New-York tribune., 1922-01-22

was his aulot DC chambre.
'The nurse tells me that your father wants
70 you.
Morvillc was surprised, for his father, whose
.ifc was slowly ebbing away hadn't spoken
for several weeks, and had seemed uncon-
sc:ouS Of what was going Oh about him.
With an effort the old man turned his head
toward the back Of the room. A nurse, who
lad been sitting there mute and motoness
as a piece Of furniture, got up and walked
away. They heard her footsteps grow moro
and more ndstnct
"see If any one can hear IL. Close the
doors Cor1c back quicNiy.'
"Listcn' he began when his son had carried
out these Instructions g" n.ust make haste
! have to talk to you. feel THAI MY strength
has come back to ne only for a few hours. }
n1ust us. it, because, afterward aftcrward-
So ! can talk to you now But first tell me
how the business is going. What are the re
suits this year.
Louis Marville gave him some details and
figures. The old man listened eagerly What
had been his life passion was still his passion.
"It's magnificent he murmured.
lie closed his eyes and seemed to struggle
moment with himself. Then, in this broken
voice he went on. hardly above a whisper;
II have something to say to you-something
to reveal to you. Mon Dicu. how hard it is.
You remember my father, don't you-your
grandfather?'
"Certainly, I remember him. said Louis
Marville, greatly astonshed
"You know how he came to make his for
tune, our fortune? He had spent the greater
part of his life without succeeding at any
thing, in spite Of his efforts and his intelli-
gence. He had to fight against poverty. He
had tried everything up to the day.
up to the day when he inherited from
cousin Vautier the 100000 francs which al
lowed him to build his first factory. Yes,
know"
"Wel (the old mans voice sank lower and
lower), we'll. the inheritance from cousin
Vautier ought not to have gone to my father.
My father took it~-seized it. Be silent and
listen to me. Cousin Vauter had another
heir, nephew, Albert Blanchard, whom he had
educated, but who through stubbornness had
quarreled with him and gone to live abroad.
Consin Vautier, in anger, made will leaving
all his fortune to my father. Afterward he
regretted it, and two three days before his
death, without telling any one, he made new
will, under which Blanchard was to inherit
everything. On the day of Cousin Vautiers
death my father found this will and hid it
away"
cit is absurd! It is impossible! It is like a
cheap novel;" cried Louis Marville. "Come,
father, consider"-
Don't speak so loud" the old man inter-
rupted. II am telling you the truth Ny mind
isn't wandering. The will is there in my desk.
See, here is the key Open the safe deposit
compartment. 1t has double bottom Push
the slide back There it is. The paper in the
linen envelope. That's the will"
There was silence while the son read the
document, which shook in his fingers.
"You see, there isn't any doubt about it,"
the old man continued. "Blanchard lived life
Of misery. He had been brought up expecting
to have the fortune; he became decasse. He
died long time ago. But he left two children
one a boy, who is petty clerk, without
a sou, and burdened with family; the other
q girl, who is teacher. Now it is necessary
to make reparation, don't you understand?
My father told me this just before he died
He told me it was weight which was crush
ing him. It was remorse, if you will. He told
a,e that reparation must be made. But at that