or so Mrs. Minny will
be Partisan. All / know of Paris
and life there. is from novels. Cad,
think if they are true Mrs. Minny will
be quite at home in France. She likes
things different, you know"
II should be a coward to advise her
In this matter" cried Oliver. II shall
have nothing to do with it"
However, after an hours talk with
his sensible old friend he changed his
mind and wrote severely formal let
ter to Mrs. de Restaud, advising her to
return to her husband. Her answer
was a piteous appeal. What did he
mean? After all that had happened,
did he think she should trust herself
with man who everyone said was
crazy. DR.. John read and shook his
head. ''She won't come" he said;
"but you keep on writing, for the
Frenchman means what he says. I
see him often as he comes to my office.
She need not say three words to him,
and her aunt can be with her always
until she is safe at his fathers"
This was duly written, but the an
swers both from Miss Patten and her
niece were unsatisfactory until few
days before the time set by De Restaud.
Oliver, maddened by her disregard of
his warning, for he learned De
Restaud had his lawyer engaged and
the case would be presented, tele-
graphed her: Are you coming or not?
beg you will come at once. We can
not face the consequences" He felt
like coward, but what else could he
do? Fight with mailman in court
| room? It was horrible. The answer
came promptly from Mrs. de Restaud;
she would start at once.
Oliver took the telegram and went to
find De Restaud. The suit for divorce
must be stopped. He had done his
part, and there was no need for further
anxiety. He drove to DR.. Johns Of
| fee, but the doctor was up in the
mountains attending case, and would
not be back for day or two. He knew
where De Restaud lived-a furnished
| house he had hired for few months
and he drove there. After some delay,
Annette, more corpulent than ever,
opened the door in response to his
ring. She seemed worried and timor-
Gus in her manner, and looked at him
blankly as he asked her in English If
monsieur was at home. Then Oliver
remembered. and tried in imperfect
French. She frightened up.
| O'No, monsieur" she said, eagerly;
''he is seldom here; and Louis is al
ways away. I like the farm better. I
am alone always, always. Monsieur is
so bad, too-oh, dreadful! even Louis
is afraid of him"
Oliver hesitated. The poorssoul was
even friendly, she was SO lonely. Per
haps she was not bad-hearted.
do you think it would be safe for
madame to return?" he asked, slow
", recalling each word from an i'm
perfect memory. He repeated it, as she
did not comprehend; then her manner
changed.
"Oh, monsieur" she cried, in horror,
''nev9f, never! He has said he will
kill her. He walks all night, some
times, and raves about her, and looks
so dreadful Louis said he did not like
madame, but for the generals sake,
she must keep away from monsieur.
There would be a crime; and the De
Restauds are so proud. think mon
sieur is quite mad now; and he is so
thin; he eats nothing, and some nights
there are two men to hold him, he
sees such things. did not like
madame, she was not French lady,
but wish my worst enemy no such
fate as to be here"
"You knew" said Oliver, ''there was
a baby, little boy?''
eyes, monsieur, and am thankful
Madame may have a good heart; she
loved the little dog. think she would
do right to go to France-to the general;
he is grand man. and now there is
no one of the name; little Alphonse in
Paris is dead, and his beautiful mother
is dying of grief, they write u.s."
Oliver slipped a dollar in the WON
ans fat hand. ''You are good soul"
he said, kindly. II trust some day you
will be back in France and have a
farm of your own"
Thanks. monsieur-and the beauti-
full poultry had such comfort with in
the mountains; it was better there"
He heard the bolts rattle behind him
as he went to the waiting carriage.
The poor soul was almost q prisoner
from her fears. What should he do9
Mrs. Minny had started, and he could