The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-03-12
cHAPrER I'm conlInaed

Itts
~ assure you, uncle" he began.
"Enoughi" interrupted the banker
with an angry gesture. "let me heal
no more infamous falsehoodsl Ed
this acting, Of which / am no longer
fhc dupe."
~ swear to you
Spare yourself the trouble Of deny,
ing anything. know all. know wha
pawned my wise's diamonds know
who committed the robbery for which
an innocent man was arrested and i'm,
prisouede
Mime Fauvel, white with terror, fel
ul,on her knees.
At last it Mad come the dreadful
day had come Yainly had she added
falsehood to falsehood; vainly had She
sacrificed herself and others; all waa
discovered.
She saw that all was lost, and
wrineing her hands she tearfully
moaneg.
'Parlon. Andrel beg you, forgive
mel
At these hcart-broken tones the
fianker shook like leaf. This voice
OF happiness which he had owed t.
this woman. who had always been tn,
mistress Of his heart. whose slightest
wish had been his law. and who, by
slaiie or a frown, could make him tn,
hapPiest or the most miserable oi
nen. AIasi those days were over now
Could this wretched woman crouch.
ing at his feet he his beloved Valen,
time. the pure, innocent girl whom he
had found secluded in the chateat
81 Ia Verberie, who had never loved
any other than himself? Could this bs
che cherished wife whom he had wor
shipped for so many years.
Tic memory of his lost happiness
WAX too much for the stricken man
lie forgot the present in the past
aud was almost melted TO forgive
mess
unhappy woman" he murmured
unhappy womanl What have l done
that you should thus betray mel All
my only failt was loving you TOO
deeply, and letting you see it. One
NVraries of everything in this world,
even happiness. Did pure domestic
ioyH pali upon you and weary you.
Ssriying you TO seek the excitement Of
sinful passion We're you 50 tired OF
she atmosphere OF respect and az.
Section which surrounded you that
Nou must needs risk your honor and
mime by hraviag public opinion2 Oh,
INTO what an abyss you have fallen,
Nslentinel and oh. my God. If you
were wearied by my constant devo-
fi0E had the thought of your
children no power TO restrain your
evil passions; could you not remain
8nfafnished for their salSe?'
~. Fauvel spoke slowly. with pain,
f,n effort, as il each word choked
him
Raoul, who listened with attention.
saw that If the banker knew some
things he certainly did not know all.
Ilc saw that erroneous information
had misled the unhappy man. aud
that ne was still victim of false APP
pearances.
lie determined 20 convince him OF
the mistake under which ne was la
boring. and said;
Monsieur, ! hope you viii listen
But tne sound of Raoul's voice was
Rnnicient TO break the charm.
'Silencel" cried the banker, with an
angry oath; "silencel"
For some moments nothing was
heard bat the sobs Of Nine. Fauvel.
- came here" continued the bank.
er. with the intention OF killing you
both. but I can not kin a woman
and l will not kill an unarmed man.
i,aoul once more tried 10 speak.
eiet me fnishl" interrupted NJ Eau
vel "Your life is in my hands; th'
law excuses the vengeance of an ia
iared husband, but / refuse TO take
advantage Of IT, ] see on your man
tie a revolver similar 10 mine; take il
and defend yourself"
'fNeverl"
Defend yourselfl9 cried the han
sxrr. raising his arm. III you do not
Feeling the barrel of NJ. Fauverl
revolver touch his breast, Raoul, IL
aeif-defense, seized his own pistol, ant
prepared to fire.
''Stand In that corner OF the room
aud I will stand in this" continued
che banker; "and when the clocl
STRIKES which will be in few sec
onds, we viii both fire"
They took the places designated
and stood perfectly still
Bat the horror Of the scene was 20.
much for Nine. Fauvel 10 witness an.
aoaeer without iWterposing. She un
fdestood hnt one thing; her sou an,
hrr husband were about 20 kill eaci
sfslsr before her very eyes. FTigl
and horror gave her strength TO sta
aip and rush between the two men.
For Gods sake, have mercy. Al
drei" she cried, wringing her han,
with anguish. -let me tell you ever.
thing don't 1ill-"
This burst of maternal love, M Fal
vel fhotiDhf the tlaa1inua ~ - erin