Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-10-05

the address. .--"As far as know of the old
lady, she will accede to anything that you ask
her in her sons name. l myself-an ugly
smile fitted over her features-'I myself
have not the honor of knowing Madame From
entin, or l should spare you the trouble of
bringing back my letters"
II shall cheerfully do everything to fulfill
the last wishes of jacques Fromentin, - said l.
She rose as much as TO say, "You may go
now" and I took the hint, and withdrew at
once.
In the bottom of my heart | was angry
with the dead man for having bestowed his
love on such an unworthy object. 80 that
was the chnste Jeanne - l thought, and l COM
pared the reality with the picture my fancy
had painted. MADAME de Villers, the be-
loved mistress of Jacques is simply one of
the countless Aspasias whom the modern Ath-
thens has produced-a Margaret Bellanger,
Cora Pearl, Anne de Lions / congratulate
the dead man on his death He has certain
ly been spared much shame and misery"
Then meditated more deeply. "l1is blood
was young and hot, poor fellow philos-
ophized, "and the devil mon call Venus could
without difficulty besot him." What l could
not pardon jacques was, that he had not ap-
peared to have thought for his mother
went straightway to her house, for my
stay in Paris was to be brief, and, in spite of
anne de Nillers had prepared me for, | was re-
solved to carry out conscientiously jacques
Fromentin's last wishes. Madame Fromentin
lived in small house in n quiet, well-known
street. The servant who opened the door for
me was an old man with white hair. / re-
marked that he was in deep mourning.
MADAME Fromentin receives no one said
he as handed him my card.
''Tell her that bring news of her son" re-
piled l.
"Of her son-of Monsieur Jacques !" cried
the man, and became as pale MS death. docs
he still live 2"
No" said | sadly. II bring only the news
of his death. / saw Monsieur Jacques die :"
The old servant remained silent for n mo-
ment, then slowly retired. At the door which
led into the house he stood still an instant as
if he were considering how he should an
nounce me; then he heaved deep sigh,
shook sorrowfully his white head, and entered
the hall. l was obliged to wait several min
utes before he returned to show me into the
reception room. 1t was large, comfortable
apartment, filled with old-fashioned, substan-
tial, unpretending furniture which formed a
striking contrast to the parlOr had just left.
Two portraits struck my eye at once. In one
l recognized Immediately jacques Fromentin
the other represented a lovely girl of marked.
earnest beauty. The resemblance in the ex-
preston of the faces made me recognize the
two pictures as portraits of brother and sis
ter. The door opened slowly. and turned
around. A venerable lady in the deepest
mourning entered the room.
II am the mother of Jacques Fromentin,
said she
made low bow and took seat beside
her. My tongue cleavcd to my palate; knew
not how to open the conversation. 1t was
clear to me that / did not have the courage,
that could not have the courage to tell the
unhappy lady before me the whole truth con-
cerning the death of her son.
You are already aware of the misfortune
that has befallen you" began in low tone.
She made mute sign with her head, and
covered her burning eyes with her hand but
! saw the bitter tears on her emaciated
checks, and my heart felt as if il would burst.
| rose, seized her disengaged hand which lay
in her lap, and reverently kissed it.
Your son died the death of the noble and
the brave" l continued. II wish | could
give you comfort"
Nothing can give me comfort" replied
she, amid her tears. My God how shall
live? what shall dog Since the day he dis
appeared, / have shortened my life with grief
and anguish. l longed to hope that he still
lived-that he was prisoner, that he was
wounded, that he could not write but for
two months l have known the worst. for
have found his grave"
She could say no more-her grief choked
her. dared not break the mournful silence.
After few minutes she asked me:
Where did YOU see him for the last time Z"
l related how jacques had been carried,
mortally wounded, into the hospital of Eco
uen, and that he had soon after died there.
How did you know my address = inquired
she
Then came the unavoidable falsehood.
He asked me to seek you out and inform
you of his death, l answered boldly.
God bless him for the thought of his
mother. :" said she 'and God bless you for
the message and the comfort you have brought
me-"
l felt ashamed, but l could not reject the
undeserved blessing. The eyes of the unhap-
py woman suddenly turned inquiringly upon
me.
Did jacques say nothing else Z"
Your son gave me the address of a lady to
whom l am to deliver from him a red box
with the letters j. de w. which l may find
i'll his ROOM
The poor mothers face quivered in mel
ancholy way, but she spoke no word and left
the room. After few moments she returned,
and handed me i'll silence an exquisite little
casket covered with red leather, ON which
recognized the designated monogram. Then
she sank into profound meditation. till she
raised her head again, and said, in a firm
voice:
Tell the lady that pray God to be gra-
cious to my son, and that for his sake for
give her"
sent the red box by messenger could
not bring myself to return to Madame de Vii
lcrs. Before my departure from France l
visited once more the grave of jacques Fro
mentin. As l approached the spot, saw a
black, kneeling figure clinging to the wooden
cross. recognized Jacques's mother, and
quietly withdrew. On the shadowy road be-
tween Enghien and st. -Gratien met an ele-
giant carriage and in it carelessly leaning
back reclined beautiful, richly y-dressed wo-
man, whom all the passers-by turned to look
after. 1t was Jeanne de Villers. She recog-
nized me, smiled at me in a friendly way
and disappeared in Il cloud of dust.-APpLe-
tons journal.