The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-08-28
The Giirardet
Estate
BY F. A. Mitchell

after his marriage with one chiid,
son, Jules, eight years old. Two year
later the father married widow witt
one child. a daughter, sLouise, als'
eight years old. Jules, who was in
clined to be wild, was very fond of hi
stepmother, and she alone had any In
fuence over him.
About the time Jules came OF agt
the second Nine Girardet died. Jules
who had entered the army, was at thu
time fighting with his regiment In AL
geria 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 at 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 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 all 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
Mime. Girardet the old man called his
atepdaughter into his study and said to
her:
ut is now a month since Jules was
notified of your mothers death, and
not word has come from him. Could
a father be treated worse by sonT'
but, papa, Jules is campaigning.
He may not have received our letters
and If he has may not have had an OPP
portunity to answer them. The news
at the front"
THAT may be, my dear girl, but 1t
does not alter the case, so far as am
concerned. / am an old man, and I
have one sou, on whom l should be-
able to rely. That son has disappoint-
ed me-not one thing l have asked of
him that he has granted. / am not
well, and I shall not live long / must
settle my affairs. You shall be my
sole heir. But a woman is not fitted
to manage an estate. You must have
a husband, and that husband must be
a steady man, with head for bust
ness. | have such man in view. | |
have entered upon negotiations with |
M. 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 at all
favorably impressed with the plan.
yet realizing that her stepfather was
In no mood to be opposed she accept
I'd the situation, at least temporarily.
M. Girardet made bis will In her
made marriage contract between Ar
nand Meydieu and Louise. When 1t
was signed he showed the will TO Ar
nand. explaining why he had made 1t
md that Armand was expected TO take
are of the estate. All these matters
having been arranged. the old man
ried TO deceive himself that he felt
,ontent. But he did not. He loved his
BOY and would have much rather left
lis estate In the natural way.
Not long after the making OF this
contract the war In Algeria
anne TO an end, and Jules regiment
vas ordered home. At the time the
roops reached the French coast NJ. !.
;irardet was lying at the point OF
cath. Louise. seeing a notice OF the i
rival Of Jules regiment, telegraphed :
i'm that his father was dying and II =
e desired 10 see him alive be must :
ONE at once.
The next day the old man, his life ID
bling away, saw his son standing h
yer bis bed I'm a colonel's uniform and \
overed with decorations. The young
IAN bent down and uttered the words
Forgive me. father"
"A notary" gasped the old man. "A 7
otnryl ] must make another will"
Too late. Before notary could be
nmmoned the cid man died.
After the funeral Louise. 10 whom l.
er stepfather had given his viii for 9
sfe keeping, led her stepbrother into .
be library. shut all the doors and took :,
ie instrument out Of desk. A bright
ne burned on the hearth. and Louise D
God near It.
Jules she said, papa has been I'M
Ist 20 you IN trying to make you what !,
Du are not and trying 70 keep you !,
ON being what you are BY this re. !.
r be has deprived you % your right !.
Il Inheritance"
To whom has be left tf~ :,
She threw the paper into the blaze n
n when 4 was consumed replied. To lY
e. la
Jules sprang toward her and caught ..
r IN bis arms. Not a word vss so &
m. but each saw IN the others er- =
essiOn what uelther had seen before. d.
what papa would have done N be
"a LIVED % o. q have DONE snid
,uise presently You are your "a
sr's sole helr and no win q nscrs.
~ - insure hls estate a. vun.~
And a. ms wife IL VIII en- - rnrrr