The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-07-27
From Bssckwood.
THE WIPES SECRET.


n THE WIPES SECRET.
Within two hours Of the birth of Paul Ver-
dot, his mother died, and as her husband had
departed this life some six months previous
", little Paul was left an orphan almost as
coon as he well could be; aud but for his
grandame Truquet, manufacturer and vendor
of sabots in the ancient town Of Amiens, in the
department Of the Somme, France, the little
fellow must have been conveyed to the bas-
ket of the enfans.roaues, and consigned to the
pious care OF the good nuns attached to that
anti-Nalthusian establishment. Kind Dame
'rruquet having wrapped her tiny grandson
carefully up in her lap, carried him safely
home, and BY dint Of careful nursing, unstin.
ted scoldlng, and stripes not few. contrved
to bring him creditably up TO young mans
estate, with only one mishap Of any conse-
sequence. This occurred one day when Paul
was about three years old. Madame Tru-
'icuet kept stall i'm the Eiarket-place on Sat
urday, Tor the more ready disposal OF her
wares, and one or two likely looking custom
ers coming up as she was handling Paul affac-
tionately in her arms, she too hastily popped
him down upon o lofty and loose heap OF
sdbots Just deposited on the narrow stall,
which, unable to support the sudden and
struggling weight, slid over, carrying the
child with it. who fell heavily upon the pave
ment, aud broke his right leg. This unfor-
tunate tumble resulted in permanent lame.
ness, the wounded limb when cured being
ubUut two inches shorter than its fellow
calamity not without its compensating bene-
fit, inasmuch as il rendered Paul forever in.
eligible os candidate for military glory; in
other words, deprived him of the honor of
contributing a emit to the CONSUMPTION lists.
Nothing otherwise especially noteworthy is
recorded ofPsri's boyhood. He very early
mastered the art and mys.ery Of the saboi
manufacturing, and at his own request, was
appreciated to cordoREier, so that he might
thereafter beable to coe,bne the twin trades
Of wood and leather ST eczema king. Paul fin
iished his timerat twenty, and but for a mis-
HAP which befell HIN at that susceptible age,
he would at once have set out with light
heart, like other young men Of his class, for
a two or three years tour through France, 10
acquire experience in his craft, and such gen.
eral knowledge of the ways Of the world as
would qualify him TO settle down quietly aud
comfortably at Amiens, with "Truquet aud
Verdoi, boot, shoe and satot manufacturers,
over the shop door. This first stumble, as il
may be called, upon the very Threshold Of
life, was Caused by the bewilderin2 black
eyes OF Lucille rBorlase, young shoe-bnd-
ress employee by his master, at whose dwell
ing poor Paul used frequently to cali for the
work which had been given o1t to the mis-
chievous damsel, and he was only too happy,
when occasionally asked to sit down aud
wait awhile till it was finished. Al those
times, as Paul subsequently confessed to his
indignant grandma her. he ielt Lucille's mer-
~ glances shoot through and through his
heart and back again, just as her bright nee-
die. pierced in aud out of the less tender bind
ing she was sewing on. This revelation,
made on the day his apprenticeship expired,
would hardly, perhaps, then have bubbled
over his lips, but for the great additional fer
.vency i@parted to his passion BY the numer-
Gus wine-cups he had been draining on TAX
ing 6ual leave of his camar6dss de bout.que.
"Lucile Borlase!' exclaimed Madame Tru-
quet. with explosive wrath; "why, Paul, you
must have lost your senses! The Burlases
have been children of the devil time out #
mind. The men, sots, iders, spendthrfts;
the women, two-faced, assembling hussies,
that would deceive satan himself, much nore
a poor gawby like you"
"Come, come,r broke 10 Paul. with great
heat, "not such gawby as you may suppose
bonnie mere. Besides, a girl isn't always a
saint for having been brought up in a con.
vent; as for Lu lille, parbiea! she is simplicity
and candor itself. One can see il in heI
looks. O-hr'
The long-drawn sigh with which Paul con
cluded, completely overset the old lady,
,patience-never too steadily balanced-ant
she rephed to 1t in way not uncommon will
her when very angry, by shying sabot sh,
was vanishing at the delinquent's head, &C
ccompanied by volly of expletves not ne
cessary TO repeat. Frequent practice enable,
her grandson to easily avoid the dangerous
missile; and her words went equally aslray O
their mark after few moments, as Paul has
tened along towards the slandered damsel'
residence, and, arrived there, poured forth
with all the energy and distinctness, swif
speed and ardent affection permitted III,
hopes. fluctuations, wishes, anxieties, excite,
in his bosom by the too charming Lucille
"You do not know, them" replied tina
much amused baggage, "you 90 not know
then, my poor boiteur. that"
'.Boiiesr," echoed Paul, springing indig
nantly from his knees to the full height Q
his best leg-"that is true; still II one is
"One may be six feet up on one side" in
terrupt:d Lucille, with the same delightful
mockery of tone as before. "No doubt; bu
would say, If permitted, that you do nc
know, It seems. that I am betrothed 10 JAG
cues Dupre, the mason, who can earn te
francs to your five, my friend, and that W
intend marrying next week"
Paul heard no more, or, a. least, he woul
not IL be could have helped H.; but the hu.sy'
merry laugh by which he was pursued, seem
dip- in h lat M