Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-30
HOW ANATOLE WON HIS BRIDE.
UNION, by Mrs y. E. White

Translated from the French. for the SUNDAY
UNION. by Mrs. n. E. White.l
This New Years day recalls to my
mind an episode of the siege of Paris,
which, fatter myself, greatly rebounds
to my credit. Let the reader be not
alarmed shall not take him to the
ramparts, nor to the outposts, but simply
to Trevise street, to the house of my old
friend, Dutailly, a rich manufacturer of
chemicals, the husband of an excellent
lady and father of charming daughter
a skillful workman, good patriot, some
what fanatical on the subject of politics,
but on the whole, one of the best men in
the world.
Having been overtaken, by the invest
ment of Paris, at the very moment he was
strapping his trunks for departure, he had
consoled himself with the conviction that
the city would not hold out eight days
longer. The more provident Madame
Dutailly, however, busted herself at once
about purchasing supplies and stored the
house with such an abundance of edibles
that, had the siege lasted three months,
the family would not have suffered from
hunger. She further completed her work
of providing for the evil day by erecting
in her little garden cow-shed, chicken
house, and even pig-pen, the inmates of
which three months later would be worth
almost their weight in gold.
In October we rose up and called her
blessed, especially, for whom a cover
was laid at the Dutailly table every Sun
day and Thursday evening, and who found
there sufficient to compensate for the
severe privations suffered during the rest of
the week. How could one help, in those
days of dire necessity, going into ecstacies
over a ham omelette, or bit of Swiss
cheese, favored with excellent wines,
chemicals manufactured by mine host
But was not the only privileged guest
at that hospitable board. Another had a
place at my side; this was young Anatole
Brichaut, the chief clerk of the factory,
and the prospective partner and son-in-
law of Dutailly.
This worthy young man was small OF
stature, and of a melancholy disposition.
His natural timidity was greatly increased
by his excessive affection for his employ
er's daughter, Mile. Gertrude, who never
theless, did not appear insensible to his
humble suit. Without any words having
been exchanged on the subject, the candi-
dature of Brichaut was regarded by the
Dutaillys with sufficient favor to war
rant the young people in believing
their future union to be a settled
fact. Unfortunately, the war deferred
the contamination of their union.
Brichaut, who was Corporal in the
Army of the Seine and CHARTERED at Saint
Denis, performed his duty as soldier con-
scientiously, Just as he did everything else,
but it must be admitted that he did not
enter into it with any marked degree OF
enthusiasm, and often consigned an did5le
that everlasting siege, which delayed his
happiness, and the movements of which
he criticised gently, in his fashion, but
without bitterness. These criticisms were
a constant irritation TO Dutailly, who was
fanatical admirer of General Trochu.
But much greater evil was impending.
The Times was publishing series of ar.
| ticles in which the author reconstructed
the military operations of the province in
accordance with his own delirious mag
ination. Dutailly had taken all these re.
views in earnest. He stuck little flags
upon the map at the points indicated by
the strategist Of the Times, and followed
anxiouslY those chimerical marches and
| countermarches, and predicted for us, after
brief delay, decisive victories.
Brichaut was incredulous, and some,
times risked a timid objection, at which
Dutailly would undertake an enthusiastic
defense and lose his temper. l used tc
| interfere Just in time to quiet the debate
but the manufacturer, IN his inmost soul
could not console himself for the loss OF
all those battles which his clerk prevented
him from winning.
The presence of a new guest at that time
succeeded in still further complicating the
situation. | was surprised one evening
upon arriving rather late, to find my place
at the right of Nine. Dutailly occupied by
red-faced, broad-shouldered individual
who struck me Immediately as being both
noisy and boastful. He wore the stripes Of
a Captain upon fantastic uniform found
no doubt in the rubbish of some theatrical
wardrobe), the most conspicuous portion Of
| it being pair of enormous boots, the di.
mansions of which rendered it impossible
not to recognize in the wearer a genuine
| hero
NJ. RObillard," said Dutailly to me-
introducing us, Captain of the Lost Chill
dren of Courbevoie."
| Before quite finishing nv soup | had
formed my opinion of Robillard. The ex
PLOTS Of this brawler consisted most likely
in stripping from the deserted houses O.
| the suburbs such furniture as might excite
the cupidity of the enemy, and depositins
| 1t in safe place-not known to the own
| ers.
was impatiently wondering how thi.
squared-jawed, sledge-hammer creature
happened to be invited that evening t.
nibble my share of the Swiss cheese. wher
Nine. Dutailly, with no little emotion
explained the mystery. At nightfall she
was crossing the Boulevard Poissonniere
when she slipped on the icy pavement
Robillard, who happened to be passing
carried her to the nearest drugstore anC
afterwards conducted her to her home
which she would have found some diff
Guilty in reaching alone in her bruised anC
bewlldered condition. Out of gratitude
she had been obliged to invite her pre-
server to dinner. This explanation wa
reassuring, and l hoped that this one,
would be the last appearance of the "hero'
upon the scene.
The rascal was 100 sharp, however. H,
represented himself as interested in vas
coal mining scheme, which compelled hin
to travel all over Europe and he related
some very amusing adventures of his vow
ages. The war, he stated, had recalled
him to Paris, where the safety of the pub
lie required his presence. AS to his feat
of valor in the suburbs at the head of hi
band of Lost Children" it is needless Il
state they were beyond all belief. Tn,
enemy was harrassed, exhausted, powerles
so he affirmed. with five thousanc
brave lads like his an irreparable breacl
would be made III their ranks" etc, was hi
continual boast.
Nine. Dutailly listened to this senseles
brasgadocio with the utmost complacency
| Dutailly could not resist the temptation t.
give credence to it. Gertrude alone re
NAMED totally Indifferent As to the poo
little Corporal-paler than ever that even
ing and more nsigniicant-looking in hi
ill.ftting blouse afflicted besides witt
an annoying cold in the head-he seemed
crushed by the presence of this swaggerin!
fellow, who spared him neither painful
inSinuations, tantalizing glances, nor I'm
| pleasant comparisons.