The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-05-02

AT these neartDr0ken tones the bank.
er trembled. This voice brought be-
fore him the twenty years which he
had spent with this woman, who had
always been the mistress of his heart
whose slightest wish had been his law
and who by look could make him the
happiest or the most miserable of men
Unhappy womanw he said. "Un.
happy womanl What have done that
you should act thus? l have loved you
too deeply"
Raoul, who listened with attention
saw that If the banker knew some things
he certainly did not know all. He saw
that erroneous information had misled
the unhappy man and that he was still
a victim of false appearances. He de-
termined to convince him of his mis-.
take.
Monsieur he commenced.
But the sound Of RaouPs voice was
sufficient to break the charm.
"Silencep' cried the banker, with an
angry oath. "Silencew
The stiffness was only broken by the
sobs of Nine. Fauvel
81 came here" continued the banker
with the intention of killing you both,
but courage fails me to kill a woman,
and will not kill an unarmed man."
Raoul once more tried to speak.
"Let me finish!' interrupted NJ. Fau-
vel "Your life is in my hands. The
law excuses the vengeance of an in
jured husband, but I refuse to take atl-
vantage of it. l see on your mantel q
revolver similar to mine. Take it and
defend Yourself"
"Never."
defend yourselfw cried the banker,
raising his arm. "If not
Feeling the barrel of M. FauveIs re-
volver touch his breast, Raoul took his
own pistol from the mantel.
''Place yourself in that corner of the
room, and | will stand in this" contin-
ued the banker, "and when the clock
strikes, which will be In few seconds,
we will both fire."
They took the places designated. But
the horror of the scene was too much
for Nine. Fauvel to witness any lon-
ger without interposing. She under
stood but one thing-her son and her
husband We're about to kill each other
before her very eyes. Fright and hor-
ror gave her strength to start up and
rush between the two men, with ex-
tended arms
Have pity, Andre!" she cried, wiring
ing her hands in anguish. LET me tell
you! Don't kill''-
This burst of maternal love M. Fau-
vel took for the pleading of criminal
defending her lover. He seized his
wife by the arm and thrust her aside.
But she would not be repulsed Rush.
ing up to Raoul, she threw her arms
around him and said to her husbands:
"Klll me, and me alone, for / am the
guilty one!"
At these words M. Fauvel glared at
the guilty pair and, deliberately taking
aim, fired. Neither Raoul nor Nine
Fauvel moved. The banker fired seq
opd time, then a third. He cooked the
pistol for a fourth shot when man
rushed into the room, snatched the pis-
tol from the bankers hand and ran to
Nine. Fauvel. 1t was M. Verduret.
"Thank God" he cried, "she is un-
hurt! Do you know who that man is
that you attempted to killT'
"Her loverw
"No; her sonr'
The banker looked wildly from Raoul
to M. Verduret, then, fastening his
haggard eyes on his wife, exclaimed:
ut is false! You are all conspiring
to deceive me! Proofsr'
"You shall have proofs" replied NJ.
Verduret. But first listen"
And rapidly. with his wonderful tai
ent for exposition, he related the prin-
cipal points of the plot he had discov-
cred. The true state of the case was
terribly distressing to NJ. Fauvel, but
nothing compared with what he had
suspected. His throbhing, yearning
heart told him that he still loved his
wife. Why should he punish a fault
committed so many years ago and
atoned for by twenty years of devotion
and suffering? For some moments aft
planation NJ. Fauyel remained silent.
So many strange events had happened
in the last few days, eliminating in the
scene which had just taken place, that
NJ. Fauvel was incapable of thinking. If
Ais heart counseled pardon and forget
fulness, wounded pride and self respect
demanded vengeance. If Raoul, the
baleful witness, the living proof of
faroff sin, were not in existence, NJ.
Fauvel would not have hesitated-Ga
ton de Clameran was dead-he would
have held out his arms to his wife and
said:
''Come to my heart! Your sacrifices
for my honor shall be your absolution.
Let the sad past be forgotten"
But the sight of Raoul prevented.
$50 this is your son." he said to his
wife = ''this man who has plundered
you and robbed mel"
Nine. Fauvel was unable to utter a
word in reply. Happily NJ. Verduret
was there.
"Oh," he said, madame will tell you
that this young man is the son of Gas
ton de Clameran. She has never
doubted it. But the truth is''-
"WhatW
''In order to rob her he has perpetrat-
ed gross imposture."
During the last few minutes Raoul
had managed to approach the door,
hoping to escape while no one was
thinking of him. But NJ. Verduret,
watching him out of the corner of one