Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-12-13
stowal of affection.

appeared-gone no one seemed to
| know where
VI. Beauyille, however, thought of
the subject tonight as he wrote, de-
/ spite himself. Decidedly he might
have been less harsh to Camille Even
| patriots ought not to carry things too
| FAR. Politics ought not to be allowed
TO beset domestic joy. Camille had
not been blamelesS-far from it, but
/ the course taken against him had been
| too rough. II almost would-yes, it
certainly would-be very well If he, VI.
Beauville, could meet with the widow
and the baby and do what he could for
them. NJ. Beauyille's pen paused in its
rapid fight, and something conspic-
uously moist fell upon his paper. The
Child of Freedom had human weak
ness. He hastily dashed an inkstained
handkerchief over his ewes. muttered
a remark uncomplimentary to himself
under his breath, and prepared TO re-
sumo his task
But he hesitated. What was that
sound outside the door? VI. Beauville
sPrang to his feet and glanced toward
the stove. The sound again, much
! palmer. Was it-could it be-a child's
laughter? NJ. Beauville carefully push
ed back panel in the wall and depos-
tied the precious manuscript in the
cavity 1t covered. Then he opened
the door of his room wariIy. in fear of
a traP-the creatures of tyrants are
sometimes very artful, and up to
tricks.
Outside stood priests from st. Sui
pice, with little boy in his arms. The
one had thin, fine gentle face, and
wore a robe of rusty black, and the
other was fat, red-cheeked, smiling.
and had bright, warm coat.
Have the honor" asked the priest.
"of addressing NJ. Beauville?'
"You have" answered the Aspirer,
eurtly.
Then, monsieur, I ask pardon for
the lateness of my visit. / have had
difficulty in finding your abode, and 1
deliver my charge into your hands.
Your grandson"
The mother? interrupted M. Beau
Vile, startled.
Madame died yesterday at Montmn-
tire. She intended to send for you at
the end, but there was not time. She
was proud, too proud and poor. Had
she approached you before 1t would
have been, she thought, to beg; and
you had said you hated her. So she
worked hard, but she was not strong,
and-well, her tears are dried, and
she is at rest now. But her son? All,
she loved him, and before she
died she prayed me to carry him to
you"
do you know me?" asked NJ. Beau
Vile of the boy, who answered by hold
ing out his hands fearleSsly and laugh
ing. "No, you cannot. How should
you? What's his nameP"
What's his name?"
Surely monsieur knows?"
Eyes, remember, It is Georges. Give
| him TO me-"
NJ. Beauville gently took the boy. He
called out to the departing priest that
he would see him again. Then he re-
| entered his room and fastened the
door. He seated himself In his chair
and held Georges on his knees The
boy was not at all afraid, but chatter
ed in a shrill voice and in broken SEN
| fences, which somehow failed.to sound
complete, NJ. Beauville listened for a
/ time in silence. The baby talk moved
/ the heart of the patriot, Eventually
I he began in interrogate. He asked
about his dead son, his wife, life. deeds,
hopes, death. He learned little, be-
cause the knowledge of Georges was
/ limited. He sighed at last and, placing
/ the boy upon the floor near the fire,
at the front of the table, gave him an
: illustrated volume TO amuse himself
with.
The report had to be finished before
| daybreak. IL was brought forth and
/ NJ. Beauville set TO work at it afresh
His heart was filled with a strange
mingling of Joy and sorrow He was
to be allowed to do something for the
child, but for the parents he could do
nothing.
At length he became absorbed in the
report, and worked steadily until he
! had finished, and then read over and
corrected what he had written. AS he
finished each he dropped ii distracted
| ly to the floor, where his temporarily
| forgotten grandson was seated, play
ing quietly by the stove. Folio after
| folio was treated thus, the boy still
making no sound. The last folio con-
tanned only line or so, but NJ Beau
Vile held 1t longer than he had done
the others before he turned to send
it after these.
AS it fiuttered downward the door
was burst open without ceremony and
| the room was filled with gendarmes.
| NJ. Beauville rose with loud cry and
| instantly fell back into his chair. For
| a second he thought himself lost. A
| sharp eXclamat ton aroused him and he
] raised a white face to see what had
happened.
AS each folio of the report had been
| tossed from the table to the floor little
| Georges had seized and transferred
| them to the stove. Absorption in his
work and temporary forgetfulness Of
| his grandson's presence had prevented
| NJ Raarvil1a from