New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-25

| why Messy did not returned.
There came rap at the glass door differ.
fearless, hat gentle. dignitied, graceful ran.
and the General, before he looked round
felt in all his veins that it came from thu
Young Madame. Yes, there was her glori.
GUS outline thrown sidewise on the glass
He fastened and threw open the door.
bending low at the same instant, and ex.
tending his hand.
his With a calm dexterity that took thu
Generals breath, she reached between him
and the door, and closed 1t.
"What have you?" anxiously asked the
Generation her face. ia spite of of its
| smile, was severe.
General she began. ignoring his in
quiry-and. with all her Creole bows, smiles
and insinuating phrases, the severity of har
countenance but partially waned-"1 came
to see my physiclau-your son. All. Gen
eral, when find you recOnciled to your son
| it makes me think / am in heaven. You
| will let me say so? You will not be offend.
ed with the old playmate of your son ~
She gave him no time to answer.
| HE is out, l think, is he not! But am
| glad OF it. 1t gives us occasion to rejoice
| together over his many merits. For You
know. General, in all the years of your
estrangement Messy had no friend like nv.
self. am proud to tell yOu SO now; is it
not SOP
The General was so taken aback that,
when he had thanked her in a mechanical
| way, he could say nothing else She seemed
to fall for little while into q sad medita
| ton that embarrassed the General beyond
measure. But as he opened his mouth to
| speak, she resumed
"NobOdy knew him so we'll as I: though
! l, poor me, could not altogether under
| stand him; for look you. General, he was
what do you think IA great IN an I. nothing
less
How ?" asked the General, not knowing
what else to respond.
You never dreamed of that, eh" con-
tinned the lady. But, of course not; no.
body did but me. Some of these Amer-
! leans. suppose, knew it; but who would
ever ask them! Here in Royal street, in
I New Orleans, where we people know moth
ing and care nothing but for meat, drink.
gave pills. My faith! General, no wonder
you were disappointed in your son, for Won
thought the same. All! yes. you did But
why did you not ask me, his old playmatel
l knew better. could have told you how
your little son stood head and shoulders
above the crowd. | could have told You
some things too wonderful to believe. |
could have told you that his name was
known and honored in the scientific schools
of Paris, Of London, of Germany! Yes. |
could have shown you"-she warmed as she
procee ded-"I could have shown you let
ters II begged them of him), written as
between brother and brother, from the FORE
most men of science and 1Dscoveryr'
She stood up, her eyes flashing with ex-
element.
"But why did you never tell me9" cried
the General
He never would allow me-but YOU
why did you not ask me! I will tell you;
YOU we're too proud to mention your SON.
But he had pride to match yOurs-ha -
achiey ing l-everything-witha an assumed
name Let me tell your father implored
him: but-'let him fad me out he said,
and you never found him out. All there
he was fine. He would not, he said, though
only for your sake, re. enter your affections
as anything more or less than just-your
son. Hap
And SO she went on. Twenty times the
old General was astOnished anew, twenty
times was angry or alarmed enough to cry
out, but twenty times she would not be in.
terrupted. Once he attempted a laugh,
but again her hand commanded silence
"BehOld, monsieur, all these dusty speci.
mems, these revolving fragments. How
have you blushed, to know that our idle
people laugh in their sleeves at these
his father. But why did you not ask
me! l could have told you: Sir. your
son Is not an apOthecary, not one of these
ugly things but has helped him on in the
glorious path of discovery; discovery,
General-yOur son-known in Europe az
scientific discovererr 'Ah-h" the blind
people say, how is that, that General
Vlllivicencio should be dissatisfied with
his son! He is good man and good doc
tor, only little careless, that's ALL But
yon were more blind still, for you shut your
eyes tight like this; when, had you searched
Tor his virtues as you did for his faults, you,
too. might have known before it was too
late what nobility, what beauty what
strength. were in the character of your poor,
poor SON."
Just Heaven! Madame, you shall not
speak Of my son as of one dead and buried,
But. II you have some bad ews."
eh," -'''-N''
Il believe SOL think -"
well; l saw him an hour ago in search
Of your sanderer!'
plucking up.
but if the search is already over" slowly
responded Madame.
The father looked one instant in her face,
then rose with an EXPLANATIONS:
'Where is my SOM What has happened,
DO you think l am child, to be tritled
SOM"
Madame was stricken with genuine an
yush.
Take your chair" she begged; "wait;
listen; take your chair"
Never" cried the General; II am going
% hnd my SONNY God! madame, YOU have
ocked this door! What are you that Won
mould treat me so! Give me, this in
tant -"
I'm; monsieur, l beseech you to take
''our chair and we'll tell you ALL You can
10 nothing now. Listen! suppose you should
ush out and find that your son had PLAYED
he coward at last! Sit down and -
"Ah. madame, this is pay!- cried the dis.
ractef man.
But no; it is not play. Sit down; want
o ask you something"
ne sank down and she stood over him.
ngaish and triumph strangely mingled in
Ter beautiful face.
General. tell me true; did not YOU force
his quarrel into your sons hand! know
e would not choose to have it. Did YOU
,ot 90 1t to test his courage, because all
nese nfteen years you have made yourself
1901 with the fear that he became a stu.
ent only to escape being q soldier. Did
trough. az"
'.And if did," demanded be with fam.
efance. "'A' Lana
Yes! and if he has made dreadful haste
no proved his courage!' asked she.
wen tnen, the General straig hteped
p trlnmphantly-'then he is my son.'
He beat the desk
.a aoa ne1r to your wealth. for exampie.'
T: The lady bowed In solemn fnockefy.
M l-oh