The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-08-27
The Cirardet
Estate
BY F. A. mitchell

ANAsSA tuc ldJueT uluTEleu WNo" "Ae"
one child, a daughter, Louise. also
eight years old. Jules, who was In
clined to be wild, was very fond of his
stepmother, and she alone had any In
nuence over him.
About the time Jules came OF age
the second Nine. Girardet died. Jules.
who had entered the army, was at the
time fighting with his regiment In AL
gerta and, Of course, could not come
home. His father was much embit-
tered. needing his son in this second
bereavement, especially since he was
getting old and desired younger man
on whom to lean. He had been much
troubled by his sons disposition to lead
a reckless life and had opposed his fol
lowing the career of soldier. He
wished his boy to remain ut home and
learn the business of taking care Of his
estate. which was large one.
But all his pleadings were in vain.
Jules seemed fitted for turbulent life
and could not be made to settle down
as a country gentleman. The boys
only redeeming trait-so his father
considered twas his affection for his
stepmother, somewhat unusual In step
children, and his unselfishness with re-
gard to Louise. His father, in order to
make him subservient to his wishes,
had once threatened to leave oil his
property to Louise. Jules told him that
he could not do anything that would
please him better.
Soon after the death of the second
Nine. Girardet the old man called his
stepdaughter into his study and said to
her:
ut is now a month since Jules was
notified Of your mothers death, and
not n word has come from him. Could
a father be treated worse by SOM"
"But, papa, Jules is campaigning.
He may not have received our letters
and If he has may not have had an op-
portunity to answer them. The news
papers report great deal of fighting
at the front"
"That may be, my dear girl, but It
does not alter the case, SO far as I am
concerned. l am an old man. and /
have one son, on whom / should be
able to rely. That son has disappoint
ed me-not one thing l have asked of
him that he has granted. l am not
well, and shall not live long. must
settle my affairs. You shall be my
sole heir. But woman is not fitted
to manage an estate. You must have
husband. and that husband must be
N OF Ix u,itb h,te,t
ness. have such a man in view. /
have entered upon negotiations with
NJ. Meydieu for his son, Armand"
One would naturally suppose that
Louise on being told that she would
inherit an estate worth 100000 francs.
would rejoice. But the look on her
| face indicated that she was not mt all
favorably impressed with the plan,
yet realizing that her stepfather was
in no mood to be opposed she accept
ed the situation, at least tenn orarily.
NJ. Girardet made his will in her
| favor and ignored his son. He also
made marriage contract between Ar
mand Meydieu and Louise. When 1t
was signed he showed the will to Ar
mand, explaining why he had made 1t
and that Armand was expected to take
care of the estate. All these matters
having been arranged, the old man
| tried to deceive himself that he felt
content. But he did not. He loved his
boy and would have much rather left
his estate In the natural way.
Not long after the making of this
marriage contract the war In Algeria
came to an end. and Jules regiment
was ordered home. At the time the
troops reached the French coast NJ
Girardet was lying at the point OF
death. Louise, seeing notice of the
arrival Of Jules regiment, telegraphed
him that his father was dying and II
he desired to see him alive he mus
come at once.
The next day the old man. his life
ebbing away, saw his son standing
over his bed In colonel's uniform ant
covered with decorations. The younl
man bent down and uttered the words
"Forgive me, father
"A notary" gasped the old man. "i
notary! must make another will"
Too late. Before a notary could b,
summoned the old man died.
After the funeral Louise, to whom
her stepfather had given his will 70
safe keeping. led her stepbrother int
the library. shut all the doors and tool
the instrument out of desk. A brigh
fire burned on the hearth. and Louis,
stood near It.
Jules" she said, papa has been TN
just to you In trying to make you wha
you are not and trying to keep yOl
from being what you are. BY this pa
per he has deprived you Of your right
ful Inheritance"
ITO whom has he left it?'
She threw the paper into the blaz
and when II was consumed replied. ST
) me-"
Jules sprang toward her and caugh
; her In his arms, Not n word was spc
ken, but each saw In the others es
. preston what neither had seen before
What papa would have done If h
had livnH tn 1p N hnun dana cpt