Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-06-09
CHATTER V.

Ans TWO hFsb uaNS mao not appeared
very long.
He had requested and been granted.
some sheets OF paper, numbered,
which he was obliged 20 account for;
and he wrote. with q sort OF rage,
plans Of defense and a narrative OF
justification.
The third day be began 20 be IN
easy at not seeing anyone except
the condemned prisoners who were
employed 20 serve those confined in
secret cells. and the jailer who
brought his food.
Am I not 90 be examined again.
he would ask.
Your turn is coming" the jailer
invariably answered.
Time passed land the wretched man.
tortured by the sufferings Of solitary
confinement. which quickly breaks
the spirit, sunk into the depths Of de-
spair.
Am I 20 STAY here forever7- he
moaned.
No, he was not forgotten; for on
Monday morning. at one o'clock. an
hour when the jailer never came. he
heard the heavy bolt Of his cell
pushed back.
He ran toward the door.
But the sight of q grav-headed man
standing on the sill rooted him 10 the
spot
Father" he gosped. "fatherl"
-FOUR father. vest
Prosper's astonishment at seeing
his father was Instantly succeeded by
feeling Of great ioy.
a father lis the one friend upon
whom we can always rely. in the
hour OF need. when an else fails. we
remember this man upon whose knees
we sat when children. and who
soothed our sorrows; and although he
can In no way assist Us. his presence
alone comforts and strengthens.
Without rejecting. Prosper. I'm
pelied by tender feeling. was about
20 throw himself ora his fathers bo-
som. NJ. Bertomv harshly repulsed
him
do not approach me-" he eH-
claimed
He then advanced into the cell. and
closed the door. The father and son
were alone toCether-Prosper, heart
broken, crushed NJ Bertomy. angry.
almost threatening.
Cast of 10y this last friend, by his
fnther. the miserable young man
seemed 20 ~ stupefed with pain and
disappointment.
"l ou.t tool" he bitterly cried. You
you believe me guilty? Oh. fatheri"
spare yourself ihis shameful COM
edy." interrupted NJ. Bertomy. II
know all"
"But am innocent father; I swear
IL 10y the sacred memory OF my
mother"
Unhappy wretch" cried NJ. Ber-
tony, edo not b.asphemei"
He seemed overcome by tender
thoughts of The past. and in weak.
broken voice. he added:
Your mother Is dead Prosper. and
little did ! think that the day would
come wheu ! could thank God for hnv-
ing taken her from me. Your crime
would have BILLED her, would have
broken her heart"
After "a painful silence. Prosper
said.
You ovcrWhelm me. father, and az
the moment when / need all my cour-
age; when 1 am the victim of an
odious plot"
Victim" cried NJ Bertomy. "vic-
tim! Dare YOU utter your insinuations
against the honorable man who has
taken care of YOU. loaded YOU with
benefits. and had insured YOU a bril-
liant future? IL is enought for you 20
have robbed him; 90 not calumniate
him"
For PHYS sake, father, let me
speak,"
Il suppose you would deny your
benefactor's kindness. Yet YOU were
at one time 30 sure OF his affection,
that you wrote me 20 hold myself In
readiness 20 come 10 Paris and ask
Monsieur Fauvel for the hand OF his
niece. Was that DE. too?"
NO" said Prosper, in choked
voice, no
That was a year ago; YOU then
loved Mademoiselle Madeleine; al
least You wrote me That you"
Father, i love Ler now. more than
ever; ] have never ceased 90 love her.
NJ. Bertomy made gesture Of con.
temptuous pity.
Indeed" ne cried. "and the
thought of the pure. innocent girl
whom you loved did not prevent your
entering upon a pa;h of sin. You
loved her; how dared you then. with
out blushinr approach her presence
after associating WITH the shameless
creatures with whom YOU were so in
tmtae?"
''for Heavens sake let me explain
by what fatality Mglcleine-"
Enough. monsieur, enough. / told
you that l know everything. I saw
Monsieur Fauvel yesterday; this
morningI saw the iudge,and tits 20 bis
kindness that am indebted FOR this
interview. DO yoIt know what morti.
bcation / suffered before being al
lowed 10 see you? ! was searched and
made 10 empty all OF my pockets, OF
suspicion of brii.s .rs you arms!"
Prosper ceased 10 Justify himself
but in a helpless, hopeless way.