The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-06-18

less couch. 'Mohsterr' ne SAID TO NM
| SELF See what worthy people you have
been robbingr
But how could he make restitution? In
the purchase of his furniture and in cur
rent expenses he had already used up 12,-
600 francs, besides investing $4,000 in
the Blagfontein gold mine. He could still,
however, return half of the stolen money,
sending it by mail, anonymously, and his
remorse urged him to make this partial
restitution. All, if he could only win the
heart and hand of the charming Made
leine everything might be arranged salts
factorily! In that case he would regard
the balance remaining in his hands as an
equivalent for Madeleine's dowry.
"CourageT he thought. eve may be
happy yet"
He rose with the sun, made his bed
and swept his room, and then, while the
fit of work was on him, went down stairs
and began to sweep the kitchen floor.
"What are you doing, M. Cliquetw
asked Nine. Bofignon, when she sur
prised him in the midst of this operation.
ooh, like to be doing something" Gil
quet replied in matter of fact way.
But surely you didn't come here to do
housework," the old lady protested.
'Oh, just as you please" said Cliquet,
abandoning his sweeping and proceeding
to brush Edgar's clothes.
After five days of rural life Cliquet and
his valet returned to Paris. On the day
following their arrival Edgar received
from the postman package which, when
opened, was found to contain 80 beautiful
blue bank notes, each of them for 1000
francs and This limo of xUritiDO.
II hope to be able to send the balance
before long"
Edgar cried aloud for joy and FASTENED
to show his treasure to Cliquet
"Look, lookp' he said in voice choked
by excitement.
''Your good fortune" said Cliquet,
snakes me glad and sorry at onee'
''Sorry? WhyY
Because now you are richer than l
and am in love with your sister"
well, what of it?" said Edgar. "The
Boffignons did not spring from the thigh
of Jove. We are nobody In particular.
My father was brigadier of gendarmes.
On his retirement he was appointed re-
ceiver of taxes in our little village. His
commissions amounted to 800 francs a
year, and his tobacco shop brought in
francs is great fortune in our eyes. As
for you, | suppose you are worth some
thing?'
81 will see," said Cliquet. He picked
up newspaper and, turning to the re-
port of the bourse, read aloud "'South
African shares-Blagfontein 1,120 francs
% centimes'
"Yes, l am worth something" he said
II, too, am one of the infamous CAPT
talists. l will go to the bourse at once.
My Blagfonteins shall be sold this very
day, and then we will go back to the
quiet life at Blois. l cannot longer re-
main away from Madeleine"
And so Alfred and Madeleine are mar
ried, and the Cliquets and the Bofignons
live together at Blois, happy in their mu-
tual affection and the annually renewed
glory of their bright grainfelds and rich
meadows.
Cliquet sometimes is questioned by his
wife about the source of his fortune, his
past life and especially abnr his willing
ness to settle down to the & let of rural
existence; but he tells Ler that he is
tired of the frivolities of life in the gay
French capital. All lie wants is to pass
the days by her side.
And then, besides, all the lost money
is now in the family, and his conscience
is at rest. AS he looks back his rela-
tons to his valet are not very pleasant
recollections. Translated From the |
French For the New York Commercial
AdvartiSar