The Washington times., 1912-02-07
CHAPTER XXI (continued)
err WOULD rather der


or living, nothing will save
you from scandal IL you do not con-
sent to this marriage. If the day after
tomorrow you have not agreed to be-
come my wife all Besancon shall know
that the sanity Nine. Courtlait had a
child before her marriage, and the
child's father was ChauffardH
All the blood in my veins seemed
to have gone to my heart. Nine. Cour-
lait whom I had called aunt was
my mother. l wanted to take her
In my arms and protect her against
this wretch, but 1 felt that 1 could
not let her know that I had learned
mol no! will never marry such
a monster as you. 1 heard my poor
You think said Prebois, showing
his teeth like a hyena, that that is
not enough. I will tell how you aban-
doned him.
TT is q liev she cried; he was lost
and as soon as I could find him saw
that he was well cared for
Yes, yes, we know all about that
gtons. The sanity Nine. Courlaitl
Now when everyone knows you will
be ruined and no one will marry your
daughter; your pretty little Adrienne.'
The villain knew how. to find the
vulnerable side. When he spoke Of
her daughter, Nine. Courlait burst
into tears.
"'You see. it's no use struggling.
Iomorrow morning l shall come for
your papers and in three weeks at the
latest you Will be Nine. Prebois.'
Have pity
80 Madame. think what I have said
Your little story is now in the hands
or the publisher of the Fanal Com
tots. If tomorrow at midday I have
not been to tell him to stop it from
Eoins to press he will publish your
little romance with transparent in
itials. The people want a little scan
dal from time to time
The wretch left the room. l want
IN my arms, but I was afraid. push.
ed open the door gently and stood
there. She looked up.
you! you! she exclaimed you
Everything, mother. Forgive mo.
I stood there waiting anxiously to
see what attitude she would take with
re Although I was but boy. I hal
furnished library and I had passed
hours at night reading, and / saw life
across philosophical doctrines without
being able to understand all.
only thought Of my mother as a victim
nnnd that 1t was my duty to comfort her
She was good, pious woman, but
weak aud timid. Her life had been
"A look of pity came into her eyes
and she murmurcd:
Poor boy-boy.'
That was sufficient for me to rush
We mingled orr tears. It was the first
time in my life that I had felt my
mothers arms around me, and I could
have stayed there Cor hours, but after
few minutes I drew myself away,
I'VE talked the matter over and she
decided to go ard beg a priest to help
her.
This priest had known her oil her
who published the Fanal Comtois II
was feeble ray Of nope. but 1t was ali
she could do.
The publisher consented not 10 print
him a certain sum of money. She did
30. and then she sold the business and
left Besancon with Adrienne. I fol-
lowed them
we went to Paris loved my
mother. had respect ana pity for her
ana I worshiped my little sister Ad-
rienne Rut grief undermined my
mothers health; she died soon after
Before she He'd she told me oil the
circumstances Of my birth. and told me
to try and find my father. His name
was Chauffard. He abandoned my
mother when he found out how mat
tiers stood.
Her parents sent her to stay at
ptjon. and 4 woman there trranged to
take care Of me Tor 1000 francs She
did not keep her promise It was she
who threw me on the railway bank
Ny mather married. and then she tried
in every way to find me. When NJ.
Courleit died she took me to live with
her.
relatives sent her to a boarding school.
They considered me as a sort of
servant. I was taken i'll after my moth
er's death, and was sent to the hos
pital. When l came out I possessed
eight francs. I walked from Paris to
the little village to see Mother Gendron
she welcomed me like the prodigal
son. / could not live with her long, for
had to earn my living. My old school
master gave me a letter of introduce
tlon TO a firm In Paris. and was en-
gagged as Junior clerk. After some diff
flculty / found that they had sent my
sister to a school at Passy.
1T could not get permission to call
upon her. so on Sunday, when the pu-
pills went for their walk l would wait
around until she came by and we would
exchange a smile and sometimes a few
quick words.
az kept my position until the time
came for me to do my military service.
was now earning 100 francs a month,
and sent Mother Gendron a small sum
regularly to buy herself a few luxuries.
"While was doing my military serv-
ice she died, ana when ! returned to