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

! his existence: he was not materially
| injured; h. could not reach forth his
hand. and heal or revenge the smart
ing wound; the objects around him
were unchanged; everything went on
in the outside world just as il had
! gone on during the last 90 years: and
! yet what horrible change had taken
place in his own heart! While the
( world envied his prosperity and hap
/ pinesS. here he sat. more heart-sore
and wearied OF life than the worst
criminal that ever stood before the
inquisiuon.
What Valentine. the pure young
girl whom he had loved and married
| in spite of her poverty. in spite OF
her cold Offering Of calm affection in
return for his passionate devotion:
Valentine. the tender. loving wife.
who. before wear Of married life
had rolled by. so often assured him
that her affection had grown into
deep. confding love, that her devotion
had grown stronger every day. and
that her only PRAYER was that God
would take them both together. since
life would be a burden without her
noble husband 10 shield and cherish
her-couid she have been acting lie
for 60 years?
She. the darling wife-the mother
OF his sors2
His sons? Good God, We're they
his sons?
II she could deceive him now when
she was silver-ha'red. had she not
deceived him when she was Young?
Not only did he suffer in the pres
ent. but the uncertainty Of the past
tortured his soul
He was like = man who Is told that
The exquisite wine he has drank con-
tsins poison.
Confidence Is never halfway: il il
OF 10 is not. His confidence wss gone:
his faith was dead
The wretched banker had rested his
every hope and happiness on the love
of his wife. Believing that she had
proved faithless. that she had PLAYED
him false. and was unworthy of trust.
be admitted no possibility Of peace
ful JOY. and felt tempted to seek con-
ISOLATION from self-deStruction. What
had he 20 live for now. save 20 mourn
over the ashes OF the past2
But this detection did not last long.
Indignant anger. and thirst for ven
| geance. made him start up and swear
that he would lose no time in vain re-
grets.
NJ. Fauvel well knew that the fact
OF the diamonds being stolen was not
sufficient ground upon which 20 bring
an accusation against any OF the ac-
completes.
He must possess overwhelming
proofs before taking any active steps.
Success depended upon present secre-
cy.
He began 10y calling his valet. and
ordering him 20 bring him every let
ter that should come 20 the house.
lie then wrote 20 notary at s.:
Remy. for minute and authentic in
formation about the Layers family.
and especially about Raoul
Finally. following the advice Of the
anonymous letter. he went to the
prefecture OF police. hoping 90 OBJ
tain biography OF Clameran.
BUT the police. fortunately for
many people. are AS discreetIy silent
as tie grave. They guard their Sc
crets as a miscr his treasure.
Nothing but an order from the
chief Judge could open those formida-
BILE green boxes, and reveal their Sc
crets.
NJ. Fauvel was politely asked what
motives urged him 90 INQUIRE into the
past life Of a French citizen; and. as
he declined 70 state his reasons. the
chief Of police told him he had better
apply 10 the procureur for the de-
sired information.
This advice he could not follow. He
had sworn that the secret of his
wrongs should be confined TO the
three persons interested. He chose
TO avenge his own injuries. to bc
alone the judge and executioner.
He returned home more angry than
ever; there ne found the dispatch
answering the one he had sent to 81
Kenny. IL was as follows:
The Lagors are very poor. and
there never has been any member OF
the family named RaouL Madame
Layers had no son, only two daugh-
tiers"
This information dashed his last
hope.
The banker thought, when he dis
covered his wife's infamy, that she
bad sinned as deeply as woman could
sin; but he now saw that she had
practiced n system more shocking
han the crime itself.
"Nretched creature." he cried. with
anguish; lin order to sec her lovos
! constantly, she dared introduce him
20 me under the name of nephew
who never existed. She had the shame
less courage 10 bring him beneath
her husbands roof, and seat him at
my freside, between my sons; and /,
confiding fool that 1 was, welcomed
the villain, and let him money"
Nothing could equal the pain of