The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-08-12
Honor Us. Conscience
(By Eugenis Lelies }

AIOnsO, 1 reVealeQ 10 you my Sc
cret on condition that you should not
tell anybody about it. You should
not even speak to me of the matter.
Remember, you pledged me your hon.
or that you would keep silent, that
YOU would forget it. Well, you have
not forgotten. for you are mentioning
it to me now" ..
"You are right, LOUIS replied Al
fonso, blushing. 'T will never speak
another word
Alfonso was left alone. He felt
worried and sad His conscience ac-
cused him.
'T should not tolerate" he said to
himself. that such a thing should
continue. 1t is my duty to prevent
Alfonso from running himself and his
family. Why, he has already spent
his own fortune and is now dilapidat-
ing his wife's. l ought to tell her;
my conscience commands me to do it
but l have pledged my word-my
honor forbids me to speak.
One year later Alfonso met Louis
wife.
Il am very happy to see you, my
good friend" said he. How do you
do? You are not seen very often now
adays."
YES" answered the lady. II go
out very little. You see,' she con-
tinued, Il am dressed in black, like
a mourner.'
"But you are not in mourning, l
hope"
well, have not lost any of my
loss of something almost as great.
But l suppose you know all about it.
guess my husband has informed
you"
mo, indeed; have not seen him
for a long time
"Ir that case will tell you. You
are our best friend and have no rea-
son to conceal the truth from you.
We have suffered great reverses in
our fortunes. Even my personal prop
critics are mortgaged. We have been
forced to sell our carria ges and horses
and have but little left, barely enough
to eat every day. A disaster, my
friend-"
The unfortunate lady took leave OF
Alfonso, and the young man directed
his steps toward the Castelana boule-
ward.
A handsome carriage, drawn by a
magnificent team of black horses,
passed him Alfonso recognized in
the fair occupant of tn ecarriage one
of the most famous beauties OF
Madrid, Juanita Campos. The young
man was full of indignation at the
sight. He felt inclined to stop the
carriage, eject the woman and give
the vehicle to Louis wife; for that
handsome train had been bought with
her money and it was rightfLlly hers"
sThe same day Alfonso met Louis.
are a wretch" said he. "You
don't appreciate the pure love of your
wife; you deceive her, and besides
you are squandering her fortune.
shall not stand by this any longer. l
will see her and tell her what is hap
pening, so you would not deceive her
any longer with false stories about
unfortunate business transactions and
losses in stocks"
"You may tell her, Alfonso re-
piled his friend, "but remember you
gave me your word you should never
tell"
WELL" said Alfonso, 81 may keep
my word, and I may not"
Unluckily, he did keep it, and Louis
and his family lost everything.
One day Alfonso called on his
friends wife. The unfortunate lady
was living in little house OF mlser-
able aspect; her children had no
shoes to wear; they had nothing to
eat for twenty-four hours. Louis had
deserted his family because his honor
forbade him to stay in Madrid.
Alfonso left few thousand francs
ip the hands of the mother, kissed the
children and departed.
He was suffering terrible torture.
Had he obeyed his conscience that
family would not find itself in that
lamentable position. But he had
pledged his honor.
Louis, at the same time, had left
his wife and ihs children to starve,
because "his honor forbade him to re-
main at hime."
Both Louis and Alfonso were what
is called men of honor; but were
they honest?
Which is worth most, honor or con-
science?