The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-11-21

soul, and 1 was very fond of him. had
long been expecting the news of his
death, for knew that he had fallen
wounded into the hands of the enemy,
and that he would have written to me if
he had not been dead. The c0mmuni-
cation you make IL very valuable to me,
and thank you for it. This is indeed
his ring remember well having seen il
on his finger. 1t belonged originally to me,
| but it was q little too large for me. He
took it one day from my hand and placed
it on his finger, saying the ring would
only leave him with his life. The scene
is still before my eyes. / laughed at his
enthusiasm. He was easily moved, and
took great many things in the most
tragic way which did not touch me at all.
We even often quarreled over this. for he
could not pardon me my 'frightful calm
ness, as he called it. But he was good,
true man, poor Jacques, and / have Of
ten thought of him since his death"
l found it difficult not to give expires
sion to my repulsion; but she did not
seem to notice at all the impression she
made upon me and continued unconsci
ously:
&c So you had him buried in Ecouen. /
have a little villa in st. Gratien, and j
learn though my servants that the whole
district is full of soldiers, therefore /
would rather avoid the pilgrimage.
During the past two months / have had
a great many emotions and l need rest.
At the corner of the street, not a hun
dred steps from here, the Communists
built barricade. Fortunately no fight
ing took place. l should have died of
terror if had heard connading near my
house."
had risen, but did move.
" One thing more, said she, and took
the key which had given her with the
ring. 1t was small gold key, prettily
ornamented, and easy to recognize.
g Jacques had the oldest way of putting
carefully aside every word wrote to him.
For this purpose he had peculiar box
made which this key opens. The letters
should be sorry to have them fall in
strangers hands. May beg you to pro-
cure them for me? You will find the
little chest in his room. 1t is inclosed in
red leather, and can be known at once by
the cover being stamped with my mono
gram, j. de v"
You forget that / do not know where
the late Mons. Jacques Fromentin lived,
and l have no right to intrude upon his
homo"
He lived with his mother" She
gave me the address. "As far Jas /
know the old lady, she will aocede to
anything that you ask her in her sons
name. myself"-an ugly smile fitted
over her features" myself have not
the honor of knowing Nine Frometin, or
| should spare you the trouble of bring
ing back my letters"
SO cheerfully do everything to fulfill
the last wishes of Jacques Fromentin,"
said /.
She rose. as much as to say, You
may go now" and took the hint and
withdrew at once.
In the bottom of nay heart was angry
with the dead man for having bestowed
his love ON such an unworthy object.
$50 that was the chaste Jeanne!" l
thought, and compared the reality with
the picture my fancy had painted.
+" Madame de Villers, the beloved mis-
tress of Jacques, is simply one of the
countless Aspasias whom the modern
Athens has produced Margaret Bel
LANCER, Cora Pearl, Anne de Lions. l
congratulate the dead man on his death
He has certainly been spared much shame
and misery" Then 1 meditated more
deeply. "His blood was young and hot,
poor fellow!" 1 philosophical, the
devil men call Venus could, without diff
Guilty, entirely beset him." What l
could not pardon Jacques for was that he
had not appeared to have thought for
his mother.
l went straightway to her house, for
my stay in Paris was to be brief, and in
spite of the disappointment which my
visit to Nine de Villers had prepared
me for, was resolved to carry out con-
scientiously Jacques Fromentin's last
wishes. Mime Fromentin lived in
small house in a quiet, well known
street. The servant who opened the door
for me was an old man with white hair
I remarked that he was in deep mourn
ing.
''Mme Fromentin receives no one"
said he, as handed him card.
"Tell her that l bring news of her
son." replied /.
"Of her son-of M. Jacques?" cried
the man, and became as pale as death.
tpoes he still live?"
"No," said i, sadly. CT bring only
the news of his death. / saw M. Jacques
die"
The old servant remained silent for
moment, then slowly retired. At the
door which led into the house he stood
still an instant, as if he were considering
how he should announce me; then he
heaved deep sigh, shook sorrowfully
his white head, and entered the hall. /
was obliged to wait several minutes be-
fore he returned to show me into the re-
ceptiOn room. 1t was a large comforta-
BILE apartment, filled with old-fashioned,
substantial, unpretending furniture,
which formed a striking contrast to the
parlor / had just left. Two portraits
struck my eye at once. In enc recog-
nized Immediately Jacques Fromentin
the other represented a lovely girl of
marked, earnest beauty. The resem-
blance in the expression of the faces
made me recognize the two pictures as
portraits of brother and sister. The
door opened slowly. and turned around.
A venerable lady in deepest mourning
entered the room.
(" am the mother Of James Fromen-
tin" said she.
made a low bow and took a seat be-
side her. My tongue cleaved to my
palate; / knew not how to open the con-
versation. 1t was clear to me that did
not have courage, that could not have
courage, to tell the unhappy lady before
me the whole truth concerning the death
Of her son.
You are already aware of the misfor-.
tune that has hefallen you" begun in a
low voice.
She made q mule sign with her head
and covered her burning eyes with her