The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-02-06
BY Emile GaboriaU


lowed to see you2 was searched aud
made to empty all of my pockets, cn
suspicion Of bringing YOU arnsi"
Prosper ceased to justify bfmsssi
but in "a helpless, hopeless way
dropped down upon n seat
u have seen Your apartments. and
at once recognized the proofs of yout
crime. ! saw sin, curtains hanging
before every window and door. and
the walls covered with pictures. IN
my fathers house the walls were
whifewnshed; and therc was but one
armchair In the whole house and
that was my mothers. OurluxmF was
Der Of our family who has possessed
Aubusson carpets; though. 10 Doe sure.
you are the first thief OF our blood.
At this last insult prosPers face
flushed crimson. lut hc remained ST..
lent and immo,able.
"But luvury is necessary now con-
tinued NJ Bertomy becoming more
excited and angry as be went on,
luxury must be had a amy price
You must have the insolent opulcnce
and display of an m,start, without be.
ing an upstart You must support
worthless women who wear satin slip.
pers lined with swans 's-down, like
those / saw in your rooms. and keep
servants in livery ami YOU steal And
bankers no longer trust their safe
keys with anybody; and every day
honest families are disgraced by the
discovery of some new piece of viii
lainy"
M. Bertomy suddenly stopped He
saw that his son was not in a condi-
tion 20 hear any more reproaches
"Bvt / win say no more" he said.
"I came here not TO reproach, but, il
possible. to save the honor Of our
name, to prevent it from being pub.
lished in the papers among the names
OF thieves and murderers stand up
and listen 10 me,"
AT the imperious tone Of his father,
Prosper arose. So many successive
blows had reduced him to a state Of
torpor
"First OF all,7 began NJ. Bertomy,
how much have you remaining Of
the stolen three hundred and fifty
thousand francs?"
"Once more, father" replied the IN.
fortunate man. in tone of helpless
resignation, "once more / swear |
am innocent
so | supposed you would say. Then
our family will have to repair the in
jury you have done Monsieur Fauvei"
What do you mean2"
The day he heard of your crime,
your brother-in-law brought me your
sisters dowry- 10000 francs sue.
ceeded in collecting 100000 francs
more. This makes 100000 francs.
which 1 have brought with ma
TO give TO Monsieur Fauvel."
You not dare disgrace me thus!"
his torpor.
"You shall do nothing of the kind' "
he cried, with unrestrained indigna-
tion.
- will do so before the sun goes
down this day Monsieur Fauvel will
grant me time TO pay the rest My
pension is l,50O francs J can Live
upon 500, and am strong enough 10
go to work again; and your brother
/ in-law
M. Bertomy stopped short frig IT.
/ ened al the expression on his sous
face His features were contracted
4 with such furious rage that he was
/ scarcely recognizable and his eyes
/ glared like a mar'ac's
"You dare not disgrace me thus,'
he cried: you have no right 10 do
! il. Yon are free 10 disbelieyc mt
yourself, but vou have no right ion
taking step tina would be a cen
fession of guilt and ruin me forever
Who and what con,inces YOU OF mJ
guilt? When cold Justice hesitates
you, my father, hes tate not; but
more pitiless than the law, coudcmt
me unheardl"
II only do my duty"
(which means that 1 stand on th'
edge of a precipice, and YOU push m'
over. Do you call that your duty
What. between strangers who accusl
me, and myself who swear that ! an
innocent, do you not hesitate? Why
Is 1t because I am your son? On
honor is az stake, IL is true; but tha
is only the more reason why yol
should sustain me, and assist me e
defend myself"
Pcosper's earnest, truthful manne
was enough 20 unsettle the irmes
CONNECTIONS and make doubt penetrat
the most stubborn mind
Yes, said M Bertomy, in hesI
tating tone, everything seems 10 90
cuse you
"Ah. father do you not know tina
] was suddenly hanished from Mede
leine's presence; tiat / was compelle
10 avoid her became desperat,
and tried To forget my sorrow in dds
sipation. sought oblivion au
found shame and disgust on. Med,
leine, Madeleine."