Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-05-27
AN IDLE la WYER.

4 AN Idle LAW i lii.
Il was q capital hit and we'll delivered,
full between the eyes Il sent the recipi-1
<ent, gaudily dressed fop, spinning into
the gutter, much to the detriment Of his
fine apparel, and served him right for In
sulting an unprotected girl, whose hurried
steps and timid manner betrayed her IN.
easiness at being alone on the street at
such an hour. q ~
."WMl you not come in, sirf" said the
girl, stopping at the door Of plain look
ing house. "My father, am sure, will
wish to thank you for the kind service you
have rendered. He is an invalid, and it
was an errand to procure him some neces-
series that took me out tonight. -
Ned accepted the invitation, and that
was the beginning of his acquaintance
with M. Bertrand and bis, charming
daughter, Marie. >.- &
M. Bertrand was an old soldier of the
first empire, who, with the fall of bis
chief, had lost all, and, driven into exile
with his infant child. he had wandered
from country to country in the hope to
mend his fortune. Now his daughter and
himself had no other dependence than the
earnings of the former, who turned to the
best account she could her proficiency in
music by giving private lessons.
Ned would gladly have assisted his
friends from his own purse had he known
how to do so without giving ofense to the
proud old soldier.
"I've been thinking of wife for you,"
said Ned's uncle one morning as the two
sat together In the senicr's private Office.
$50 have l." replied Ned.
"Ahem!' returned the uncle. give
picked out one for you," he continued.
GIVE picked one out for myself" said
Ned, "that is, provided can obtain her
CONSENT"
"The deuce you have!'' exclaimed the
head of the firm, who had always regarded
the question as one within his own ex-
elusive jurisdiction.
There is no knowing to what pitch the
discussion would have reached but for the
entrance of two gentlemen who came to
consult Mr.. Banting, who was an attorney.
A Frenchman, stranger it seems, had
died suddenly while on visit to the city
some years before, leaving large sum of
money. One of the"tw gentlemen present
had been appointed trustee of the fund,
and the other claimed to be next of kin to
the deceased, whose cousin he asserted
him to be-
"The deceased spoke of having a BROTH
er," said the trustee, Sin search of whom
he was traveling.''
"Yes, his brother Antoine" said the
other, "who absoonded from this country
years ago and Of whose death have am
pie proofs. ri.
The papers were submitted to Mr.. Bant-
ing, who promised to examine them and
give his opinion next day, at which time,
II everything was regular, the money was
to be turned over to the claimant
1t wasn't often that Ned paid much at
tention to- the business Of the Office, but
the mention OF certain names during the
oolloquy caused him to prick up lis ears
while seemingly busy with the morning
paper, and five minutes later he was run.
ming at full speed to the house Of his
friends, the Bertrands -
At the appointed hour next morning the
same two gentlemen came to hear Mr..
Banting's decision. Ned, as before, had
the morning paper before him, but kept a
sharp ear turned.
"These papers appear to be all right"
nized them carefully and find nothing
wanting."
"Then 1t only remains to pay over the
money, suppose" said the heir expect
ant, rubbing his hands.
"Nothing MORE" replied Mr.. Banting.
The trustee produced. his accounts,
showing the sum on hand, which had been
largely enhanced by accruing interest, and
was beginning to draw check for the
amount when Ned Armour threw aside
his paper and strobe forward.
Don't be too fast!' he exclaimed.
1t was the first time Ned had ever inter-
fered in business consultation, and his
uncle looked up surprised.
"Why, what do you know about itf"
asked the latter.
tive witness IN my private room
think you'd better examine before pro-
ceeding further, " answered Ned. "Wait
a moment and I'll bring him."
Ned stepped out and returned immedi-
ately, esoorting an inf1rm old man, whose
eye flashed as 1t fell on the covering coun.
tenanoe of the would be heir.
"Tell these gentlemen who you are"
said Ned, "though one of them doesn't
seem to need the information.
II am Antoine Bertrand" replied the
old man proudly, "the brother and heir of
him on whose fortune this base wretch
seeks to lay his lawless grasp. It was this
villain, when the star of my illustrious
chief went down at Waterloo, who, through
perjury and falsehood, drove me into exile
and received as the reward of his perf1dy
my entire wealth. The proofs he now pre-
sents are as false as those he manufactured
then, but I have documents here which
will leave no doubt as to my right
The false heir did not remain to see in
speoted the packet of papers which the old
man presented. Suffice it to say they
were found in all respects correct. Marie
Bertrand was now a match for the wealth.
lest man In the land, and when Ned told
bis uncle that it was she whom he had
picked out for a wife the old gentleman
didn't object. Neither did Marie nor her
father, and Ned Armour lived for many
years, happiest of husbands.-New York
News. = II
= ~- Greater Than Raphael.
Whatever position Gaudenzio Ferrari
may occupy hereafter relatively to other
masters of his epoch, when new series Of
critics and art historians shall have come