Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-22

Francois answered, Before thii
some days. but then he might have
come home late last night and slept al
hour or so beyond his usual time"
"True." said Besson and fastened hi,
eyes on the clock.
Mamzelle had said she had promised
the money to the tombstone man a
noon. so there was a full hour yet.
Francois drummed on the table II
front Of him. A messenger enteret
with letter. Francois read II.
"Unfortunately." he said, "thIs In
forms me that NJ. Clavie will not re
turn until tomorrow"
Besson bounded to his feet.
But" he said. II have brought thu
biographies"
81 did not like to mention IT," return
ed Francois. but you will remembel
they were promised for the 18th. To
day Is the 25th. We could not wait
longer than the Goth. Then we gave or
ders to have them written elsewhere
Some are already done, the others
promised In week"
Besson was dumfounded. Mamzelle
had said she must pay the money al
noon today. He had no means Of get
ting the GO francs save through tht
biographies. He had expected to settle
his backstanding rent when he was
paid for his papers on the Sorbonne
but that would not be until next month
He had trusted his food and drink
even till he was paid for these papers
on the Sorbonne.
Monsieur" he said TO Francois. 'i'
Ia urgent. ! must have the money"
"It Is not my affair" returned Fran.
coils.
"Yes," argued Besson, "but the biog
raphies were ordered from me-"
"By a certain date" Francois retort'
ed.
True" urged Besson. But | have
written them. will let you have them
for 60 francs. Really 60 francs Is nee
essary to me. must have the money
before noon. Oh. do not say no! See,
the manuscripts are much longer than
800 words. They are correct IN every
particular. I will voucb for It. Only
90 francsl Surely. you will not refuse
me? See how well they look! Sixty
francs! Monsieur. must have the
money by noon. An honor is at stake. y
Francois had grown pale as he lis.
tened to the words that drove like the
wind
1T Is not my affair" he said more
courteously. "We have already three
OF the biographies IN the hands Of the
printer. You did not keep your con
tract as to time"
But 20 francs" Besson cried. only
90 francsw
81 dare not" protested Francois.
But
Monsieur" said Francois. Il will
take a risk on myself ! will accept
two OF these for 40 francs. II may be
q complete loss from my own purse"
"Sixty francs for them ALL"
"Forty francs for Roland aud Tin.
ville!'
The clock struck the half hour. Bes-
son looked down at the manuscripts.
The ring on his finger caught his eye.
Take them," he said.
He threw the papers on the table,
grasped the money held out to him and
hurried from the place. He had only
80 minutes. He tore of his ring as he
went along. He meant to pledge 1t.
He darted into n shop. They would
advance no more than 10 francs on IL.
If he wished more. he might go TO an
honest man In the Rue Scarelle, who
would buy II by weight for old gold.
Out hurried Besson. A clock In a
window told him that ten minutes OF
the half hour were gone. Only 20 min
utes till noon!
The Rue Scarelle was another ten
minutes Off. but then II was only five
or six minutes from there TO the Place
Lacrosse and Mamzelle.
He ran now. At the corner OF the
Rue Scarelle he stopped abruptly. He
was dripping with perspiration; bis
face was CHASTITY.
He looked at the ring lying In his
palm. Ii had been Marie's ring. She
had given II to him when she had
thought to marry him-before he had
begun to make those mistakes which
forced her to cast him OF.
He had always kept the ring. No pri'
walton had caused the suggestion that
he should part with IT, Ii had belonged
to her She had worn II. 1t had been
warmed by the blood that coursed
from her heart, and the possession OF
II had seemed TO keep her not quite SO
far away. To part with 1t, 1t appealed
to him. would sever him entirely from
the past, when he had been hopeful
and respected and loved.
but Mamzelle's word would be bro
ken. She relies on me-my honor
He made for the shop. He was offer,
ed 25 francs for the ring after II had
been tested with acids.
"Of course" said Besson.
"You take 1t merely as old metaly
"Of course"
"And you would give as much for II
II ii were brokenT
Certainly"
"will you lend me a hammer
The hammer was given him. He
STONED to the stone floor. He looked
inside the ring and saw Marie's name
there. Then he laid the ring on the
floor and with a powerful blow OF th,
hammer crushed II into a shapeless
mass. The ring had been the last tie
He was now irrevocably separated
from the past.
He handed the gold to the man and
received % francs.
"The timer" he asked.
ut is 81 minutes to l2." was the an
swer
Besson left the shop. He now had
the 90 francs. and over.
"Yes," he said, 'the will get me
several small glasses. | need them
What! From the proceeds Of thai
ringw
He dashed the 5 franc piece into the
road, crowded with vehicles. and press
ed on to the Place Lacrosse. He en-
tered the house as the noon hou
sounded.
Mamzelle glanced at him and nodded
pleasantly.
"The 90 francs" he said and laid thu
money on the table among the bios
SONS Of her manufacture.
"There. now. Dalcour," she said.
A man Besson had not noticed came