The Washington critic., 1886-09-30
A FAMILY BOMBSHELL
BY vIcToRIEN sARDou.

have been recently reminded of an
episode of the siege OF Paris, which,
ilatter myself, reflects no small credit
on me. But be not alarmed. shall
not lead you among the shot and shell
of the ramparis, nor the dangers of
the outposts. The incident speak of
took place in quiet street, in the
house Of my old friend Durand, o
wealthy manufacturer of chemicals,
the husband of an cstlmable lady, the
father of charming girl, good pa.
lriot, and, though perhaps little hot
headed In his politics, on the whole
one of the best men in the world.
Although surprised by the invest
mcnt of Paris, Nine. Durand, always n
provident woman, had looked to the
condition of her larder, and she had
laid in such stock of provisions that,
had the siege lasted three months
longer than it did, the Durands would
never have known hunger. Along in
October her wisdom became apparent,
and added my blessings on her fore.
thought to those of the family, for
cover was always laid for me at her
table; and who, during those times of
privation, would not be enraptured at
sight of n golden omeet or some gen.
uine gruyereY
was not the only guest at this hos
7 pitablc table, for my next neighbor at
table was Victor Lamont, the head
clerk of the chemical works. He was
an excellent young fellow, dark and
slender, somewhat retiring, and appar.
emily very much in love with his EN-.
ployers daughter, Gertrude, who
seemed not insensible to his attentions.
Though not word had been spoken
on the subject the union of the young
couple was tacitly accepted by all.
Unfortunately, the war prevented Its
accomplishment. Victor was corporal
in the Paris militia, and performed his
duties with the same conscientious
care he exercised in all things; but he
was not enthusiastic in anything except
in consigning to the devil this eternal
siege which had come between him and
his happiness. And his criticisms of
perhaps excusably-somcw bitter.
These criticisms never failed to eX.
cite Durand, who was IL devoted al.
mirer Of General Trochu. Aud still
another thing served to cstrange them.
lie Iemps was then publishing q series
of articles in which the author rcmod.
eled the military operations which had
taken place in the provinces. He in,
dulgcd in wild flights of Imagination,
but Durand took them seriously and
predicted brilliant victories In the near
future. The doubling Victor would
venture q timid objection. Then
Durund would become excited and
angry, and would not be appeased uu-
Ill The clerk granted that each sepi.
rate battle was victory.
The presence of new guest tended
to complcale matters still more. | was
surprised one evening TO find my place
ut Nine. Durand's right hand occupied
by stranger, a swash 'buckling inli'
vidual with bull neck aud n very rcd
face. He wore captains epau,ets. his
uniform looked as ii he might have
found II In the property Of some
theatre, his enormous boots were mid
leg high, and altogether it was easy to
see that he posed as II hero.
IN. Morn," said Durand in intro.
ducing us, Captain of the Montmarte
Zcuaves of Death.
The captain curled his moustaches
and scowlcd salute.
Before the soup was over l rccol-
lected who this NORM was. His ex-
ploits consisted in removing from the
deserted houses of the suburbs such
furniture as would be likely TO arouse
the cupidity of the enemy, and putting
1t in a place Of safety until its owners
should take it away. was wondering
how this iron jawed braggart came to
share our meal, when Nine. Durand
explained the matter 10 me, with con
s,,iable show of emotion. While ou'
walking late In the afternoon she had
slipp'd on the sidewalk and fallen, and
Morin, who happened to be passing a.
q e time, assisted her to rise, and, as
she was somewhat faint and nervous
had accompanied her home She could
do no less than ask him to dinner This
explanation reassured me; l hoped we
should see no more of him.
"The war" he said, had 'led him
to Paris, whose safety required his
presence" AS to his exploits in the
suburbs at the head Of his "Iouaves OF
Death" they passed all belief. "ThC
enemy could do nothing! With my
five thousand wolves at my back
made breach" etc, etc.
Nine. Durand listened to this rho
domontadc with complaisance. DurNnr
with undisguised admiration, AS t,
the poor militiaman, Victor, his eXisl
ence seemed totally erased in the pres
ence of this blusterer.
invented Il pretoNt to leave immc
diately after the coffee, for ! was op
pressed by the Dragging of the leather
lunged Gascon whom | hoped neve
to see again. But in vain, for on the
following Sunday | found him in tn,
same place, again on Friday, ant
finally cover was placed for him every
evening. The entire Durand family
seemed fascinated by him. MORN had
captured Nine. Durand by his jOyial
ity, and papa Durand by the interest h
seemed 10 take in the military opera
tions conducted in Le Temps, Vlcto
lost more ground at every dinner.
The dscredit into which he has
fallen became plainly apparent afte
the bloody fight ut lie Bourget, where
the poor lad had done his duty nobll
and received painful wound in tht
forearm. He narrated the whole allai
to us, the retreat and the sad ending o
that heroic combat, with 50 lamentabit
an air of discouragement that the Cap
tain began TO treat him as If he were
deserter aud coward. With wha
noble Indignation he demonstrated tha
If the "Zouaves Of Death" had beer
there things would have been qIlit
different. rherGupon, warming 10 thI
subject he sketched ont for us plal
for s0rtie by The passage OF the disc
u march o. llOueu. AMI II final lrlum
lhant arrival at llayre, 50 clearly an,