The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-17

slranger'S hands. May I beg you to pro-
cure them for mel You will end the III.
Tie chest 10 his room. II IL enclosed in
red leather, and can DO known NJ once by
the cover being stamped with my mono.
gram, y. de W"
"You forget that do not know where
the late Mons. Jacques Fromentin lived,
and have no right 10 intrude upon his
home"
Ale lived with his mother" She gave
me the address. "As far as I know the
old lady, she will accede 10 anything that
you ask her In her sons name. myself"
Ian ugly smile fitted over her features
II myself have not the honor Of knowing
Madame Fromentin, or should spare
you the trouble OF bringing back my let.
terra"
~ Cheeifully do everything 10 fulAll
the last wishes Of Jacques FTomentin,"
said |.
She rose, as much as to say dYou may
90 now" and took the hint and with.
drew Of 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 Chaste Jeanne" Thought,
and compared the reality with the pic.
ture my fancy had painted. "Madame
do Villefs, the beloved mistress Of JAG.
ques, Is simply one Of the countless As.
pasias whom the modern Athens has pro.
duced-a Margaret Bellanger, Cora Pearl,
Anne de LiOnS. congratulate the dead
man on bis death He has certainly been
spared much shame and misery" Then
meditated more deeply. "lfiS blood
was young and hot, poor fellow y l
philosophical, land the devil men call
Venus could without difficulty, entirely
beset him" What / could not pardon
Jacques for was that he had not appear.
ed to have thought for his mother,
went straightway 10 her house, for
my stay 10 Paris was TO be brief, and in
spite Of the disappointment which my
visit to Nine de Villers had prepared me
for, was resolved 10 carry out conscien.
tiously Jacques Fromentin's last wishes.
None FrOmeutin lived in a small house
In quiet, we'll known street. Tie aer.
want who opened the door for me- was an
old man with white hair. remarked
that he was in deep mourning.
"M'me Fromentin receives no one, said
he, "a | handed him my card.
"lell her that | bring news Of her son."
replied ].
"of her son-of NJ. jacques ~ cried the
man, and became as pale as death. "Does
be still livs|
NO. said ], sadly. ~ bring only the
news Of his death. saw NJ. Jacques
die"
The old servant remained silent for a
moment, then slowly retired. AT the
door which led into the house he stood
still an instant, as II lie were considering
how he should announce me; then be
heayed q deep sigh, shook Rorrowfully
his white head, and entered the hall. I
was obliged 10 wait several minutes be-
fore he returned to chow me into the re.
ception room. 1t was large comforla.
BILE apartment, filled with old.iaslrloned,
substantial, unpretending furniture,
which formed striking contrast 10 the
parlor / had just left. Two portraits
struck my eye at once. In one recog-
nized immediately JacIues FrOmentip;
the other represented 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 Gu.
tered the room.
81 am the mother Of James Fromtn.
TIM said she.
] made low bow and took seat be-.
side her. My tongue cleaved to my pal.
ate; l knew not how to open the CONVEX.
Bation. II was clear to me that did not
have courage, that l could not have cour-
age, to tell the unhappy lady before me
the whole truth concerning the death q
her son.
"You are already aware Of the mi.for.
tune that has btiallen you" begun in
low voice.
She made mute sign with her head
and covered her burning eyes with her
hand; but | saw the bitter tears on her
emaciated cheeks, and my heart felt as If
it would burst. l rose, seized her Olsen
gagged hand, which lay in her lap, and
reverently kissed it.
"Your son died the death Of the noble
and the brave" continued. II wish ]
could givo you comfort"
Nothing can give me comfort" re-
piled she, amid her tears. any God
how shall live? what shall d.? Since
the day in which he disappeared l have
shortened my life with grief aud anguish!
! longed to hope that he still lived-that
he was prisoner, that he wM wounded,
that he could not write; but for two
months ] have known the worst, for
have found his graveW
She could say no more-her grief
choked her. Idared not break the mourn.
full silence. Alter few moments she
asked me:
"where did you see him for the last
timer
Irelated how Jacques had been carried
mortally wounded, into the hospital Of
Ecouen, and that he had soon after died
there.
"How did you know my address?" in.
qulred she.
Then came the unavoidable fafsehood.
"iIe asked me to seek you on. and in
form you OF his death" answered bold
GOD bless him for the thought Of his
motherP said she: land God bless you
for the message and the comfort you have
brought me-"
| felt ashamed, bnt could not reject
the undeserved blessing. The eyes OF The
unhappy woman suddenly turned inquir.
ringly upon me.
"Did Jacques say nothing else?"
"Your son gave me the address Of lady
to whom am 10 deliver from him red
box with the letters y. de w. which /
may End in his ROOM"
The poor mothers face quivered in
melancholy way, but she spoke no word
and left the room. After few moments
she returned and handed me in 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 firm voice
"Tell the lady that pray God TO be
gracious 10 my son, aud that for His sake
forgive him"
] sent the red box by messenger.
could not bring myself to return 10 Nine
de Villers. Before my departure from