Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-07-10
A STRANGE FRENCH STORY.

a
I once knew a happy and peaceful
home. 1t was so provided with the
worlds goods as not to have any material
cares; it possessed to little to be i'm
portuned by ambitious desires. The
man worked gravely by the side OF his
smiling wife. Her smiles were often
coupled with silent tears. If they had
any sOrrow it was not known. They
received but few visitors, and the people
with whom they associated were awed by
the grace Of the one and the intelligent
wit Of the other.
Strange to say, this couple, SO much
admired, were envied by none. The
quiet and Teace which surrounded them
acted as a barrier against envy. L
longed to know the secret which L felt
existed beneath this apparent happiness.
"What is the skeleton that hides in the
closet Of these young people" L often
asked myself, that their happiness
should be so sweet, and yet so retiring
and so mid? They seem to have no
cause of remOrse or mourning, but they
must have some feeling or sense Of in
herited misfortune"
I loved them, and they had such great
confidence in me that my curiosity be-
came embarrassed, and L would never
have known how to penetrate their
secret if fate one day had not brought
on an abrupt disclosure.
One day 1 was dining with them, ac-
eompanied by a friend-a young lawyer
from one Of the cities from the south Of
France, where he had announced him
frn han.
Of deputies. The campaign promised to
be a hotly contested one. My friends
opponent was a rich and influential per
son OF the place. His name had not
been mentioned, and the young couple,
who had migrated themselves to Paris
from that same southern city, were
greatly interested in the conversation OF
my friend: and when, carried away by
his enthusiasm, he exclaimed:
81 shall certainly, in good time, cut
down from his great height that internal
Perpignolle. The aged rascal, at sixty
Toto"
As soon as that name was mentioned
by my friend, the young husbands hand
which held his fork began 10 tremble
and the young wife's eyes began &c
dil8te.
I was tempted. Now was my chance
and I. perhaps cruelty, said:
"How will you p
The husband and wife both restrained
a forbidding GESTURE, yet half made it.
s'Oh, that will be easy enough" SAID
the lawyer; "all shall have to do Is tc
refer to the Gazette des I'ribUnauC o.
the year 1880, and cause to be repub
ished adventures of his brother and
nephew"
l.What have they done ~ I asked.
sWell, all they have done is"
He was interrupted by a cry from the
young woman. who saw her husband
throw himself backward in his chair as i
about to faint, and beating the air viii
both his hands as if to keep back /
spectre.
I arose and took the young man IL
my arms. The lawyer, who desired t.
be a deputy, confused, discOuntenanced
knew not what to do or say. He apollo
petically murmured: Excuse Lie;
did not know could not anhcipat
II"
These unmeaning words, 1 thought
were not made to encourage the younl
man. but, contrary to all my exPecta
tons. they acted in such manner as I
recall him to his senses; he quietly dis
engaged himself from my arms, shoo
my hand, and gave me a look OF graft
tude; then, placing his elbows on tn
table with an energetic movement, ut
tered these words in a kind and tremh
ling voice:
SYou have no excuses to make, dea
sir. You surely could not have known
"a 49, .,A5.--.,AsT hon far Won
threat would reach. am the grand
nephew Of Mr.. Perpignolle, and conse
quently the son and grandson OF thos
whose memory you wish to invoke {
combat the aspirations OF my granc
uncle"
The lawyer appeared greatly surprise
and evidently regretted the turn atfaI
had taken.
AZ pray YOU, sir said the candidate
'sthink no more of what 1 have saldi
would rather give up my candidacy tina
carry out my idle threat
"Thank you, sir; but L cannot perm
you to make any sacrifice on my az
count; and now / owe an explanation [
my dear friend here, which know
must expect"
He grasp my hand. I protested
called in vain upon his young wife to al
me In my endeavors to prevent HIM troi
speaking. Instead, she resOlutely9 cain
" and sweetly imprinted kiss on h
forehead and said, Speak, my love"
'Now them" began the HUSBAND
my grandfather and my father, WI
were large farmers in the environs Of a
after many dissensiOns, discussions an
quarrels had occurred between them an
q near neighbor, they associated then
selves one day to have an abomniable r
venge, and at night, noislessly maxim
their way into their victims house, the
brutally murdered him even under Il
eyes Of his wife, and they further exc
eised their brutality by binding her to
bedpost; then they sat fire to the houi
and escaped, forgetting to free the hop
less woman who could have -denouncS
them. Horrible, is it nOtr By son
unknown chance the poor woman su
eeeded In freeing her limbs Of the cor
that bound her, and she made her We
t>nuln-f7 The flames. CRYING ont as d