The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-20
TONY ROBEC.



Oh a nl,-nl ,...,.. LN.n them the little
household was cranped and ran In debt.
After little the child was weaned, grew
large and was sent daily TO the infant
school, and the mother, often unoccupicd,
was coquettish as OF old grew tired of her
homo and formed tho dangerous habit of
etrolling aimlessly about the streets. Can
you imagine them, the poor man, old
before his time, wornout with care and
work, and this thistledown OF 23, pretty
as Greuzcy
One night an coming home with his
boy, whom he had picked up in passing,
Tony Robec found letter on the mantei-
shelf When he opened the envelope, Glenn
entine's wedding ring fell out. In the
letter she said goodby TO him and to his
son and asked their forgiveness.
Oh, romantic citizens Of the jury, you
who always acquit the outraged husbands,
who, seeing scarlet, kill their wives, say
ing IL Is passional crime, how absurd
poor Tony must seem in your eyes, even
despicable! He felt more grief than anger.
He wept great deal and when Adrian
said where is mammaY Is she coming
home soon?" he passionately embraced his
son and replied, II don't know"
Clcmentine had fed In early May, and
In the July quarter Tony sold nearly all
his furniture 10 pay his debts and went 10
live In the Rue Delambre 1t was there
that he passed his days so quietly and
worthily with his little boy and that every
one took him for widowcr.
Late In September the workman received
letter from his wife, four incohercnt
pages OF despair, on which the ink was di-
luted with tears. Her protector, medical
student, had been gone five weeks on
vacation. He was visiting his family in
the south and had ceased q write or give
sign of life. She was abandoned, betrayed
I'm her turn, she who had betrayed, and
she repcnted, begged, implored mercy.
This hurt poor Tony cruelty but be reas-
sured, gentlemen Of the jury, and let the
poor man have your esteem moment. He
was proud and sent no word To the guilty
wife.
He did not hear from her again until
Christmas eve. On this day for several
years he had been i'm the habit of going
with his wife 20 lay tiny bouquet Of
frozen violets, with chilly rose among
them, on the grave of their little Felix,
the firstborn, whom they had buried at
Montparnasse.
For the first time Tony had TO make the
pilgrimage without her, accompanied only
by little Adrian and in crossing the cem-
etcry door under the leadcn winter sky he
suffered more than ever at the memory of
the fugitive.
"Where is she?" he thought. "What
has become of herY"
On reaching Felix's tomb he stopped,
surprised On the stone there were some
poor toys--a trumpet, jack in the box
and dog on string They seemed 10
have just been laid there, for they werc
new, evidently bought that day. "Ah
something to play With cried Adrian
joyously. And the father saw piece OF
paper pinned TO the toys, which he bent
over and picked up. 1t read:
For little Adrian, from his brother
Felix in heaven.
Suddenly the boy pressed close to him
and cried in fright, Mammal and there,
n few steps >,way, knceling by some
Expresses, he saw woman dressed in
poor, thin gown and shawl-oh, so pale
with bruised, sunken eyes and hands
clasped plcadingly.
Between you and me do not believe
that Tony Robec ever thought of him who
taught by word and example the pardon
Of injuries. Tony had no religion, but his
plebcan heart knew neither self love nor
rancor. After shudder caused less 10y
anger Mt the wrong done him than the
sight Of the miserable plight of this much
loved wife, he softly pushed the little boy
toward her.
Adrian, said he, "kiss your mother
She seized her child In desperate EN-
brace and frantically kissed his hair with
a moan of Joy. Then, rising and turning
on ner husband look that begged, she
murmurcd. Hey good you arep'
He came near her. and with parched
mouth said, almost harshly: "Do not
speak Take riy arm"
1t was net iGr from the cemetery to the
house. They walked rapidly Tony could
feel Clcmcntinu trcmblc. The child walked
with them. his mind full OF the toys The
JanitrcSs OF the house stood in the doorway.
Madame, said Tony this is my
wife, who has been in tho country six
months with her sick mother and who has
returned TO live with me- +"
On climbing the stairs Tony was obliged
TO support, almost carry, the poor crea-
turc, who WAS sobbing and half iainting
with JOY and emotion.
When they reached their apartment,
Tony made his wiie sit in the only arm
chair. Then ho opened Crawer, took
from httic box ClcEentine wedding
ring and placed it on her finger without
n rcproachiGl look or n bitter word about
tho past Then, silently, gravcly, with
surprising generosity of simple heart,
he kissed her forehead that she might bo
sure that he had forgiven her. Francois
COppee.
A German Wor Chest