The state herald., 1920-05-14

anu Juot 40 thC JuuSN was
the wrong man, he confessed he was
the missing convict that had robbed
the bishop and the hurdy-gurdy boy
The judge let him go; but Javert
was implacable and apprehended him
Mt Fantine's death.bed. He was lodged
In jail. but having enormous strength
he broke out and returned to his house
to secure his great fortune. He had
time to hide his money in the haunted
forest of Montfermell, but was cap
tured and sent to the galleys for life.
Nine months later at ToulOn he
broke his chain and saved the life Of
sailor who was hanging head down
from the topmast of ship, but he
himself either fell or jumped Off from
the spar and was reported drowned.
place and the Thenadiers, who had
been guilty of robbing the dead on the
fatal field, kept wretched inn ut
Montfermeil. They treated Cozette,
now eight years old, with great cruelty,
Christmas, 1923, was the climax of her
wretchedness; she was sent after dark
to fetch water from spring In the
dreadful forest. A poorly dressed
stranger, passing, carried her heavy
bucket. At the tavern he protected
her from her mistress threatened
punishment, and the next morning he
paid Thenadier 1900 francs and took
Cozette to Paris, where he occupied n
tumble-down habitation just outside
of the city; the gloomiest place in all
the gloomy boulevard. BY day ugly, at
twilight lugubrious, and % night sin
lister. He thought hihself secure
there, but his benevolence made him
conspicuous. and the old care-taker be
ing full of envy and .uncharitableness
grew suspicious OF her lodger.
One day he saw Javert. He took
Cosette and again fed. But Javert
was on his track. Only by unex.
ampled adroitness and by his colossal
strength did he escape by climbing
over high wall. He found himself
in the garden of the convent Of the
Petit Picpus, where worked Pere
Fauchelevent, whose life NJ. Madeleine
has saved when he was mayor Of
M. The gardener. out of his grati-
tude, got him appointed his assistant
by representing him to be his brother.
Cosette was taken into the convent
school. She grew up into charming
girl; beauty suddenly came to her like
the blossoms to cherry tree In April,
and Jean Vatican. happy in loving her
ms his daughter. rs his granddaughter,
as the only woman he had ever loved,
guarded her as sacred treasure.
He had good reason to be wary. for
the Thenadlers had come to Paris and
never forgot. He had several desper-
ate encounters with them. On the one
side outlaws; on the other undertaking
law personlfed. He took part In the
abortive revolution Of 1890 and saved
Javert's life. Mt last winning the ad-
miratlon Of that implncable and fatally
honorable man.
But there was one danger from
which he could not protect Cosette:
the most beautiful thing In the world,
which nevertheless seemed to him his
worst cnemy-love.
Baron Marlus, the son Of a man
whom ThenadIer had robbed at Water
loo and incidentally saved from n
his house by his royallst grandfather
and was earning a poor livelihood by
literature. lie saw her and they met.
Their love went through more thnn the
usual vicissltudcs. During the lnsur.
rection Jean Vatican carried the youth
through the mazes Of the Paris sewers
and brought him desperately wounded
TO his grandfa,hcr's house. The old
man rclcntcd and consented TO the
marriage. Jean Vatican gave Cose,te
a dowry Of about G0Oo00 francs. In
order to have n conscience perfectly
clear he told his life story to Marius,
who. not understanding the grandeur
Of the spirit that had never done nny.
thing but good. allowed him to go away
with broken heart. Thenadler. how.
ever. came to the baron TO blnckmnil
him md unconsclously revealed what
n noble life Jean Vatican had led.
Narius. taking Cosette. hnstcned io
the old mans dcath.bcd. md gave him
one last taste from the cup OF hnppl'
ness. He died In their arms.
Victor Hugo calls 'Les MIsernhles"
~ drama In which the hero Is the
Infinite. the second character Is Man.
II is In reality mclodrnma In which
are mingled scenes Of history. n host n
characters from the highest 10 the
lowest. lmprohabill,lcs which strain
ones crcdullty. n vast amount Of rare
and curious Information on nil sorts
Of subjects. dissertations on phlloso.
ply, science. politics nnd religion, Its
trcntmcn, Of social injustice Ind n
powerful influence ON public opinion,
not only In France but In many
countries. I, has been nm epoch.mak.
Ing book.
Copyright. 1919. by tho Post Publishing Co,
tTho Boston rorp,
Soon Lost Art.
Among the lost arts of the world I,