The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-11-09
THE BOMB.
by yICTORIEN sARDOU.

Have I ever done anything worthy Of
rraisel Yes, / am vain enough to be
proud Of an incident which occurred
Turing Tie siege of Paris.
beg the reader not to be alarmed.
will not conduct him to the ramparts,
nor TO the outposts, but simply to Ire
wise street, and to the house of my old
friend, Dutailly, the husband of an ex-
cellcnt wife, the father of charming
daughter, a successful manufacturer,
slightly crazy on the subject of poll
tics, but, take him all in all, one of the
best fellows in the world.
Although surprised by the invest
ment of Paris, Mrs. Dutailly, wise
woman that she was. had busted herself
to provision the house, where she had
collected such an abundance of food
that if the siege had continued three
months longer, the family would not
have suffered from hunger. Liberal also
20 the needy, the Dutaillys were greatly
Le.oved in that quarter of the city; es-
pccially by myself, because l was wei
coined to a place at their table every
evening, where was able to make up
for the privations of the day. Who
would not have rejoicel, in those days
of scarcity, at the sight of an omelet
and other good things, washed down
with excellent wine2
was not the only guest received ct
his hospitablc table. Young Anstole
Brlebant, superintendent Of the factory,
had a pace by my side. He was a
clever fellow, melancholy, delicate, some
what timid, and greatly in love with
his employers daughter, Mss Gertrude,
who did not seem Indifferent to his at
;cntions. Although no formal engage
ment had been contracted, the union OF
he two young people was a thing tacit-
IL agreed upon by the parents, but un
fortunately the war hal adjourned the
fiicial ratification. Br.ebant, corporal
N the Volunteers of the Slime, per
formed his military duties faithfully,
but without enthusiasm. curslng the
lengthy duration of the siege which de.
!aycd his happiness, and cursing the
military operations quietly. a, wa' hi:
manner, but not without bitterness.
These criticisms did not fail to irri.
ta'e Dutailly, who was a strong par.
isan of Gen. Tro hu, and things wer,
still further aggravated by another
cause. The Times published at tha
period a series of articles wherein tn,
au ho- described the military operations
in the provinces, acco linz to his wild
.E.agiIat.on. Dutaill7 took the
dream, riously. and predicted decisiv,
victories in short time; the incredu
lous B.iebant riskel timid objection
Datailly became excited and angry, ant
accu.cl his superintendent of prevent
llg the realization of these victories.
The presence of another guest Stil
further complica'e the situation. On
evening was surprised to see my plac
ct tie right of Mrs. Dutailly occu
pied ny an individual who was red faced
noisy and boastful. He wore captain
,houldcr-strlps on fantastical coat
which locked a: if it might have bee
,,ic,:cl from the discarded clothing G
some tic tire, and had on immense boots
:etcr he manner of theatrical hero.
Du.aily introduced him to me q
Captain Eobillard, commanding the Los
Children of Courbevoie.
C,torc the conclusion of the fir;
c'a,se had made up my mind abor
foub;llard, and was sure that his mil