The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-03-07
CHAPTER XIII

- f%Ah AhAhAAAf
As M. Verduret had anticipated
Prosper's letter had terrible effec
upon M. Fauvel.
IL was toward nine o'clock in tn,
morning, and M. Fauyel had just en-
tered his study when his mail was
brought in.
After opening a dozen business let
ters, his eyes fell on the fatal missive
sent by Prosper.
Something about the writing struck
him as peculiar.
II was evidently a disguised hand
and although, owing to the fact OF
his being millionaire, he was in the
habit Of receiving anonymous com.
murications, sometimes abusive, but
generally begging for money, this
particular letter filed him with an
indefinite presentiment of evil. A cold
chill ran through his heart and he
dreaded 10 open it.
With absolute certainty that he
was about TO learn some new calami-
ty, he broke the seal and opening the
coarse cafe paper. was shocked by
the following words;
"DEAR SIR-You have handed
your cashier over to the law, and you
acted properly, convinced as yov
were Of his dishonesty
"But il it was he who took three
hundred and fifty thousand francs
from your safe. was il he also who
took Madame Fauvels diamonds
This was terrible blow 20 a man
whose life hitherto had been an nm
broken chain Of prosperity, who could
recall the past without one bitter re-
gret, without remembering any sor-
row deep enough TO bring forth a
tear
What! his wife deceive him, And
among all men, TO choose one vile
enough TO rob her Of her Jewels, and
force her TO be his accompiice in the
ruin Of an innocent young man
For did not the letter before him
I assert this TO be the fact, and tell
him how to convince himself If it's
truth?
NJ. Fauvel was as bewildered as 10
he had been knocked on the head
with a club. 1t was impossible for
his scattered ideas TO take in the
enormity OF what these dreadful
words intimated. lie seemed TO be
mentally and physically paralysed, as
he sat there staring blankly at the
ietter
But this stupciaction suddenly
changed TO indignant rage
What fool ami" he cried, "io
listen to such base lies, such malicious
charges against the purest Voman
whom God ever sent to bless mani"
And he angriiy crumpled up the let
ter, and threw it into the empty hre-
place, saying.
II viii forget having read H. j will
not soil my mind by letting il dwell
upon such turpitudel"
He said this, and he thonght III;
but, for all that. he could not open
the rest Of his letters. The anony.
nous missye stood before his eyes in
letters OF fire, and drove every other
thought from his mind.
That penetrating, clinging, all-cor-
ANAt--B NNAANr RN~HIfANtNNH AtA1 AaAHNNIAA
possession Of his soul; aud as he
leaned over his desk. witk his face
buried In his hands, thinking over
many things which had lately o.
CURED, insignificant az the time. hut
fearfully ominous now. this unwili-
lngiy admitted germ OF suspicion
grew and expanded until il became
certainty.
But resolved that he would not
think of his wife IN connection with
50 vile a deed. he imagined a thou.
sand wild excuses for the mischief
maker who took his mode OF annoy
ing him; Of course there was no truth
In his assertions. but from curiosity
be would like TO know who had writ.
ten il. And yet suppose
''Mrciful Godi can il be truef" he
wildly cried, Is the idea OF his wife'l
guilt would obshnately return 70 hil
trouhled mind