Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-12-24
A SISTERS SACRIFICE.

These words were spoken by a very pretty
girl, sitting in a most comfortable little par
lor, one side of which was formed of wide
screen lined with green silk, which eivided
il from another portion of the room fitted up
as a jewelry store.
Marie and Jeanne were the daughters of
Pierre GalOubet, diamond jeweler, renown-
ed more for his taste and honesty than for his
fortune or luxury. He was a widower, with
two daughters.
Marie and Jeanne were the very idols of
his heart Pierre had been a soldier in his
youth, like most Frenchmen, and during his
absence in Algiers mis- 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 a 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 they both my children" said he.
"Why, no." replied Jaquinette. "There's
a whole history about them, and Pierre, as
YOU are a clever man, and have Travelled all
over the world, perhaps you viii 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-
tergo
(Which? Why, whose is the other?"
"0h one day, about a 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, but you 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 hOCr Pierre GaiOubet called
both children his, and Marie and Jeanne, as
he christened 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 him IN his business.
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 we're 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 we're in Easy and comfortable
circumstances.
OF late a cloud, however, had risen on the
household so full of the sunshine of affection.
Jeanne had grown pensiVe, and even looked
pale and thin, receiving her fathers caresses
with indifference, and sitting for hours, pen
Gil in hand, without drawing a 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 viii always be so
until you confide what troubles you have to
your best friends, your father and your sis.
ter"
mot to my father-I dare not; but &c
you, Jeanne. OH sister, am so wretched =
"Wretched ?-why, what has happened I? >
"Marie," said Jeane, sitting down on q
stool at her feet, listen, but do not look a;
me. Some months ago, you remember,
came home on Sunday morning from church
where l had gone with our servant, with a
sprained ankle"
"Yes, / remember"
"Well, l had fallen-slipped off the mar
BILE steps of the church, and tainted from the
pain. Well, lay there and the crowd be-
gan togather 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 way fol
him, he carried me to his carriage, and plae
ing me in it, asked our servant our address
and drove me home. He was young, hand.
some and fascinating, Marie. The next day
went out / met him. l have often seen him
since; he loves me; love him."
swell, if he is an honest man, true and
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 Blossac, Jeanne ?"
eyes"
"But not an honest man, OF he would new.
er have dared to speak to you of love-"
He is an honest man, for when he spoke
20 me of love he told me that he could not
marry me, but he offered to- devote his life
to me he offered never 10 marry"
"But he did not offer TO marry you?"
'You know that was impossible. So we
are parted, suppose, forev' =, and that is
why am wretched."
Jeanne said Marie, eff he loved you'll
will not talk thus to you, you are blinded by
love-I will tell you to think q our father,
whose only hope we both are, whose only
love we both are"
''Yes, my father, my own dear father, but
his love cannot be the only love of my life y
at 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"
"Ah girls, girls, my own two children
You arr both my children, are you not?p
eyes"
Something has happened that felt would
happen one of these days. 1t is proved TO
me. that some one besides me has the right
20 the love of one of you" .s
"Ahl father, what do you mean ?"
"You know your own history-you know
that one Of you is not my daughter"
I'VE have never liked 70 think of it."
well, children, this evening had an APP
polntment, of which told you nothing, so
much did dread it. l was with an eminent
lawyer. He has proved distinctly to me the
person who claims one of you; told me the
whole history; out how am / TO part with
either Of your"
(which of US, father, is not your child ?"
Here precisely, is the puzzle; we cannot
Il efu of& - r. e.