The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1908-11-12

Rigaud, what possesses you 70 part
with them? They are as safe as the
Bank OF England, and rising IN
value"
So much the better for YOU" said
the Frenchman, rubbing his thin
white hands together, and with
slight contortion about the drawn
lines of his mouth, which might have
been smile,
ct do not wish to be impertinent,
my friend, /" said Mr. Denstone, plant
ing himself squarely upon the hearth
rug, r@but why this immediate de-
nand for cash? You have no spend
thrift son. have you. who has been
playing ducks and brakes with your
money?s
"No, thank Heaven! have no
son, said the old man, energetically.
1T have only one child, q little daugh-
ter"
indeed" said Mr.. Denstone, as
tonished. at never heard even that
you were married"
"Yes," said the old Frenchman,
slowly rubbing his claw-lfke. hands.
"Yes, I was married once; but 1t is
not wonderful that yon did not know
1t. I have lived a double life. Did
you ever hear of any one before who
lived two lives?"
"Not /, >. said Mr.. Denstone. Il am
simple enough to prefer to be above
board"
"Simple! Yes, you English make
much of simplicity, but we, we see
no merit In 1t. Finesse is what we
admire. My Josephine never knew
was rich"
"Good Heavens!" exclaimed Mr..
Denstone. "And she was your lawful
wife?"
Eyes; but that was one Of my
lives," he answered, with a fash Of
cunning In his eyes. 1--WE lived at
home in what you call simplicity. I
had my affairs in England. She made
inquiries sometimes, but did not
satisfy them. After all, one does as
one likes with ones own wife. Mon
Repos was the best place of abode
for her. Women are so strange. If
she had known, tell me, would she
have continued to live there? oh,
que non! It would have been all
money, money, money; gowns, bon
nets, equipages! Bah! knew my
own business best!"
"And the poor lady lived and died
under the delusion that you were
poor!" said Mr.. Denstone, indig-
nantly.
"Just so. We had enough; little,
little competency. 1t was repose to
go back there, to feel my economies;
that is why I called the old house
Mon Repos!'
Mr.. Denstone felt q profound dis
gust at the selhshness of the old man.
And you have then a child" he
said. "She, at least, you will not
bury in such living death; an OBJ
scure country village in the heart of
France. Why, man. she would be
one of the richest heiresses in Eng
land.
YES, but she belongs to my French
life-to her mothers life, =" said Mon
shall lose all security, all repose.
am not so young as was. have an
odd feeling sometimes that IL she were
to find 1t out, she would make me do
as she likes, not as wish; but she
won't ind 1t out, she belongs to my
second life, don't you see?"
"But eventually, my friend!"
~Who cares what happens after he
Is dead? I don't. She may do as
she likes then"
But do you take no care OF her?
t. - IL
%She Is at school; but / shall send
for her soon. shall want to go back
to my economies when have finished
all my business here. This will be
the end of it all. and when go back,
I shall stay and live and enjoy my
second life at Mon Repos. And this
| brings me to what / came to say.
want to ask you whether you will act
/ the part of friend, and for the last
week that / am in England, let me
sleep here? I shall not trouble you
much in the day, as haTo business,
much important business to do; but
at night-Peste! / will confess my
weakness. have grown nervous at
night. hear people whispering at
my hotel. see them glancing at me.
The lock of my door is common
one; fear to have it changed lest
excite suspicion. Doubtless you keep
cash in this house?"
"Yes," said Mr.. Denstone, slowly,
"cash and deeds"
$50 you have every precaution OF
modern invention.
"I have the usual precautions, and
such as they are you are welcome to
them. wish you would be advised
by me, Rigaud No money is worth
this anxiety. You will kill yourself.
or worse"
"Bah!" said the old man, with a
sort Of CHASTITY gayety.
"In our peaceful Mon Repos, that
abode of sacred poverty, where NO
domestics have lived since the Del
uge, all fear leaves me. I rest and
-yes-I enjoy myself.
"And your little daughter"
"The pleasure that suficied for heI