The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-01
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.
A Grandrather,s Story.


About sixty years ago was in Pari:
for the first time in my life. Bonaparte
still fingered at St. Helena; and the ad
Yenturers, good, bad, and Indifferent in
character, who had served in his armies
had not yet lost all hope of the return of
their idol, and consequently had not yet
thought it worth while to settle down in
to thorough peace and quietness.
Young Paul Ferrand, whom frequent.
ly met at the cafe, and who had served
as CAPTAIN at Waterloo, was sure that
the Little Corporal would come back
again soon. "You have not yet beaten
him, he would tell me laughing. "You
sent him to Elba, but he returned; you
have sent HIM to St. Helena and he will
return again. We shall see."
Ferrand was an exceedingly nice fell
low; and although he protested to cher.
ish an unquenchable hatred for England
and everything English, he had, by some
means or other, become attached to Alice
Rae, young English lady of my &C.
quaintance, and who had been living
with her mother since the conclusion of
peace at Paris, not far from the abode
OF the eX-Captain. And he was always
very friendly with me too. He would,
it is true, abuse my countrymen most un.
mercifully; but he was always particu-
larly goodnatured, and whenever he
found himself saying little too much,
he would arrest himself and apologize so
heartily that | never could be angry with
him. l was alone in the French capital,
and had few friends there except Mrs.
Rae, her daughter Alice, and Paul; and
so it happened that passed good deal
OF my time in the society of these three.
The mother, woman still in the prime
of life, and widow of kings messenger,
was connection of mine by marriage,
and that fact gave me good excuse for
offering my services as escort whnnnva~
she and her pretty daughter thought mt
to go to the theater or the opera. At
such times Paul always had seat in the
stalls, and between the acts he would
come up to my box, to the delight of
Alice, who was in love with him, and to
the no small satisfaction of Mrs. Rae,
who herself had quite a maternal atfec-
ton for the young Frenchman, and did
not in the least discourage his attentions
to her daughter. If there were no formal
engagement between the two, it was at
least perfectly understood by all parties
that as soon as Paul should get an APP
pointment for which at the time he was
a candidate, he was to marry Alice, and
l, though only few years her senior,
was to give her away.
One night the opera-house was crowded
more than usual. A great singer was to
appear, and a new work by a renowned
composer was to be performed. But
Paul Ferrand, sitting in the stalls,
seemed scarcely to listen to the music or
to notice the acting; and much more oft
en- were his eyes turned in the direction
of my box than in that of the stage.
Alice and her mother were with me; and
as the curtain fell at the conclusion of
the first act Paul came upt to us. He was
in high spirits, for he had heard that the
minister had decided to give him the
coveted post, and he expected to hear in
few days that his appointment had
been signed by the King. We congratu-
lated him; and as he left US to return to
his seat l whispered to him: You'll be
a happy man in month or two now,
Paul" He smiled and shut the door.
We watched him as he threaded his
way to his place. 1t was in the center
of the second row from the orchestra,
and he had left his operaglasses on the
chair in order to preserve his right to it
but during his absence a tall, military
looking man had appropriated it and had
coolly put the glasses on one side. Pau
approached the stranger with the utmost
politeness, and l suppose-for naturally
could not hear requested him to move
The interloper did not deign to answer
but sneeringly looked up at Ferrand, Al
though to ask him what he meant by hi
intrusion. Paul pointed to the opera
glasses; but the stranger neither replied
nor moved, but continued to appear a
though he did not hear. | saw that mat
tiers were assuming dangerous com
plexion, for in the newcomer | recog
nized Victor Laroquiere, an ex-Bonapart
ist officer like Paul. notorious bully
and one of the most celebrated duelist
in France. But what could l do?
could only sit still, much against my viii
and witness the inevitable consequences
l thought Alice would faint when LarC
auiere in the calmest way rose before th
crowded assemblage and struck Paul
the face with his glove; but she recOvere
herself, and like statue watched hi
lover pick up his opera-glasses, bow
his insulter, and, without word, leaN
the building. There were some excl
nations from the audience; but the due
ist again rose, and with theatrical a
gazed round, mockingly initiated Pau
parting bow, and resumed his seat. Th
was too much for poor Alice. She cou
not remain any longer; she must go HON
and so, with some difficulty, l got h
and her mother to my carriage, told &
coachman to drive them home, and m
self walked quickly to Pauls lodgings.