Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-08-18
JEAN BEAUvATS.


although the night was far advanced
and rumiBating bitterly over the diff.
culties of his position, which were 1ar
from being sentimental.
The only son of well-known and
highly respected ship-merchant OF
Havre, who died some years previous
| ly, from whom he inherited prosper
| Gus business and abundant mcars, but
neither his caution nor sagacity, be
had made, on his OVID account, so ma
/ ny rash and Unsuccessful ventures,
that his wealt had dwindled down in
| to insignificance-his credit, once so
good, being completely shaken. The
winter then ending had to him been
a long series of misfortunes; twice he
had risked largely on two Liverpool
blockade-runners celebrated for their
successful trips TO Southern ports,
which were both taken by the Nor
thern cruisers. two of bis ships, richly
freighted from Brazil, perished in the
Bay of Biscay, uninsured; his cotton
speculatiOns, entered into just at the
close of the American War. resulted
in heavy loss; and a number of his
oldest customers, unable to Withstand
the pressure of those difficult times,
were forced to suspend their payments
Reviewing his state of affairs from
every point of view, he despaired of
weathering the storm, and saw clearly
that he would have to succumb.
Looking out of the windows of the
comfortable mansion, built with the
honest earnings of his thrifty father,
in picturesque spot on the banks of
the Seine, between Rouen and Havre,
t.vrn hiC,I rf 10 l. l.
part with the home of his childhood,
and that his old mother would suffer
through his imprudence.
There is no hope for it, now" he
CALCULATED. land the day of humilia-
ton for us cannot long be delayed. y
AS he gazed out in the moonlight, re-
cogniziEg every well-knoW n feature of
the landscape, he thought the scenery
around him never looked so fair.
On the morrow, he fully acquainted
his mother of the ruinous state of his
affairs, expressing his regret and re-
morse for the Tashness and folly of
which he had been guilty.
The old lady was grieved beyond eX-
preston to hear such a report, for she
was proud of the rosperity created by
her lamented husband.
my boy" she said, ''do what is
right, place everything you possess in
the hands of your creditors; Keep moth
ing back from them; with the wreck
OF your fortune, you may, perhaps,
Lave enough left to begin life anew,
in an humber way, and in q better
spirit. AS for me, will retire to Rou-
Ell, where | have means of my own
sufficient to keep me in comfort.
Next week the commercial circles of
Havre were discussing the failure of
the old established house of Jean Beau
vais. He laid before them true state-
ment of his position, placed houses,
lands, shipping, and everything he
possessed, down to his gold watch chain
at their disposal. After a thorough
examination, it was found that the as
sets amounted to sixty per cent. Of the
liabilities. Jean gave them every as
sisiance in realizing the value of the
assets, and promising to pay the forty
per cent. of deficit, if more successful
next start in life. On the last evening
he spent in the old mansion, he wrote
the following note to Elise Desire, to
whom he was Ietrothed:
"MY DEAR ELISE: | deeply regret
informing you that, through losses in
business, am completely insOlvent,
and viii tomorrow be obliged to sus-
pend payments. Little or nothing Will
he saved from: the wreck; as you new
er possibly contemplated such an emer-
oency, and as | could not consent to
make you a partner of my adveIsity. !,
in sorrow and sadness, release you from
the engagement you contracted with
me.
Intending soon to leave Havre, /
only add farewell, Elise, and may God
bless you!
Yours, sincerely,
JEAN BEAUvAIS.n
The parents of Elise sympathizcd
with Jean in his misfOrtunes, and con-
sIdered he had acted wisely; in their
hearts they were glad that the sacrifice
on his part was voluntary, which left
their daughter free, and they congrat
ulated themselves that this break down
occurred then instead of six months
later.
Elise, however, refused to listen to
| the voice of reason and ertreaty. She
had set her heart upon jean, and his
generous remuneration of her hand,
made her all the more determined to
hold him TO his promise. Early next
morning, Elise and her maiden aunt
wended their way up the hill toward
Bellevue House, where they found him
faded and cast down.
JEAN" she said, 81 am sorry for
many things, but will never consent
to be parted from you. You have no
reason to despair of the future, because
you are at present under a cloud; in
the patient and courageous discharge
of fresh duties, you will emerge from
it perhaps happier than ever. | am
not afraid of few privations, which,
after all, do not signify much, and will
wait for you until you are ready
A flush of pleasure swept over the
| graceful girls cOuntenance, as she wit
| messed the strong mans concealed
emotion and felt the pressure of his
gratitude.
..Be it So" he said, ''knowing you
preserve warm corner in your heart
for me, / will do wonders, and with
Gods blessing everything may yet
come right" With this understand
ing they parted, each feeling better and
stronger after the renewal of the COM
pact.
Meanwhile, Jean Beauvais' liquida-
ton rapidly continued; his splendid
| mansion, elegant furniture, carriages,
horses, lands, pleasure-yacht and ship
| ping, so many tokens of former opu-
| ience, were sold and transferred 10
others; his accounts balanced by ex-
perts, resulted in this loss referred to,
| he keenly felt the insufficiency of his
narrowed resources, and looked for
ward to the future with anxiety.
On taking a last survey of all that
was so recently his own, he inwardly
cursed his rashness and folly.
His domestic pets never seemed so
| attached to him as at this mement,
and. while he tenderly rated the arch
| ed neck of his favOrite riding horse,
it seemed more than usually enjoyed
hv his caresses. Unavailing regrets,
fears and hopes, alternately chilled and
| fired his bosom, as he turned his back
upon the home of his youth and scenes
of his early associations.
Promenading leisurely through, one