Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-03-22
CHAPTER XVIII.
DURESs.

cigar. One glass ana q bottle were be
fore Quillebert, who was doggedly
drunk. Latiolais was received with
ominous GOODNESS. No glass was of
fered him. He lacked courage to ask
for one.
''Leonidas, settling day has come"
said Quillebert. with brutal abruptness,
terminating an embarrassing silence.
WHAT How, Constantr' Lauolais
asked. shaking as IL with an ague
"What7 Your Indebtedness 10 me.
Howl In money. Pay NE the mon
ey"
Now"
Yes. now. 1t Is past due. You have
had more time than ever asked of a
creditor"
But the notice Is so short, Constant"
$50 is my time. Leonidas."
my debt Is large"
II know that to my SORROW"
II have not the money"
"Get IT."
within what timer
Thirty days"
Impossible"
Then the property must answer"
"Oh. Constant. my friend. spare mel"
groaned the unhappy man.
''Leonidas. my very dear friend.
have not time. My other dear friends,
Americans and Christians, are pressing
upon me inducements to return to
France which really l cannot resist
We are getting old, you and 1. Just
think OF 1t, l am older than youi 1
may not live to come back to this para
disc, and therefore my affairs here
must be closed up just as IL 1 meant
not to come back. l really have not
the time to spare you, Leonidas."
Quillebert appeared to enjoy the pains
OF his victim as much as he did the
sSSlm. which he quaffed at shortening
T.1Servals, his insolence increasing with
each potation.
"Are you serious, Constant, and will
aot pity for my grandchild move youg'
IT never was more serious in my life,
and nothing but death can move me.
At present, Leonidas. [ enjoy perfect
health"
my Godl My God! My poor Estelle
must suffer want and hide her head In
shame for my disgrace. And there is
no escape. no hope" The old mans
head was lowered. and his shaking
frame rocked 10 and gro.
There is hope. there Is escape" In
emphatic tone said Evariste. whose ST.
lent presence had been forgotten by
Lat!olais In his distress.
Where? BY what means?' cried the
latter. looking up with wonder and
wistfulness in his haggard .ace.
"Estelle can save you" Evariste re-
Piled
"Estelie? My Estelie? Explain. my
dear young friend"
BE calm, monsieur. and / will make
my meaning plain TO YOU" Evariste
exemplifed his advice being as un.
perturbed in manner and free from ex.
element IN speech as X he were dis
cusslng persons and affairs remote
from his own interest. In the course
OF business with Qulllebert I have be.
come possessed OF a portion OF your
Aobligations-name!y, some OF your
notes. your granddaughter procura-
ton to you to contract debts for the
maintenance OF her property and au.
thorization to cancel her mortgage
against you so as TO give first rank 10
the security 1 hold. NJ QuiEebert has
determined to leave this country very
soon, and l appreciate the necessity
for haste. There must be mutual &C.
countings between him and me to ad.
just finally our joint ventures during
the past four years, some OF which
have been quite heavy. AS your notes
and their securities held by US two are
in the main concurrent, If be forecloses
l shall be compelled to do likewise
1 rF
the means OF payment. The sale OF
surrender Of your property and your
granddaughter's must follow pressure
Now, j viii purchase all your obnga
tons which Nj. Quillebert has and de-
liver them, together with those which
are in my hands, to you. making you
debtless, solvent man and reinstatina
Your granddaughter's estate on ont
condition"
And that is, monsieurY
THAT Estelle becomes my wife with
in month, You now understand tha'
Estelle, and she alone, can save you,
Evariste concluded, as he had begun
speaking coldly, deliberately, precisely
you are prince in generosity, my
dear friend, I am overwhelmed 10y
your mvni6cence. You give me life
4. peace a0d health, and in return l car
give yon only an old mans thankful
! ness" Latiolais In a transport of graf
itude rose and started to embrace Eva
~ riste, bIt in sheer weakness reeIed anC
S would have fallen to the floor had no
the youag man caught him and return
I'd him 80 his chair.
Collect yourself, monsieur. There 4
- 20 occasion for demonstration" sale
e dryly. ''Do you promise Estelle'
Onsent?'
Certainly ! do" he replied, hal
coping, half laughing. ''She, dea