Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-07-08
In THE FAMILY.

In THE FAMILY.
Mr.. Gobelin's Nephew Decorated
With the 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 unsatisfed 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 a
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 favor-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 rolep"
81, monsieurp Why, I've never been
on the stage in my life. I shouldn' t
know how to lock. ;"
"You have only to look naturally, my
dear monsieur, and you will have the
appearance of man perfectly CONNIE IL
fdut and disttnguc. The witness is sup
posed to be retired cavalry officer, and
it may be said without fiattery 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 o.
his mouth when the cunning stage man
ager, 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 enemys artillery. Or
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-complimen
him, he said TO himself:
mo; in fact am no longer the sam,
person; now am the man l should
ber'
The unhappy Exupere dreamed tina
he was really member of the Legion
for the rest of his days. Meatime,
piece of good fortune came to him
From being possessed of a very limited
income, he suddenly became quite well
TODD, thanks to an unexpected inner
itance. One morning he received
communication from country notar,
informing him that his first cousin
Eustache Verduron, had bequeathed Il
him his entire property, real and per
sonal, which represented an income o
over twenty thousand francs. At tn
close of this agreeable epistle the villag
attorney added that he did not conside
that he was trangressing the bounds Q
professional d Secretion by observing tina
in so making his will his cousin had dis
inherited his nephew, Albert Gobelin
who had been guilty of having Marie
against his wishes, in Algiers, a respect
able but poor girl. 1.-The whole coun
tryside," added the kind-hearted notary
"pities the young man, who is fin
fellow and deserves the greatest sympa
thy"
Thus it came to pass that Exuper
.Gobelin inherited a fortune, but nc
without greatly commiserating his ur
fortunate relative.
IL shall certainly make inquire
about this young fellow" he said I
himself, .'and discover if 1 can in wins
corner of Africa he has hidden himse
with the girl of his choice. If he
really as deserving as they say, we'll
I'll make him my heir. I'm not on
of your selfish, rapacious old curmut
geons. am not like some of the surl
old misers of my acquaintance; l al
generous and charitable. And to thin
that there are some shabby fellows VIII
have been INSCRIPTIONS enough to g
themselves decorated and to strr
around with the Cross, while /"
His mania for being decorated ha
now over-mastered all other passions
the breast of the late dabbler in insul
ance. He was tempted more powel
fully than ever was St Anthony in q
desert and felt urged to the point of !
legally assuming the coveted honor }
something within him stronger tina
his better self.
One morning. not being able to stan
the moral Cor immoraD pressure ar
longer, he entered shop and pu
chased dozen assorted Legion" ri
hons Then, hurrying home, like son