The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-06-16

Love me now!
It will be too late when am dead!
Susan Coolidge, in N. Y. Independent.
IN THE FAMILY.
Mr.. Gobelin's Nephew Decorated
With tho Coveted "Red Ribbon"
M. Exupere Gobelin, the retired agent
for an insurance company, over sixty,
and one of the best preserved bachelors
in the north of Paris, would have also
been one of the happiest had not the
cravings of an unsatisfied ambition rem
dered him miserable. This fly in M.
Exupere's ointment was nothing more
nor less than an unappeasable desire to
be decorated with the ribbon of the
Legion of Honor. On the evening of
certain day, when life without the afore-
said red ribbon had seemed less worth
having than usual-he had been reading
in his journal the nomination of one Of
the companions of his childhood as
Chevalier of the Legion-a friend pro-
posed to him to visit theater in the
Rue de la Tour d'Auvergne, now Haus-
mannized out of existence. Exupere
consented, and was taken behind the
scenes by his host, who was intimate
with stage manager. This worthy
official received them politely, but
seemed distracted and no little an
noyed.
On noticing Exupere's fine presence
and imposing bearing. the stage man
ager, suddenly turning to him, said
Monsieur, allow me to ask you to
do me fayor-a real favor. The prin-
cipal witness in the marriage ceremony
that is celebrated in the third act has
disappointed me. 1t is not speaking
part, but none the less an important
one. Might so trespass on your good
nature as to ask you to fill the role?''
Il. monsieur? Why, I've never been
on the stage in my life. Ishouldn't
know how to look"
"You have only to look naturally, my
dear monsieur, and you will have the
appearance of man perfectly CONNIE IL
taut and distingue. The witnes is sup
posed to be retired cavalry officer, and
it may be said without flattery you have
exactly the physique for the service, as
we say in the theater.''
"But should be recognized.
'Not the slightest danger. Our hair
dresser will, in a second, make up
your head and face in a way that would
puzzle your most intimate friend. And
then, with the red ribbon in your but
ton-hole-"
1.-THE ribbon-a red ribbon in my but
ton-hole," broke in Exupere, in voice
trembling with emotion, and his face
suddenly becoming deep purple.
He had hardly got the words out of
his mouth when the cunning stage man
sger, feeling that he had gained
his point, pinned deity upon the ex-
agents breast the coveted decoration.
Exupere was calm, but majestic, under
the fire of the opera-glasses-as calm as
French officer might have been under
the fire of the enemy's artillery. On
beholding his handsome figure in the
mirror in the green-room, after the cur
tain had fallen, and where the stage
manager was waiting to- compliment
him, he said to himself:
'.No; in fact am no longer the same
person; now l am the man l should
ber'
The unhappy Exupere dreamed that
he was really member of the Legion
for the rest of his days. Meatime, a
piece of good fortune came to him.
From being possessed of very limited
income, he suddenly became quite we'll
TODD, thanks to an unexpected inher-
itance. One morning he received a
communication from country notary
informing him that his first cousin,
Eustache Verduron, had bequeathed to
him his entire property, real and per-
sonal, which represented an income of
over twenty thousand francs. At the
close of this agreeable epistle the village
attorney added that he did not consider
that he was trangressing the bounds of
professional d secretion by observing that
IN so making his will his cousin had dis
inherited his nephew. Albert Gobelin,
who had been guilty of having married
against his wishes, in Algiers, a respect
able but poor girl. "The whole coun-
tryside, added the kind-hearted notary,
.Plties the young man, who is a fine
thy
Thus it came to pass that Exupere
1obelin inherited fortune, but not
without greatly commissioning his un-
fortunate relative
Il shall certainly make inquiries
about this young fellow" he said to
himself, land discover if I can in what
corner of Africa he has hidden himself
with the girl of his choice. If he is
really re, as deserving as they say, we'll
II make him my heir. I'm not one
Of Your selfish, rapacious old curmud-
geons. am not like some of the surly
oid misers of my acquaintance; I am
generous and charitable. And to think
mat there are some shabby fellows who
nave been Inscriptions enough to get
themselves decorated and to strut
around Gu with the Cross, while L"
Ills mania for being decorated had
,b over-mastered all other passions in
sile breast of the late dabbler in insur-
s slSe' de was tempted more power
,Iliy Than ever was St. Anthony in the
lessrt and felt urged to the point of IL
.egaliy assuming the coveted honor by
S4; s hal within him stronger than