The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1860-02-24
4 STRANGE RETRIBUTION.

tist, became enamored Of the only dauph-
ter Of well-to do aubergste in the town
Of Circassonc, in the South Of France
Lucille Montoigne had beauty and mon
oy, and Henri Du Barre had wit and
talent; but these latter were no fair e.
quivalent for the former in the eyes Of
the purse proud father, who declared that
no daughter Of his should marry a poor
man, though he were blessed with the
wisdom of solomon.
Now Lucille loved Henri-at least she
told him so-but she was too prudent TO
elope with him and risk disinheritance;
for after all, what is love without mon-
cyl - poverty coming in at the door
would send it flying out through the win
dow.
Poor Henri was in disppir. He really
did love Lucille, whether she did him or
not-loved her modly; and his was one
Of those dark, frey natures which makes
love a terrible passion.
How much money was necessary %
make her equal In the eyes Of her world
| ly fatherl The aubergiste named the
sum. 1t was large, and Henri sighed,
and felt more dispair at heart than ever.
Suddenly he frightened up with the re-
collection that he had youth and genius,
and that in some large city, Paris, per-
haps, where the latter would be oppreci-
uted, he might acquire both fortune and
fame.
But would lucille wait.--well Lucille
was willing to wait awhile--for just then,
as she admitted to herself, she could
think Of no one she liked better than the
! poor artistic, but everything earthly must
have n limit, aud the fair coquette thought
her patience ought not to extend beyond
a year.
A year is a very short time for man
to acquire fame and fortune, with the lat
ter depending on the former; but Henri
was young, and youth is sanguine, and at
all events he would make trial, hoping
great things, and knowing that he could
do no worse than fail.
SO he finished his engagements hur-
riedly, declined any new ones, sold a few
pictures on hand, for a moderate sum,
gathered together his scanty effects, bade
his friends and Lucille adieu, with hope
tul but heavy heart, set of for the great
metropolis OF France.
II was long, long journey from Cir
cHssone to Paris in the slow conveyances
Of the period when Henri Du Barre made
it, and IT was nearly two weeks before
he reached the gay capital. And then
began his struggles with poverty; which
clung to him in spite Of his hopes, his
eKertions and his prayers, for six weary
months; when he gave up in dispair, and
secretly left the city, to beg his way back
to Circassone, see his Lucille once more
bid her an eternal adieu, and emu a life no
longer any value to its possessor.
Henri Du Barre set out from Paris afooI
and alone depending solely upon charity
of French peasants for food and lodging.
He had six sous in his pocket when he
started, and these he invested in a dead
ly poison, which he carried as a derniel
lresort, determined not 70 suffer beyond
what nature might reasonably bear, but
which il was his hope to retain till he
had again seen Lucille.
In this manner he reached and pissed
Through Lyons, foot-sore, ragged and dis.
heartened-an object indeed for commits.
seration. Twenty leagues beyond Ly-
: IONS, in passing through p long, dark
lonely wood, he met Jew, carrying q
heavy pack on his back. The poor ar,
tist asked the Israelte for charity; his
appeal was answered with few coins
for which he thanked the giver and ther
ofTered TO carry his pack.
ooh; not is nothing-it is nothing
"a few old clothes onlyl" returned the
lew. hurriedly-so hurriedly, and with
sncb eyio2nt aneusiness, in fact as tc
awaken suspicion in tbe mind Of the
young artist that i contained something
of great value.
Then It was that a wild, vague unde'
fined desire to possess it first took pos
session Of the man who was now going
home to die wretchedly. but whom tvs
thousand francs might yet bless with lii'
and happiness. When the mind Of mar
takes a highly criminal bent, il seems a.
II some evil demon whlspersin IN his ear TN
most plausible reason for a wicked cowsl
10 happiness.
Henri Du Barre, who had never beior'
thought Of harming a human being, nov
glanced tpruyely and almoat shudderlng
ly Ground him, with the dark aud " cke'
thought in his brain, that II this old mai
were deed, and be, the possessor Of hi
pack, he might have bright and gloriou
/ future. Itwes a dreary, dismal spot j
the thick wood where they both stood
and no human eye, save theirs, was look
ing upon the scene. Why should thi
Old man be numbered with wealth, whicl
could not bring him one 1.-THE Of the iol
that Il might him who coveted rs poses
sioni He could not I've many y esrs, tha
old man, at the most and be night ~