Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-20
Gales aud Sketthes.
A FAMlLYsBOMBSHELL.
BY vICTORIEN sARDOU.

fiatter myself, reflects no small credit on
me. But be not alarmed. | shall not
lead you among the shot and she'll of the
ram parts, nor the dangers of the outposts.
The incident speak of took place in a
| quiet street, in the house of my old friend
! Durand, a wealthy manufacturer of chem
| icals, the husband of an estimable lady,
the father Of charming girl, a good pa
| triot. and, though perhaps little hot
! headed in his politics, on the whole one of
! the best men in the world.
| Although surprised by the investment
of Paris. Nine. Durand, always provi-
dent woman, had looked to the condition
OF Der 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 APP
parent, and | added my blessings on her
torethought 10 those of the family, for a
cover was always laid for me at her table !;
and who, during these times Of privation
would not be enraptured at sight of
golden omelet or some genuine gruvere
| was not the only guest at this hospitable
table, for my next neighbor at table was
| Victor Lamont, the head clerk OF the
che mical works. He was an excellent
Young fellow, dark and slender. some
Uhat retiring, and apparently very much
in love with his employers daughter, Ger
| tIude, who seemed not insensible to his
attentions. Though not a word had been
spoken on the subject. the union Of the
yonng couple was tacitly accepted by all.
Unfortunately. the war prevented its ac
complsbment. Victor was a corporal in
the Paris militia, and performed his duties
with the same conscientious care he exer-
cised IN all things but he was not enthu-
>iaslic in anything except in consignng to
the devil this eternal siege which had
come between him and his happiness.
And his criticisms on the conductor of the
operations were-perhaps excusably-
somewhat bitter
These criticisms never failed to excite
| Durand, who was a devoted admirer of
General Trochu And still another thing
served to esirange them lie Temps was
| then publishing a series of articles in
which the author remodeed the military
| operations which had taken place in the
provinces. He INDUCED in wild flights of
Imagination, but Durand took them seri-
ously, and predicted brilliant victories in
the near future. The doubling Victor
would venture a timid objection. Then
| Durand would become excited and angry,
and would not be appeased until the clerk
granted that each separate battle was a
victory.
The presence of a new guest tended to
complicate matters still more. was sur
prsed one evening to find my place at
Nine. Durand's right hand occupied by
| at oh hno inn pAiv vi dino uitb
bull neck and very red face. He wore
captains epauets. his uniform looked as
if he might have found it in the property
room of some theatre, his enormous boots
were mid-Ieg high, and altogether it was
easy to see that he posed as a hero.
IN. NORM" said Durand in introducing
us. "captan OF the Montmartre Zouaves
of Death
The captain curled his mustaches and
! scowled a salute.
| Before the soup was over recolected
who this MORN was. His exploits con-
sisted in removing from the deserted
houses of the suburbs such furniture as
would be likely to arouse the cupidity of
the enemy. and putting it in a place of
safety until its owners should take it away
was wondering how this iron iawed
braggart came to share our meal, when
Nine. Durand explained the matter to me
with considerable show of emotion.
While out walking. late in the afternoon,
she had slipped on the sidewalk and fall
en-, and NORM, who happened to be pass
ing at the time. assisted her to rise, and.
as she was somewhat faint and nervous.
had accompanied her home. She could
90 no less than ask him in to dinner
This explanation treasured me; hope
we should see no more of him.
1.-The war" he said. had led him to
Paris. whose safety required his pres
ence." As to his exploits in the suburbs
at the head of his ''Zouaves OF Death, "
they passed all belief 1.-The enemy
could do nothing! With my five thou
sand wolves at my back | made a
breach" etc, etc.
Nine. Durand listened to this rbodo-
montade with complaisance, Durand with
nndisouised admiration As to the poor
militiaman. Victor, his existence seemed
totally erased IN the presence of this great
blusterer.
invented pretext to leave immedi-
atelv after the coffee. for was oppressed
bv the Dragging of the leather lunged
Gascon, whom hoped never to see again.
But in vain, for on the following Sunday
found him in the same place, again on
Friday, and finally a cover was placed for
him every evening. The entire Durand
family seemed fascinated by him MORN
had captured Nine. Durand by his ioviali-
lty. and papa Durand by the interest he
seemed to take in the military operations
condcted in lie Temps. Victor lost more
ground at every dinner.
The discredit into which he had fallen
became plainly apparent after the bloody
fight at lie Bourget, where the poor lad
had done his duty molly and received a
painful wound in the forearm. He mar
rated the whole affair to us, the retreat
and the sad ending of that heroic combat.
with So lamentable an air of discourage.
ment that the captain began to treat him
as if he were deserter and coward.
With what noble indignation he demon
strated that if the "Zouaves of Death"
had been there things would have been
very different. Thereupon. warming to
the subject. he sketched out for us plan
for sortie by the passage Olse, march
to Rouen. and a final triumphant arrival
at Havre. so clearly and wildly that he
aroused Durand to great enthusiasm. And
all this time poor Inundated Victor was
suffering from his still bleeding wound
The next day Victor had fever and
kept his bed, and for some weeks he did
not appear at the table. The captain,
meanwhile enpruetinallv established he