The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-28


in the park, to en- 10Y the warmth of the
beautiful Autumn days, when the sun
gilded the marble of the statues and
yellowed the leaves OF the great chest
nuts. They would seat themselves, all
black in their mourning dresses, and
while listening to the military music,
seem to find q shred of their former
happiness. It seemed to them that
nothing was changed in their existence,
and that the voice of the Colonel ought
to sound. rough and sonorous, behind
them, saying:
"Bonjour mesdames, it is the 18th
that gives the concert to-day. Their
fanfare is not rs good as ours"
But the cries of the children playing
in the sand was all the'sound that was
heard. And the mother, with sigh,
tried to read her paper through her
glasses, bedimmed with tears, while the
daughter furtirely threw a melancholy
glance at her old partners of the dance,
who did not recognize her any more.
She was now approaching twenty-five,
and her beauty, refined by sorrow, had a
most penetrating charm. One would
have said she was like flower that
storm had refreshed and purified. She
had lost the rollicking vivacity Of former
days and row, digntied and sweet, she
seemed to be doing penance for her joy.
Gus past.
One day at the hour of music, when
the officers were promenading, smoking
and laughing, she observed new face
among those she was accustomed to see
every afternoon. She recalled in an IN.
slant the balls OF the General, and her
tinid lover, buried in a corner devouring
her with his eyes. She said to her
mother, 90 mamma, see there, the Lieu
tenantw
He had perceived her also, for he had
turned pale, and leaving his comrades,
cap in hand he advanced toward them.
| The old mother hastily folded her paper
and clearing the chair which was before
her, offered it with benevolent smile to
the officer.
Comment, c'est vous, Lieutenant! 0,
! what a long time! We are very happy
to see. But, pardon, call you Lieuten.
ant and I see you have another stripe
upon your sleeve"
Then he blushed and related that, at
the end of campaign of six months, he
had been made Captain after the affair
of Nam-Dimh "There were so many
places to I'LL" He was entrenched for
awhile at Tuyen-kuan with Commander
Domino. There was terrible siege of
five weeks. Then he was upon the breach
repelling the furious assaults of the
Chinese army, which beat without ceas-
ing in great waves of humanity against
the walls, reducing them to ruins. He
was wounded the last day in desperate
sort;e, when in the distance above the
clamor of the yellow hordes, the French
trumpets were heard. sounding their de-
liverance. Oh, the wild oy of that hour!
He had seen the enemy fee, the tricolor
appear, and he fell without regret,
knowing that they had conquered. His
condition seemed so serious that they
sent him back to France with cross OF
honor. During the voyage he had nearly
recovered, and upon arrival his name had
been mentioned for promotion to the
grade of chef de battalion.
The two women said nothing. The
mother, with her knowledge of the
service, was calculating that he had
gained ten years in advance of his com.
rades. The daughter was examining the
young man, whom she found almost un.
recognizable. his pale and heightened
face giving him great air of distinc.
ton. Was it possible that she had de-
spised him, this brave soldier, who, hav.
ing paid with his blood for every grade
conquered, had come back now with an
assured future? He also was looking at
her. Was this she, so serious and
thoughtful, whom he had known so
giddy and capricious? Another woman
had been developed, hundred times
more attractive in her sweet and SUBJ
dued sadness. She was charming be-
fore, and now she was ravishing. He
had thought of her thus. 1t was indeed
she, as pretty as ever, and hundred
times more so. Their eyes met, and in
those of the officer she read so much
alteration that she turned away with a
little feeling of embarrassment.
The evening came on. The two ladies
arose to 60, and he, unwilling to leave
| them conducted them to their door. The
next day he met them again at the music,
and so on, every day. He seated him.
self near the daughter, and while the
mother read her papers they talked con.
tinuously, without. however, saying
anything.
The autumn advanced. The leaves,
dry and wthered, strewed the ground,
and it was too cold to remain seated.
! They promenaded in the pathways of the
: deserted park, the Captain and the
daughter, side by side, walking with
| lingering and loving step. December
passed thus, in an intimacy growing
daily more. sweet. The Captain how.
ever seemed at times troubled and nerv.
Gus. One day, in transport of passic a,
! he pressed her arm to his side. His eyes
, gliStened, and she thought he was upon
the point of saying: ''I adore you" but
ne kept silent, and became little sad.
HIS agitation seemed to increase with
! the approach of the new year. He went
; fire juently to Paris, and occupied him.
self less with the two ladies. A great
unea mess seemed to possess him. Could
they have been deceived! What mys.
terry was he preparing?
The }1st of december. at o'clock, he
had not yet appeared. The widow was
reading the evening paper, which con-
tanned the promotions in the army.
Suddenly she cried:
''He has been promoted. He has his
! appointment"
! At the same moment hurried steps
were heard the door opened quickly,
and he who had been so impatiently ex.
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