Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1911-12-12

to shun, II possible. this great misfor-
tune. Confide In me, as . son should
in his father Have you thought of
what is to be done2 have you formed
any determinations
ut seems to me, sir, that hesitation
is impossible"
SIN what way?"
s'My duty, father, is very plain. Be
fore your legitimate son. ought to
give way without murmur, II not
without regret. Let him come. am
ready to yield to him everything that
7 have so long kept from him without
a suspicion Of the truth-his fathers
love, his fortune. and his name"
At this most praiseworthy reply,
the old nobleman could scarcely pre-
serve the calmness he had recommend
ed to his son in the earlier part of the
Interview. His face grew purple; and
he struck the table with his fist more
furiously than he had ever done in his
life.
Sand I tell you, sir, that this dream
of your shall never take place. No;
that it shan't. swear it. I promise
you, whatever happens, understand,
that things shall remain as they are;
because 1t is my win. You are Wis
count de Commarin, and Viscount de
Commarin you shall remain. in spite
Of yourself, If necessary. You shall
retain the title to your death, or at
least to mine; for never. while live,
shall your absurd idea be carried OUT
but, sir" began Albert timidly.
"You are very daring to interrupt
me while I am speaking, sir" ex-
claimed the count do l not know
all your objections beforehand? You
are going to tell me that it is a re-
voting injustice,a wicked robbery. l
confess it, and grieve over it more than
you possibly can. Do you think that
/ now for the first time repent of my
youthful folly? For twenty years, Sir,
I have lamsnted my true son; for
twenty years; have cursed the wick
edness of which he is the victim. And
yet Learned how to keep silence. and
to hide the sorrow and remOrse which
have covered my pillow with thorns.
In single instant. your senseless
yielding would render my long suffer-
ings of no avail. No, l will never per-
NIT it!' The count read a reply on
his soaas lips: he stopped him with
whitening glance. do you think" he
continued, that I have never wept
over The thought Of my legitimate son
passing his life struggling for COM
petence? Do you think that have
never telt burning desire to repair the
wrong done him? There have been
times, SIN. when would have giysa
half Of my fortune simply to embrace
that child of wife too tardily appre-
ciated. The fear of "casting shadow
OF suspicion upon your birth prevented
me. khave sacrificed myself to tn.
great name I bear. received it from
my ancestors without stain. Mag
you hand it down to your children
equally sspotless! Your first impulse
was q sworthy oneS generous and no.
BILE; but, you must forget It Think ID
the scandal, n our secret should be
disclosed to the publis gaze Gan You
not foresee the joy of our enemies. Df
that herd, of upstairs which surrounds
ms? I.ahudder at the thought of the
odium and the ridicuie which would
cling to,our name. Too many families
already have stains upon their escut
Gheons; Twill have none on niue
M. ,deGommarin remained silent for
several minutes, during which Albert
did not dare say word. SO much had
ha been accustomed since infancy to
respect the least wish of the terrible
old gentleman.
There lis. no possible way out of it,
continued the count Can l discard
YOU Tomorrow. and present this Noel
as my son, Saying. Excuse me, but
there has hsen a slight mistake; this
one is the viscount?' And then the
tribunals Will get hold Of it. What
does 1t matter who is named Benoit.
Durand, or Bernard? But, when one
Is Called Commarin. even but for a
single day, one must retain that name
through life. The same moral does
not do for everyone; because we have
not the same duties to perform. In
orr position. errors are irreparable.
Take courage, then, and show yourself
worthy of the name you bear. The
storm is upon you; raise your head to
meet it."
Albert's impassdhility contributed
not little to increase M, de Commar-
ISIS Irritation. Firm in an unchange-
able resolution. the viscount listened
like one fulfilling duty: and his face
reflected no emotion. The count saw
he was not shaken.
What have you to repiy?" he asked.
at seems to me, sir, that you have
no idea of all the dangers which
foresee. 1t is difficult to master the re-
volts OF conscience
Indeed" interrupted the count con-
temptuously: ''your conscience revolts.
does it? 1t has chosen its time badly.
Your scruples come too late. So hong
M Won saw that vour inheritance con-