El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-18
HONOR
BY Binet-v almer.


Cutting up very straight and cor
~ rect, his elbow resting on. the arm
of the chair in which he was sit
ting. NJ. GODDARD de Surras was calmly
reading aloud a letter he had just
written and which he was now hold
ing in hts hand. At the other side OF
the table, N. Rodard-Raville was listen
ing The lamplight illuminated the
features of both. They looked very
much alike, both were young and both
wore evening dress. They both wore
their dark hair parted in the middle
and mustaches trimmed a Fanglaise,
and both were rather pale
When NJ GODDARD de Surras had fin
ished. he looked at NJ. GODDARD Ravi1le.
who said, without the slightest trace
of emotion. TT is very good"
Never had the brothers felt drawn
more closely together. and still they
had followed the same path ever since
they left their fathers house, and
their acts, their struggles and success
had been the same.
The brothers GODDARD were sons of a
notary in a small town. who was highly
respected in the whole province They
had higher ambitions than that. One
had married Mile. de Surras. the other
Mile Raville. The de Surras belonged
fessor Ravflfe was a famous scientist.
There had been no money in these
marriages, but great deal OF honor.
They had opened their salons to ambi-
tious young men. They had no desire
to astonish society, but were satisfied
to associate with the highest classes.
They had not tried to force themselves
ahead, but had waited patiently and
had gradually won position in society
which greatly admired the two broth
ers and the way in which one always
aided the other. They were highly re-
spectacle, faithful husbands and loyal
friends. Gossip found their armor abb
solutely spotless and impenetra BILE.
But just now the worst disaster of all
had overtaken them. This very even
ing each of them had received letter
in which their father. the old notary,
confessed that he had been an embez-
zler for years, for 10 years indeed. Had
he been dishonest to get the means to
give his children a good education?
Was it, perhaps, to satisfy some secret
passion that he had used the funds en-
trusted to him? He said nothing about
It. He simply said that the time had
come when he could conceal his crime
would be there, and that under such
he placed his life In the
hands of hts sons. Whatever they told
him to do, he would do.
1t was the answer to these letters that
NJ. GODDARD de Surras had Just written
and that NJ. GODDARD Raville had ap-
proved. And this answer was SO
so brave. so denuded OF emo
ton and pity that it amounted in fact
to sentence of death. In it's careful
~ composed sentences. there was moth
ing but logic and common sense. They
had talked the matter over briefly. AS
If with one mind they had looked into
the horrible problem, the solution of
which appeared SO simple to them
There was no other way, and while
NJ. GODDARD de Surras slipped the letter
into the envelope, they looked at one
another.
"who is that?-Oh, very we'll Come
There was knock at the door.
in" said NJ GODDARD de Surras, ano
turning to NJ. GODDARD Raville. he added:
1T is Paul."
NJ. GODDARD Raville frowned.
An excited young man appeared IN
the doorway
1t was the third son Of the old no.
tary GODDARD. He was as excited as |
the others were calm. Alas, Paul God
ard had never been wise in the ways of |
the world He, too, had made his way !
in the world. but 1t was so different |
from that of his brothers and his mar
rage was quite Bohemian, for he had |
married q pretty girl from Montmartre |
and lived very happily with her. He |
vas a tall, broad shouldered, handsome |
young man, of whom his brothers were |
ashamed and of whom his father did |
1ot think very much.
ooh. what are we to do? What are |
We to do?" he exclaimed, breathless |
With excitement.
His brothers, who had both stood up, |
Itared at him coldly from the other |
;ide Of the table. Their behavior did |