Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-12-22
A SISTERS SACRIFICE.

changer"
These words were spoken by a very pretty
girl, sitting il a most comfortable little par
Tor, one side of which was formed Of a wide
screen lined with green silk, which ,ivided
it from another portion Of the room fitted up
as jewelry store.
Marie and Jeanne were the daughters of
Pierre Galoubet, diamond jeweler, ren0wn-
ed more for his taste and honesty than for his
fortune or luxury. He was wid0wer, with |
two daughters. a.e - ~
Marie and Jeanne werenthe very idols Of
his heart. Pierre had been a soldier in his
youth, like most French men, and during his
absence in Algiers his wife died. When he
came back kind neighbor took him to her
cottage and, leading him to a cradle showed
him two little infants sleeping side by side
on the same pillow. Pierre knew that in his
absence child had been born to him, but he
had received no communication from home
for more than year before his return. He
therefore turned from the children to his
neighbor with a look OF inquiry:
" Are the both my children?" said he.
"Why, no, replied Jaquinette. "There's
u whole history about them, and Pierre, as
you are clever man, and have travelled all
over the world, perhaps you will be able to
settle point that has puzzled Us ever since
the death of your wife"
"What is it ?" ....
Why, which of these two is your daugh-
ter?" 3
(Which? Why, whose is the other -
" Oh one day, about month after the
birth of your child, when your wife opened
the door one morning, she found on the
threshold one of these Infants She knew
which it was, butyou know poor Nine. Pierre
died suddenly, and she never had time to tell
me which daughter was yours"
Again Pierre leaned over the babies and
as they opened their eyes and smiled on him
Pierre felt as if both were appealing to his
heart, both asking his protection ~ ".
From that hour Pierre Galoubet called
both children his and Marie and Jeanne, as
ne chrStened them for they had no name
until his return,) became the idols OF his life.
When they were grown MP Marie and
Jeanne, who both adOred their father, help
ed nim in his business. .s#r-
Maria kept the books, and Jeanne, who
had great talent for drawing, which. had
been cultivated, made the drawings and de-
signs for settings of the diamonds.
They were now both eighteen; at least.
knowing the age of one, Pierre had always
put them down as the same age Their
fathers strict honesty had prevented his max
ing fortune, but thanks to the management
OF Jeanne, they were i'll easy and comfortable
circumstances.
OF late a cloud, however had risen on the
household so full Of the sunshine of affection.
Jeanne had grown penslve, and even looked
pale and thin, receiving her fathers caresses
with Indifference, and sitting for hours, pen
ell in hand, without drawing stroke. Now,
on this evening, when the sisters were alone
together, Jeanne had pushed the paper from
her with disgust, and, throwing down her
pencil, had declared her dissatisfaction to her
sister.
Jeanne" said Marie, looking up, you
have never felt dissatisfaction before; but
you are unhappy, and you will always be 50
until you confde what troubles YOU have to
your best friends, your father and your sis
ter"
Not to my father-I dare not; but tc
you, Jeanne. OH sister, | am so wretched =
"Wretched why what has happened :? >
Marie" SAID Jeane, sitting down on
stool at her feet, listen, but do not look al
me-. Some months ago, you remember, ]
came home on Sunday morning from church
where had gone with our servant, with a
sprained ankle"
Yes | remember"
"Well, had tallen-slipped off the mar.
BILE steps OF the church, and tainted from the
pain. Well, | lay there and the crowd be.
gan to gather around me, when gentleman adj,
vanced, and, putting aside those who crowd.
ed over me, lifted me up in his arms. Pre-.
coded by his servants, who made wav fo1
him. he carried me to his carriage, and plac
ing me in it, asked our servant our address
and drove me home he was Young. hand
some and fascinating, Marie. The next da,
went out met him. l have often seen hin
since; he loves me; love him."
"Well, if he is an honest mau, true anC
sincere in his love, why should you be un
happy? You know your father will consent
" He is the Due Octave de Blossac"
The Due de Blossae, Jeannes"
yes" -
=" But not an honest man. or he would new
er have dared to speak to YOU of love"
" he is an honest man, for when he spoke
to me of love he told me that he could not
marry me, but he offered to devote his life
to me; he offered never to marry"
But he did not offer to marry YOU
You know that was impossible So We
are parted, l suppose, forever and thas !.
why am wretehed." ... -.-s~-
Jeanne" said Marie, eff he loved vou-I
will not talk thus to you, you al blinded nv
love-1 will tell you to think OF our father.
whose only hope We both are, \, nose only
love we both are"
YES, my father, my own dear rather, but
his love cannot be the only love of nv life. y
st this moment the door opened and Pierre
himself entered the room His daughters
rose, and both rushed up to him, throwing
their arms around him. -----@
MY dearest father, you look sad; tell me
what Is the matter with YOU" ~
aAh girls girls NV own fvrn ob;l1-a,,
YOU are both my children, are YOU not?n
Eyes"
Something mas happened that I felt would
happen one of these days. 1t is proved to
me that some one besides me has the right
to the love of one of you"
"Ah! father, what 10 you mean 2" Z 81
s'You know your own hstory-you know
that one of you is not my daughter"
"We have never liked to think of it. - :
Swell, children, this evening had an ap:
pointment, of which L told-yo nothing, so
much did dread is.s was with an eminent
lawyer. He has proved distinctly TO me the
person who claims one of you; told me the
whole history :. but. how am to part with
either of your"
(Which of US, father, is not your child ?"
'Here precisely, is the puzzle; we cannot
tell, but cannot give up either of you, for
Jeye one as well as the other.n