The mountain Democrat., 1864-05-21

he prOspered beyond bis mOst Sanguine
hopes. Every year he was enabled to in-
crease hiSN business, and at the end Of q
lustrum, SC great had been his success, he
was every way prepared 10 pay back the
amount Of the check, if the money had
been demanded.
One day, about the expiration of the
period just named, Philip was greatly as
tonished at seeing Monsieur Duval, almost
as poorly appearing as before, walk into
his place Of business.
Why, my old friend, where have you
been these Eve yearsH' heartily inquired
Philip, as he cordially grasped the hand
that was somewhat heSitatingly extended
to him.
Plainly enough the young man was as
unchanged by prosperity as he had form.
erly been by adversely, and apparently
satisfied with his reception, the old man
looked pleased and delighted.
We're ave been, mon cher ami p was
the reply. 'Ahi vas enable, quite un-
expected, to get back to Ia belle France
and vent home. | Fought Eat I would
not tell you anything about it, for fear Eat
you might not want to let me depart, you
were SO vera good to re poor old French
man.
Just what Annie said,' exclaimed
Philip, again cordially shaking the hand
Of Monsieur Duval.
Did she say Eat, mon ami ? asked the
old Frenchman. with a quick light in his
expressive eye. 'Ze bon Dieu bless her!'
he added, fervently. After a moments
hesitation he continued We'll, Sare, Will
tell you somesin' more about it. knew
Eat vas Won great burden to you, 20 you
vera kind, SO vera unselfiSh, and did try
so vera hard to hide your troubles from
me. | could see ze grand struggle you
were makig' cough, and zat is re rezong
did depart with SO mooch mysteries. -
Veil, zen, sare, ven got back to Paree,
had Won opportunities to save some monee,
and at last dill make up my mind to
come back to zee Merikee, and see il |
could not do solnesin' for you to repay
you for ze deep kindness of re past. 1t
appear, cough, Eat Providence ave helped
you ze first, for you do not seem to ave
much want Of anything
Bless your heart, mol responded Phil
ip. And in deeply affected tones, the
young man related every particular Of the
strange event which had so suddenly lift.
ed him up from the gloom of misery and
poverty.
And you nevar found out who sent
you re monee ? inquired Monsieur Duval,
with every appearance Of astoniShment.
Never 7 said Philip; though made
every effort in my power to discover my
benefactor.'
1t is vera strange.' said Monsieur Du-
val musingly; and yet re bon Deu sends
us bon friends sometimes, ven We ATE not
been expect zem, and Wy zen should We
be aStonish at zis? And, sare, you de.
serve zis bon fortune, and makes my heart
glad to Zink Eat you ave met wiz your
reward
Il am happy, my good friend. and
prosperous, too! responded Philip; for
this day, If necessary, am ready to pay
the money back, and still leave myself in
good circumstances.
You ave done veil, more zan veil =
said the old man; 'and feel vera glad
that you ave made so much success
That evening Monsieur Duval went
with Philip and saw Annie; and for O
month he remained their honored guest
as honored as if they had known him tc
be worth million Of money. At the ex.
piration of that period be declared his in.
tention of again returning to France; and
though he tried his best, nothing could
induce Philip or Annie to accept any pc.
cuniary' remuneration for kind manner
in which they had treated him.
In his turn, Philip endeavored to per-
suade him to remain with them, Offering
him profitable employment and home
in their house. Monsieur Duval thanked
them very kindly, and said he was deeply
grateful; but foi reasons he could not
then explain, he must return and end his
days in the land Of his birth-and finally
departed.
Another five years passed away, and by
that time Phillip had become quite o
wealthy man. Meanwhile quite a nun.
ber of letters had passed between him and
Monsieur Duval, and about the period just
stated, there came one of unusual dimen
sions and in q ahStrange hand writing. 1t
was from France, however, announcing
the sudden death of Monsieur Duval, and
the astounding intelligence that he had
beqaeathed large fortune, amounting to
nearly million dollars, to. Phillip.
will wonders never cease 7 exclaimed
the young man, in utter amazcment.--
Just to think. ANNIE he added, turning
suddenly to his wife, the secdy French
man, the beggar OF ten years ago, has left
us nearly a million of dollars! Can YOU
realize it!'
Indeed, Phillip, I cannot! was the
low, earnest reply. But dear me, what
shall We do with so much money!
DO all the good we can, my darling,
replied Phillip. 4 don't knoR anything
better than that
Bless you, dear husband are the
same good man you have ever been I ex.
claimed Annie. in heartfelt tones the
same in adversely, the same in prosperity,
the same ~r
always, Ihope, said Phillip, interrupt.
ing his wife and completing the sentence.
But see he added the next moment,
here is another letter directed to me, and
the-yes-this is the handwriting of our
old friend
Phillip opened the letter and read the
contents aloud. 1t was from the good nld
Frenchman himself, and purported to
have been written in the full view of death.
The substance Of the communication was
as follows: Monsieur Duval, it appeared,
who was a good but peculiarly eccentric
being, had no relatives in his own country
to leave his money when death called him
away; and being led to believe that some
Of the descendants Of his forefathers were
living in America, he resolved to visit the
New World and see what they were like.
10 accomplish his purpose mere effectual
ly, he assumed the appearance OF poverty.