The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1902-05-30

lore nim the twenty years winch ne
had spent with this woman, who had
always been the mistress of his heart,
whose slightest wish had been his law
and who by n look could make him the
happiest or the most miserable of men.
Unhappy womanw he said. I'm
happy woman! What have done that
you should act thus? have loved you
too deeply"
Raoul, who listened with attention,
saw that If the banker knew some things
he certainly did not know all. He saw
that erroneous information had misled
the unhappy man and that he was still
a victim OF false appearances. He de-
termined to convince him of his mis-
take.
Monsieur he commenced.
But the sound Of Raoul's voice was
sufficient to break the charm.
"Silencew cried the banker. with an
angry oath. "Silencew
The stiffness was only broken by the
sobs of Nine. Fauvel.
81 came here" continued the banker,
"with the intention OF killing you both,
but courage fails me to kill woman,
and | will not kill an unarmed man."
Raoul once more tried to speak.
LET me finlsh" interrupted NJ. Eau
vel "Your life Is in my hands. The
law excuses the vengeance Of an in
tured husband, but | refuse to take ad-
vantage of 1t. | see on your mantel n
revolver similar TO mine. Take it and
defend Yourself"
Never"
Defend yourself"' cried the banker.
raising his arm. 'If not
Feeling the barrel of NJ. Fauvel's re
volyer touch rs breast. Raoul took his
owl pistol from the mantel.
'placc yourself In that corner of the
roolI, ard 7 will stand in this" contin-
ued the banker, "and when the clock
strikes, which will be in n few seconds.
we will 10th fire."
They took the places designated. But
the horror of the scene was too much
for Nine. Fauvel to witness any Ion
ger without interposing. She under
stood but one thing-her son and her
husband were about to kill each other
before her very eyes. Fright and hor-
ror gave her strength to start up and
rush between the two men. with ex.
tended arms.
"Have pity, Andre" she cried, wiring.
ing her hands in anguish. LET me tell
you! Don't kill''-
This burst of maternal love NJ. Eau
vel took for the pleading of criminal
defending her lover. He seized his
wife by the arm and thrust her aside.
But she would not be repulsed. Rush
ing up to Raoul, she threw her arms
around him and said to her husband:
xiii me, and me alone, for am the
guilty one"
At these words NJ. Fauvel glared at
the guilty pair and, deliberately taking
aim, fired. Neither Raoul nor Nine.
Fauvel moved. The banker fred a Sec
ond time, then a third. He cooked the
pistol for a fourth shot when a man
rushed into the room, snatched the pis-
tol from the Bankers hand and ran to
Nine. Fauvel. 1t was NJ. Verduret.
"Thank God" he cried, "she Is I'M
hurt! Do you know who that man is
| thob NOh aNlSLhPNNN " MIL
"Her loverw
"No; her sonv'
The banker looked wildly from Raoul
to NJ. Verduret, then, fastening his
haggard eyes on his wife, exclaimed:
at is falsel You are all conspiring
to deceive me! Proofsw
you shall have proofs" replied NJ.
/ NorI,,pot ..R,,t Ifgto,
And rapidly, with his wonderful tai
ent for exposition, he related the prn.
cipal points of the plot he had dscov.
cred. The true state of the case was
terribly distressing to NJ. Fauvel but
nothing compared with what he had
suspected. His throbbing. yearning
heart told him that he still loved his
wife. Why should he punish fault
committed so many years ago and
atoned for by twenty years of devotion
and suffering? For some moments aft.
err M. Verduret had finished his ex.
PLANTATION NJ. Fauvel remained silent
So many strange events had happened
In the last few days, eliminating in the
scene which had just taken place. that
|
his heart counseled pardon and forget.
fulness, wounded pride and self respec,
demanded vengeance. If Raoul, the
baleful witness, the living proof of q
faroff sin, were not in existence, NJ
Fauvel would not have hesitated-Gas
ton de Clameran was dead-he would
nave neld out his arms to his wife and
said:
Come to my heart! Your sacrifices
for my honor shall be your absolution
Let the sad past be forgotten"
But the sight of Raoul prevented.
$50 this is your son." he said to his
wife - this man who has plundered
you and robbed mew
Nine. Fauvel was unable to utter q
word in reply. Happily NJ. Verduret
was there.
"Oh," he said, madame will tell you
that this young man is the son of Gas
ton de Clameran. She has never