Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-05-01
foontinued from First Page. J

Enemies. Reveal repeated Laval,
with marked degree of establishment in
his manner. ! do not comprehend you.
In one word. Monsieur Laval, did You
ever hold any post of honor under the
+ nperor Napoleon
Never
Then YOU have most egregiouSly hum
bugged us?' exclaimed de Pommoy.
starting ur from his seat.
Il am more in the dark now than ever,
said Laval with forced calmness.
I'VE have always supposed you TO he
somebody
so ana man.
PeStc We have supposed YOU TO be one
of the officers of Napoleon's army, and
that you chose an Hcoq. for fear of Louis.
a nd with that understanding we have sui
fered your company
IL never gave out such an idea
''But you allowed others to entertain it.
Il never did. Monsieur de Pommov.
never knew that such an idea in regard to
myself was abroad. When | came TO
Paris year ago, settled quietly down in
my present quarters, and have sought
the society of no one.
but You have visited some of the first
1amllles IN the CIV.
"Yes-to give lessons on the guitar"
"Wnat dupas w have b zen - muttcrcd
de Pommoy. 1T got whispered about
that you were hero. and your looks, your
b a ing, and above all. that scar on your
cheek. seemed to confirm the report. But
scavenger-a boot-black--a peddler-a
miller's boy-a guitar teacher o.
With these incohercnt words, Monsieur
Hugh de Pommoy seized his hat and fled
from the apartment.
Ii was some moments before Laval re-
covered from his establishment. but when
he did get his feelings under perfect con-
troll, the whole truth flashed upon him.
He could now understand the secret of the
friendship he had received. Paris was
filled with remnants of Napoleon's dis
banded army, many of the officers of which
dared not yet make themselves very con-
spicuous under the eve of the fretiul. chol
eric Louis XNIll.. and the poor guitar
teacher had been taken for one of them.
A sort of painful smile passed over his
face, and he endeavored to dispel the feel
ilgs which had been called up. by resort
ing to his guitar. But il was of no li>s.
His heart had learned to lean somewhat
upon the friendships that had clustered
around 1t, and he could not have them torn
away without experiencing pang of grief.
lie had no relation on earth--nonc to care
for him. unless, indeed, it might be the
old miller who had brought him up. But.
after all, perhaps all his acquaintance
might not prove like de Pommoy.
Towards evening Jean Laval descended
from his room for short walk. He
turned to the left, and passed along the
Quai d'Orsay, and from thence he crossed
the Pont Royal. When half way across he
met some half-dozen of his acunantances.
and instinctively he smiled and raised his
hat, but they sneered and turned away
their heads, and he heard the words
"Scarenger." Beggor -
They're all gone murmured Laval to
himself And this is the friendship Of the
world ! This is the heart of Partisan love.
Had this scared cheek of mine been
gained upon the bloody battlefield Of the
Emperor, | should have been hero and II
man: but now that it turns out that it was
only gained in saving the life of 4 help
less fellow | am nothing. Az.
worse than nothing. for am mark of
contempt Well, let them 60
Thus speaking with himself, the guitar
teacher kept on till he reached the Pont
Louis XIV, and having crossed the river.
he turned his steps toward his room.
The next day Jean went out into the city.
but wherever he met any of his acouaint-
ances they invariably failed to recognize
nm, and one or two females. with whom
he had been on social terms tossed their
heads in disdain AS he passed them. No
wonder the poor man felt sick at heart
when he returned to his room, and that IA
sense OF deep loneliness should creep over
him.