Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-08-04

mistress of his heart whose slightest
| wish had been his law. and who. by
smile or froyvn. could make him the
happiest or the most miserable of
men. Alasl those days were over now.
Could this wretche< woman crouch
ing at his feet be his beloved Valen-
| tine, the pure. innocent girl whom he
had found secluded in the chateau
of La Nerberie, who had never loved
any other than himself? Could this b.
the cherished wife whom he had wor-
! shipped for so many years?
| The memory of his lost happiness
| was too much for the stricken rsau
and was almost melted To forgive
ness.
| Unhappy woman he murmured
! unhappy womanl What have done
that YOU should thus betray mel All
my only fault was loving you too
deeply. and letting YOU see IT, One
wearies of everything in this world
| even happiness Did pure domestic
| Joys pail upon you and weary you.
driving you TO seek the excitement 90
| sinful passion? We're you 50 tired OF
the atmosphere Of respect and az.
lection which surrounded you that
you must needs risk your honor and
mine by Drawing public opinion? Oh.
into what an abyss you have fallen.
Valentine. and oh. my God, if you
were wearied by my constant devo-
ton. had the thought Of your
children no power 70 restrain your
evil passions; could YOU not remain
untarnished for their sake?''
NJ. Fauvel spoke slowly. with pain
ful effort. as il each word chokee
him.
Raoul. who listened with attention.
saw that il the banker knew some
things he certainly did not know all.
He saw that erroneous information
had misled the unhappy man. ami
that he WIS still victim of false APP
pea RANGES.
He determined 70 convince him %
the mistake under which he was la
boring, and said;
Monsieur. I hope you will listen"
But the sound OF Raoul's voice was
sufficient 20 break the charm.
"Silence," cried the banker, with an
angry oath; "silencei"
For some moments nothing was
heard but the sobs Of Nine. Fauvel.
Il came here" continued the bank
er. with the intention Of killing YOU
both. But ! can not kill n woman.
and ! viii not kill an unarmed man"
Raoul once more tried 20 speak.
LET me tnishl" interrupted NJ Fau-
vel. Your life is in my hands: the
law excuses the vengeance Of an in
iured husband. but I refuse 20 take
advantage Of il. see on your man
tie a revolver similar U mine; take IL.
and defend yourself"
| Never"
Defend YOURSELF" cried the ban
ker. raising his arm. III YOU do not
Feeling the barrel OF NJ. Fauvers
revolver touch his breast. Raoul. I'm
self-defense. seized his own pistol. and
prepared 20 FIRE.
stand In that corner OF the room.
and l Will stand ia this" continued
the banker; land when the clock
strikes. which viii Ice In few sec
onds. we viii both fire"
They took the places designated
and stood perfectly s,ill.
But the horror of the scene was too
much for Nine. Fauvel 20 witness any
longer without interposing. She un-
lestood but one thing: her son and
her husband were about 20 kill each
other before her very eyes. Fright
, and horror gave her strength TO start
: up and rush between the two men.
For Gods sake, have mercy, An
dre!" she cried. wringing her hands
with anguish. 'let me tell you every
thing; don't kill"
| This burst of maternal love. NJ. Fau-
/ vel thought the pleadings of a Grim
; inal woman defending her lover.
He roughly seized his wife by the
arm, and thrust her aside, saying
. with indignant scorn:
Get out of the wayl"
But she would not be repulsed; rush
ing up TO Raoul, she threw her arms
around him, and said 10 her husbands:
Kill me, and me alone; for I am
tho guilty onei"
At these words NJ. Fauvel glared at
the guilty pair. and. deliberately
taking aim. fired.
Neither Raoul nor Nine. Fauvel
moved. The banker fired a second
time; then a third.
He cooked the pistol for fourth
] shot, when man rushed into the
room snatched the pistol from the
bankers hand, and. throwing him on
the sofa, ran toward Nine. Fauvel.
This man wa. VI. Verduret, who had
been warned by Cavainon, but did not
know that Nine. Gypsy had extracted
the balls from NJ. Fauvers revolver.
Thank Heavenl" he cried, "she is
unhurt"
How dare you interfere2" cried the
banker, who by this time had joined
the group. Il have the right TO avenge
my honor when IL has been degraded;
the villain shall diei"
NJ Nerduret seized the bankers
wrists in a vice-like grasp. and whis-
| pered in his ear: