Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-05-03
FORTUNES FAVORTE,

He was a happy lucky fellow, my
uncle, Colonel Edouard Griffard. He
was ever ready to risk his life, to take
any chance, and chance seemed always to
favor him. Among his comrades he was
known as Fortunes favorite
At the age of forty he was Colonel of
a regiment of Hussars, and an officer of
the Legion of Honor. He had an in
come of six thousand francs, enough to
enable him to live well and maintain his
position, but not enough to tempt him to
relinquish his military career. He was
high-spirited, brave as a lion, and we'll
educated. He was at once CAV and
philosophical, accepting without muir
muir the fatigues and privations of CAM
palgn, and enjoying to their full the
pleasures and advantages of life in garri-
son. He had fought in the Crimea, in
Africa, Italy and Mexico, escaping with
only two insignificant scratches. He had
an iron constitution, that enabled him to
endure suffering that would have killed
an ordinary man.
Such was my uncle Edouard when, in
1859, it was our fortune to be in camp
together at ChalOns, where his regiment,
which had been decimated by yellow
fever, had been ordered.
He was not more than six years nv
senior, and he loved me as though [ was
a younger brother.
One day was dining at his mess, and
while we were over our coffee the Sergeant
entered and handed him letter. He
looked at the superscription and knitted
his brows, and shadow seemed to fit
over his handsome face.
''Excuse me, !" he said.
He tore open the envelope. from which
fell the photograph of young woman.
With quick movement he picked up the
photograph, and gazed at it moment
with look of admiration. Then, hand
ing it to me, he said
cit is Suzanne. She is right, Door GIRL.
ought to have informed her of nv ar
rival"
Then he handed me the letter, saying:
''What progress she has made!"
"Why, of course!' I replied, ''she is
seventeen years old; you forget that"
L read the letter, which was as follows
my DEAR GUARDIANS it right for you
to act thus toward a poor little prisoner who
has only you in the world and who loves YOU
so much? Onl Y one paltry letter since your
departure for MeXicOi And [ have had to re-
ceive from of the Sisters of the Convent
the news of your return to France. For the
past eight days every time l have heard the
bell announcing the arrival of visitor have
thought It you who had come to see me-
But L was always mistaken. The visit was
always for some of the other girls. sisters of
the officers who have made this campaign
with you-this campaign during which [
have wearled heaven with prayers for your
protection. Fortunately [ shall pass a part
of my vacation with your sister Come and
see me at her house, and sacrifice a little of
your time to your little SUzANNA"
From that time my uncle was not the
jovial man he had formerly been.
Whe he received that letter it was
nearly time for the summer vacation, and
his sister, my aunt, had invited Mile. Su-
zanne to spend it with her and her
daughters.
"Ah! yes, they make rapid progress,
these young girls! The little girl who
was lank and awkward in short skirts,
whose complexion was dingy and whose
hands were red, becomes a beautiful Sc
ductive creature, with golden hair and a
sylph-Eke form, like that of Psyche, an
incarnation of the spirit of spring time.
We both obtained leave of absence in
order that we might visit my aunt, who
had a beautiful estHte in the valley of
Chevreuse.
Soon after our arrival at nv aunt
home I noticed that whenever my uncle