The Iola register., 1902-03-21
CASE ll3
... BY.
Emile GaboriAu

8hry or police.
frosper remained alone In the study.
notwithstanding the disordered state
ol his mind, he could not but perceive
tnat his situation was every minute
becoming more serious. Seating him
@eit on a sofa near the fireplace, he was
absorbed In the most gloomy forebod-
1ngs when the bankers chamber door
suddenly opened and a beautiful girl
appeared upon the threshold. She was
fan and slender. A loose morning
gown, confined at the waist by a sim.
pie black ribbon, betrayed to advan-
fage the graceful elegance of her fig
ure Her black eyes were large and
soft her complexion had the creamy
pailor of white camellia, and her
beautiful dark hair, carelessly held to-
u gether by tortoise shell comb, fell in
= a profusion of soft curls upon her ex-
= quisite neck. She was NJ. Fauvers
niece, Madeleine, of whom he had spo-
ken not long before. Seeing Prosper
Bertomy In the study where probably
she expected to find her uncle alone,
she could not refrain from an exclama-
tion of surprise.
-AnT-
IN Prosper started up as If he had re-
4 cefved an electric shock His eyes. n
1 moment before so dull and heavy, all
at once sparkled with joy as If he had
caught glimpse of messenger of
l hope
Madeleine" he cried; "Madeleinew
The young girl blushed crimson. She
seemed about to hastily retreat and
Il Efnnnad ha nIy h,,t
vanced toward her, she was overcome
by something stronger than her will
and extended her hand, which he seiz-
ed and pressed eagerly. They stood
thus face to face but with bowed
heads.
Finally Madeleine said in a scarcely
audible voice:
you, Prosper-youw
These words hroke the spell. Prosper
dropped the white hand which he held
snd answered bitterly:
Eyes, this Is Prosper, the companion
of your hildhood-suspected, accused
OF the most disgraceful theft-Prosper,
whom your uncle has Just delivered up
to Justice and who, before the day Is
over. will be arrested and thrown into
prison"
Madeleine, with terrified gesture,
cried In tone of profound sympathy:
4 Good heavens! Prosper, what are
you saying?"
what! Do you not know? Have
not your aunt and cousins told youY'
--They have told me nothing have
scarcely seen my cousins this morn
ing, and my aunt is so Ill that felt
uneasy and came to tell uncle. But for
heavens sake speak. Tell me what
has happened"
Prosper hesitated. Perhaps 1t occur
,Ared to him to open his heart to Made
teine. of revealing to her his most Sc
cret thoughts. A remembrance of the
past coming up chilled his confidence.
He sadly shook his head and replied:
4Thanks, mademoiselle, for this proof
or interest, the last, doubtless, that
shall ever receive from you. But allow
me, by being silent, to spare you dis
tress and myself the modification of
blushing before you"
Madeleine interrupted him with an
imperious gesture:
II insist upon knowing" she said.
"Alas, mademoisellev' answered
Prosper "You will only too soon learn
my misfortune and my disgrace. Then,
4 'es. then you will applaud yourself for
that you have done"
\ But she became more urgent In
| cad of commanding she entreated,
[ It Prosper was infieXible.
~ Your uncle is in the adjoining room,
"A demoiselle, with the commissary Of
nj rhnu will
IN. l entreat you to retire that
may not find you here"
he spoke he gently pushed her
Ugh the door, she resisting, and
it upon her. 1t was time, for
xt moment the commissary and
uvel entered. They had visited
in entrance and waiting room
u heard nothing of what had
In the study. But Fanferlot
ird for them. This excellent
nd had not lost sight of the
He said to himself: "If he
himself to be alone, his face
'ay him. l shall detect a
wink that will mean some
d,
ioM. Fauvel and the commits
sosue their Investigations, he
2 to watch. lie saw the
Madeleine appear upon
He lost not a single
speGiaJre of the rapid scene
. ed between Prosper and
norm 1t mattered little that
III sion this scene was an enig-
III Tilse rlot was skillful enough
" Tilse e sentences he did not
Mr.. II yet he only had
N house auIspicion is point to
dav O,yas prompt in build
NJ slightest incident,
II ~ Vuo s"sl the past of these
ii tuDe' IN not know glimpses
n the escapiaa. If the commits
Tilse had sknntIc the detac-