The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-03-01
cEAPTTR XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
For more than an hour after Ra,
ouIs departure, Nine. Fsavei re-
maiBed in state of stupor bordering
upon unconsciousness.
Gradually, however. She recovered
her senses sufficiently to comprehend
the horrors of her present situation;
and. with the faculty of thought that
OF suffering returned.
The dreadful scene in which she had
taken part was still before her af-
frighted vision; all the attending
circumstances, unnoticed at the time
now struck her forcibly.
She saw that she bad been the dupe
OF shameful conspiracy; that Raoul
had tortured her with cold-blooded
cruelty, had taken advantage OF her
tenderness. and had speculated upon
her fright.
but had Prosper anything to do
with the robbery This Mime. Fauvel
had no way of finding. Ali Raoul
knew how the blow would strike when
he accused Prosper. He knew that
Mime Fauyei would end by believing
in the cashiers completely.
The unhappy woman sat and
thought over every possible way
in which Raoul could find out
the secret word without Pros
per's knowledge She rejected
with horror the idea that the cashier
was the instigator of the crime; but
in spite OF herself, IL constantly re-
cured Aud finally she felt convinced
that what Raoui said must be true;
Tor who but Prosper could have be
traycd the word2 and who but Pros
per could have left so large an
amount of money in the safe, which,
hy order OF the banker was to be al
ways icft empty at night2
Knowing that Prosper was leading
life OF eStrayagance and dissipu.
ton. She thought It very likely no
had. FROM sheer de peration. resorted
TO this hold step 20 pay his debts; her
blind affection. moreover, made her
anxious TO attribute the crime 10 any
one rather than to her darling son.
She had heard that Prosper was
supporting one Of those worthless
creatures whose extravaganza impoy-
erishes men. and whose evil influence
perverts their natures. When a young
mar = = thu~ degraded. win he stop at
any sia or crime2 Alas. Nine. Fauvel
knew, from her own sad experience,
60 what depths even one fault can
lead. Although she believed Prosper
guilty she did not blame him, but
considered herself responsible for his
sins
Had she not aerself banished the
poor young man from tireside which
he had begun 10 regard as his ownP
Had she not destroyed his hopes and
happiness by crushing his pure love
for noble girl, whom he looked up
on as his future wife. aud thus driven
him into life of dissipation aud sin2
She was undecided whether to con-
iide ia Madeleine or bury the secret
in her own breast.
Fatally inspired, she decided to keep
silent
when Madeleine returned home at
n O'Clock, Nine Fauyel not only was
silent as TO what had occurred, but
even succeeded ih 50 tounthiht al
traces ,of her agitation. that she es
capped ANY questions from her niece.
Her caimness never left her when
NJ Fauvei aud Lucien returned, al.
though she was in terror lest her hus-
hand should go down to the cash
room 60 see that everything was safe.
~ locked up. IL Was not his habit TO
open the money safe at night, but he
sometimes did So
A. fate would have IL. the banker,
as aooa as he entered the room began
to speak Of Prosper, saying how dis
tressiRg IL was that SO interesting a
young mas should be thus throwing
himself away, and wondering what
could have happened 20 make him
suddenly cease his visits at the house,
and resort "a bad company
II AZ. i'auVel had looked al the faces
% his wife and niece while he harshly
blamed the cashier. he would have
bsee puzzled az their strange express
SIAN.
tu niaht long Nme u augel suffered