Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-02

4 HtB ftLIttlSs
at IS very sad, said /. "Aud did she
l never hear from him after he was taken
/ awayP
"No. she never doubted that he lived,
though. and would come back. 81 feel it
I here,' she used to say, laying her hand on
/ her heart. Why else do livershe would
/ add. Only yesterday her face was like
I the sunlight. Il am sure be will come
! home with the rest,' she cried, and then
/ shall know why he did not write. Did
/ you see how she had mis- dinner readyi
went with her to market, and it was
/ touching TO hear her say, Il must get
| tnis,' or Il must get that; he used to like
| it so.'"
Did you 90 with her to the wharfi" l
asked, willing to learn all could.
mo, Monsieur. She didn't seem TO
want me to. But shall never forget the
look she gave me as she went out of the
door. There wasn't any doubt in 1t. To
my foolish mind it seemed TO say, Il shall
never he lonely in this room any more.
Mon Dieu when l think how that look
must have frightened wnen she saw the
poor wanderers crOwding forward out of
the ship and then have faded away to what
it was when she came back alone my heart
is ready to break"
"You saw her, then, after her returnT'
"a moment. She come to my door with
the letters you have there. AS soon as |
saw her / knew what had happened. but
| couldn't speak. My tongue seemed to
cleave to the roof OF my mouth. You see,
had been as sure as she that he would be
three with the rest"
didn't you say anything thenW
| "Not a word; she didn't give me a
chance. MY husband is dead.' was her
/ greeting as she opened the door. Il look
! ed 10 the face OF every one OF the exiles as
they left the ship, and he was not there.
| want to leave these letters with you
they were meant tor him. And without
looking me in the face she laid the pack
age down with a slow still movement, as
il she we're already half dead herself, they
went out and closed the door. There was
something in her look which told me not
| to follow her,"
"But weren't you afraid OF what she
would dor Didn't you fear she might CON-
init suicIdep'
"No, sir, Yet if l had Idon't think !
should have followed her" Then as !
looked up surprised the good woman
FASTENED 10 say:
lit is a sadder story than you think. II
you care to hear
did not wait for her to finish.
TELL me all you know about ner, "said
The woman eagerly complied. Tue
| facts which she gave me, together with a
| few others afterwards CLEANED by me
| from a different source, form the basis u
the following history, a history which
am sure you will pardon me for giving il
my own words rather than in those of my
/ infOrmants:
Elise Lepage was not a beauty, yet in
| her earlier youth, at least, she possessed
charm which always insured her th'
admiration and very often the love o
| those with whom she came IN contact
| Her father, who was a musician OF some
what mediOcretalent, recognized THU
charm, and in his simple way calculated
| upon its winning ner suitable husband
Notwithstanding his small means and he
| consequent lack OF a dOwry. To him sh'
was paragon, and wnen, at the close o
long DAY of unremitting labor at th'
piano, he saw her approaching him in
dainty tresn robe ready for their usua
walk on the boulevard, his face wOulG
light up with such pride and Joy tnat tn'
loving girl who watched him felt the tea
gush 10 her eye at the same moment tn
smile rose TO her lip.
They lived in a plain but sufncientl!
comfortable apartment, and had for neigh
bOrs two young men by the name o
Picard, brothers. These two young mel
occupied the apartment above them; an'
one Of them, the youngest, having some
taste for music, natural acquaiQtancl
had sprung up between him and NJ. Lep
age, which presently involved the olde
brother aud Mile. Lepage. rae con
sequence was that Jean, he elder brother
fell IN love with the fresh, charmini
young girl, and, being himself a man O
no conventional prejudices-the futur
Communist In fact---he offered TO MARI,
her without any other fortune than that o
her youth and many virtues. The oil
father was delighted. First, because h
ielt himself failing in health aud va
anxious 10 see his darling's future secur
ed; and secondly. because he liked thi
man better than any one else IN tue wori'
save ana excepting always his dear AM
much admired daughter. Why he fel
this extraordinary affection for a man o
whom be was forced 10 acknOwled &c L
himself he knew but little he could no
have told II he had tried. Certainly j
was not because he understood him, 70
he did not; neither was II because Tn
other possessed attractions of peculia
or marked nature. Jean Picard vas no
handsome nor was be even gifted In man
ner or conversation, yet Old Mr.. LepAg
loved him and hailed tue prospects OF hli
being his s0n-in-law with As much feryal
as II he were the owner OF millions insteal
OF being tue physician OF one of the poor
est aud worst paying quarters IN tn
7 whole city. He trusted him, and that fact
: perhaps, illustrates the character OF 10
two men. For Jean Picard was to bl
trusted IN all matters OF the heart an
conscience; ~ was only his mead that wa
, ~ fault, or, perhaps, should say hi
: temperament. He mad inherited trad
tlons OF the FIRST Revolution, aud believe
absolutely In tue might of the people. Bu
} Of this he had nothing TO say in these dayi
, hs head and his heart being joined IN ca
z one wish, the one hone, the one purpos,
} b. make Elise his wife.
The evening when he had chosen {
4 speak 70 NJ. Lepage--he had nevt
B breathed a word N his desires to y il
herselt--was. as he afterwards remembe
ed, an especially beautiful one. rne moo
: was shining, aud a., Tiled with the JOY
successful suit, he stepped from On
apartment Of N. Lepage something ia th