St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-10-19
A NOBLE
CONVICT
BY HENRI CHEVALIER
Copyright, 1901, by Authors syndicats.)

CHARLES BRAvURE was a strik'
ing realization of Jean Vatican,
the hero of Victor Hugo's lies Mis-
cradles" When he was ten years
old he was brought before a Paris
magistrate as q vagabond.
my name is Charles Bravure," he
said. II am working for man on the
Place de Ia Bastile. He plays fiddle
and sings. I join in the chorus and
cry to the passers-by: Only two sous
for the latest songs, only two sous!'
My employer is always drunk. He beat
me and ran away, so the police took
me in. Ny mother is dead and ran
away before from my stepfather, who
maltreated me-"
AS there was no one in the courtroom
to claim him and the Judge did not seem
much interested, he was sent to a
house of correction.
Charles was docile and dbedient in
his new home. He learned the car
penter's trade. It was to be deplored,
however, that, when he was dismissed
from the institution on his seventeenth
birthday, he met his old comrades from
the penal home, most of whom were
thoroughly depraved. Within three
months after his dismissal he was sent
to prison for stealing an old pair Of
shoes. He was assigned to backing
the boots of the political convicts of
Saint Pelagie. Here Charles imbibed
the most radical socialism. He was
happiest when he could join in the
s.Aarseillaise."
After he had served his years SEN
tence Charles roamed aimlessly again
through the streets of Paris. The po-
lice had him under surveillance like
cruel children who tantalize butterflies
on strings. For two years he managed
to keep outside of prison walls. He
eked out miserable existence on the
horse market. To make things worse
he drew lucky number in the military
lottery. A soldiers career might have
saved him. One night he was caught
carousing with gang Of burglars. He
denied having had anything to do with
their thefts. Nevertheless he was SEN
tence3 to three years at hard labor.
Then followed ten years of a criminal
existence, during which he was seldom
outside of prison cell.
In the prison of Toulon Charles was
greatly impressed by the sermons of
q venerable priest, and he made up his
mind to reform as soon as he would be
released. In Paris he found lodging
with a kind old woman. With the
money earned in prison he had bought
q sailors outfit, and as his face was
bronzed by the hot sun of Toulon his
tale of having just returned from
long voyage was believed. His beard
grew long and thick, and the police
seemed to have forgotten him. He was
earning three francs per day in car.
penter's shop and his employer regard
ed him as his most trustworthy man.
One day there came young man to
his lodging house from the south of
France, who sought employment in the
capital. Charles liked him very much
and secured work for him in his shop.
Jean Marchand was q sober, healthy
and pure minded rustic. He found in
Charles q true friend, who cared for
him like a father. Charles and Jean
were always seen together in the shop
- well as at their Sunday outings.
There was only one thing that troubled
Charles, and that was that Jean might
learn something Of his past.
Jean did not long remain the inno-
cent provincial he was. One night he
shocked his old friend by coming home
drunk. he had made the acquaintance
of a rich young man in restaurant at
whose expense he had spent the even
ing feAsting and drinking. On the
following morning Jean showed deep
and for time everything
went well
Charlie. Bravure was deeply in love
with the landlady's daughter, but he
dared not tell her Of it on account OF
his dark past. Every glance that 9th
~. bestowed on her cut him to the