Wichita eagle., 1886-08-19

| and on it was ranged choice selection OF
the best French scientific works and late
| Partisan publications A steel engraving
| of Meissonnier, another of Theirs and a
chrome Of Victor Hugo adorned the walls.
Three handsome fowling pieces hung from
their pegs, and looking out from a rough
wood cabinet glistened an English made
/ microscope.
A cup or two of tea, his only beverage.
seemed to lift the latch of his communica-
! tiveness, and it was not long before the
! party was immersed in pleasant discus
/ sion of Tyndall, Spencer, Comte and Fara-
day.
/ 1t was surprise to ind a man possessed
/ of SO much erudition and natural mental
| capacity living there alone the life of her
| NIT With some hesitancy the question
was put as to his reasons for thus voIuntar.
t lily placing himself out of the world. as
! it were.
| a shadow seemed to pass across his face
when the question was asked, and his coun-
tenance gave evidence of deep emotion.
Taking from his pocket paper and tobacco
he rolled and Lighted cigarette, and pulled
it some minutes in silence. His blue flannel
shirt, which was unbuttoned. exposed a
broad chest and well developed, almost mas
shaped head rested with graceful poise. IN
marble the bust would have been not unlike
that of some heroic Grecian warrior
Putting slowly at his cigarette and toying
with favorite dog as be talked he began.
in a low voice, to tell something Of his past
history, exacting promise, however, that
nothing OF It should be given to the public
until after his death or his return to his for
mer home
The second son Of a judge of the court of
Cessation of France. he graduated with
honors at the Ecole Politecnique, as he was
intended for the army. After his educa.
ton was completed he retired to countrY
residence Of his fathers, near AlancSl. In
Normandy, where he enjoyec vacation Of
eighteen months The rare and delightful,
scenery thereabouts excited in him deep
love of nature, and he beguiled his time
with short foot journeys through the sur.
ounding country. To amuse himself he
ook up the study OF botany and natural
history, and, becoming enthusiastic on the
mbject. he decided to devote his energies to
The profession of naturalist
1t was during this time he met frequently
beautiful girl, the daughter of a titled
gentleman living Tot far from Alencon,
WIZ SoeCAAAAo sOAOtO1uS VI Las d1cCtioI@
sor the wild and romantic in nature, &C
,ompanied him in his visit to some of the
more interesting localities in the neighbor-
aood. Her parents permitted this as she
vas always escorted by her brother, year
younger than herself. Thrown together SO
much and being Of like disposition the
affinity between them soon ripeued into q
strong and deep love.
The speaker here was silent for some time
and then resumed his story. The girl was
engaged by her father to young nobleman
Of that district, whom she heartily disliked
On account of his dissipation. The old story
was repeated. The parents discovering her
affection for the young naturalist prevented
ais further visits to the house, but a secret
correspondence was kept up between him
self and his sweetheart The end came at
last and she was taken to Paris, where she
was married to his rival
Embittered against the world he at once
joined the army as a lieutenant of the For
ty-t' I'D of the line. Conservative in tenn
permanent he was anything but warm roy
alist and the success of his titled rival drove
aim into ultra democracy. He became a
determined enemy of rank, and bidded his
time to take revenge. The war with Ger
many broke out, and the excitement of that
bloody contest kept his mind fully occupied.
Disaster and defeat came and he found HIM
self in Paris when it surrendered.
Through all the vicissitudes of camp and
field he had not for an instant forgotten his
love, and wherever he went made inquiries
the whereabouts of the count
and his wife.
The commune came and, throwing down
his sword he joined it and became one Of its
Ia,I l..
rival who was reported to be in Paris, but
failed to find him He declined to speak of
his participation in the terrible events of
the commune. He was captured in street
assault and carried to Jail, where, with
thirteen Others, he was sentenced to be shot
The night before the execution a Sister Of
Charity visited him When alone in the cell
with him she divulged her identity. Trus
to her old love, his sweetheart of Alencon,
at the hazard of exposure and disgrace, had
resolved on his escape She furnished him /
a disguise as Carmelite nun, and after c.
daring passage between four inspectors of /
the prison, both succeeded in gaining the
street Before parting promises We're ex-
changed that II in the future she should /
ever become single she would let him know,
and he would go to her, no matter where I
she might be. He thought America the 4
safest refuge for himself, and in two months /
reached Louisiana, where be had relatives. /
After his arrival be discovered that his rela- I
tives had been ruined by the civil war, and /
be did not make himself known lest he
should become at least for time, burden 1
to them. He had but little money. and re-
ceiving an offer from a fisherman to assist
him on his little vessel he accepted the
prefer. The sight OF these weird bays and
lonely inlets had resolved him to seek here
4 dwelling place: AMI after purchasing
small boat, partly on credit be had built
this cabin and devoted himself TO shrimp
fishing, at which he made a fair living. His
means permitted him to en- Joy the late
and when he could afford il he
purchased some scientific work with which
70 keep up his studies. ! friend IL Paris,
he only person in France who knew his
sent him newspapers and kept
lim posted about the career OF the man
who had wrecked his happiness. He would
i've ont here alone until some message from
across the sea came TO him
There was a charming franhness in the
manner in which he told his story Al
hough now anu then he showed evidences
II deep suffering, yet he endeavored to hide
{ by a superhuGan effort, and with pleas
INT sG.;le, tlnged. il is true, with sadness hs
would divert the attention and pass Oh TO
another portion or bis narrative.
It was nearly midnight when weariei
With the long days sail and drowsy from
he effects Of the gulf breeze, the party
rawled under their thick snusquito bars,
md soon all ware asleep.
Day was just breaking across the lone
cia-- = {