The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-11-08
The .Anti-AGon0polst-
honor of this visit?" she began.

Her voice was the deep, full, mellow
voice of the southern races.
:" [ came in fulfllment of melancholy
duty" answered l. 81 promised dying
man to perform an errand for him to
Mademoiselle Jeanne de Villers. May
request OF you the honor OF an introduce
ton to the young lady?"
1.-The young lady Mademoiselle Jeanne
de Villers, is myself" replied she, en-
phaslzing the words young lady" and
" mademoiselle with smile.
l sat speeches. for some seconds.
Then | experienced a feeling Of repug
nance, almost Of anger, and, without TAX
ing pains to conceal it, said harshly:
"Then my Grand is easily accom-
plished. On the 18th of October there
was skirmish at Montagory, and the
French were repulsed, and were obliged
to leave their dead and wounded in our
hands. Among the first of those was
young officer who had fought gallantly,
and who had been carried dying into the
field hospital of Ecouen,' with bullet in
his breast.
There, in the course of the day, ne
breathed his young life away I sat. by
his death-bed, and saw that only one
thought lived within him the thought
of her he loved. | received his last
words: Give her this ring and this
Key said he; tell her that I have died in
In the performance of duty, faithful unto
death. bless the hour when l saw her !;
[ bless the hour when l was loved by
her, and loving her I die The young
| Nff
l solemnly prom, ised him to convey the
news of his death to Mile Jeanne de Viii
lers. He lies buried in the park of
Ecouen, behind the castle of the Con-
stable Anne de Montmorency. l am
| charged with the duty of conducting you
thither if you desire it,
While l. had been speaking, she had
sat quietly listening without taking her
eyes off me. AS | mentioned her name
and the name Of the dead, she had made
a slight, scarcely percephble movement.
That had been all. When l ceased, a
long paused ensued.
"Poor Jacques." she broke the silence,
and her voice was sOnorous and calm as
before. $ He had loyal, noble soul, and
l was very fond Of him. had long been
expecting the news of his death, for l
knew 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 communication you make is
very valuable to me, and thank you for
it. This is indeed his ring; l remember
we'll having seen it on his finger. 1t be-
lOnged originally to me, but itw little
too large for me; he took it one day from
my hand, and placed it on his finger, say
ing 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 calmness,' as he
| called it. But he was a good, true man,
poor Jacques, and l have often thought
| him since his DEATH
found it difficult to give expression
to my repulsion; but she did net seem to
notice at all the impression she made
upon me, and continued unconsciously:
$50 you had him buried in EcOuen. /
have little villa in St. Gratien, and l
learn through my servants that the whole
district is full of soldiers; therefore
would rather avoid the pilgrimage. Dur
| ing the past two months | have had q
great many emotions, and l need rest
At the corner of the street, not hundred
steps from here, the communists built q
barricade. Fortunately, no fighting took
place. l should have died of terror
if / had heard cannonading near my
house.
had risen, but did not move
zone 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.
jacques had the oldest way of putting
carefully aside every word i wrote to him.
For this purpose he had a peculiar box
made which this key opens; the letters
contain very little of interest, but 7
should be sorry to have them fall into
strangers hands. May I beg you to pro-
cure them for mel You will find the
little chest in his room. 1t is inclosed in
red leather, and can be known OF once by
the cover being stamped with my mono
gram, j. de W"
~You forget that do not know where
the late Mons. Jacques Fromentin lived,
and have no right to intrude upon his
home"
He lived with his mother" She gave
me the address. 'As far as / know of
! the old lady, she will accede to anything
that you ask her in her sons name. /
myself an ugly smile fitted over her
features-''I myself have not the honor
! of knowing Nine. Fromentin; or I'd spare
you the trouble of bringing ba OK my let
tiers.
II shall cheerfully do everything tc
fulfill the last wishes of Jacques Fromen.
tin" said I.
sShe rose, as much as ii say, You may
90 now," and I took the hint and with
drew at once.
In the bottom of my heart / was angry
with the dead man for having bestowed
his love on such an unworthy object
$50 that was the schaste Jeanner' ]
thought, and compared the reality Will
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