Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-01-18

oC"utiui Autumn Gays, when tho sun
gildcd the marble of the statues and
yellowed the leaves OF the great chest
nuts. They would seat themselves, all
black IN thoir mourning dresses, and
while listening to tho military music.
seem to find shred of their former
happiness. 1t seemed to them that
nothing was changed in their existence.
and that the voice of tho Colonel ought
to sound. rough and sonorous, behind
them, saying:
"Bonjour mesdamcs, it is the 18th
that gives tho concert to-day. Their
fanfare is not rs good rs ours"
But the cries of tho children PLAYING
in the sand was all the sound that was
heard. And the mother, with q sigh,
tried to read her paper through her
glasses, bcdimmcd with tears, while the
daughter furtivoly threw n melancholy
glance at her old partners Of the dance.
VINO 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 q flower that a
storm had refreshed and purified. She
had lost the rollicking vivacity Of former
days and now, digniticd and sweet, she
seemed to be doing penance for her Joy.
GUS past.
One day ut tho hour of music, when
the officers were promenading. smoking
and laughing, she observed a new face
among those she was accustomed to sec
every afternoon. She recalled in mn In
slant the balls of the General, and her
timid lover, buried in II corner dcyourinp
her with his eyes. She said to her
mother, 20 mamma, see there, the Lieu
tcnant"
lie had perceived her also, for he had
turned pale, and leaving his comrades,
cap in hand ho advanced toward them
The old mother hastily folded her paper
and clearing the char which was before
her, offered it with benevolent smile TO
the officer.
Comment, c'cst vous, Lieutenant O.
what long time We arc very happy
to see. But, pardon, call yon Lieutcn.
ant and sec you have another stripc
upon your sleeve"
Then he blushcd and related that, Mt
the end of n campaign Of six months, he
had been made Captain after the affair
of Mani Dimh. "rhcre were so many
places to fill" lie was cnlrenched for
awhile Mt Tuyen-Kuan with Commander
llomIe. There was n terrible siege of
five weeks. Then he was upon the breach
rcpe.ling the furious assaults of tho
Chinese army, which beat without ccas-
ing in great waves of humanity against
the walls, reducing them TO ruins. He
was wounded the last dry in desperate
sort @, when in the distance above the
clamor Of tho yellow hordcs. tho French
trumpcts were heard. sounding their dc.
livcrancc. Oh the wild oy of that hour
lie had seen the enemy flee, 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 dc battalion.
The two women said nothing. The
mother, with her knowledge of the
service, was calculating that hc had
gained ten years in advance of his com
rades. Tho daughter was examining the
young man. whom she found almost un.
recognizable. his pale and heightened
face giving him great mir of distinc-
ton. Was it possible that she had de-
spiscd him, this brave soldier, who, hav-
ing paid with his blood for every grade
conquered, had come back now with nil
assured futurea lie also was looking mt
her. Was this she 30 serious and
thoughtful, whom he had known so
giddy and capricious? Another woman
had been developed, hundred times
moro attractive in her sweet and sub
dued sadness. She was charming be-
fore, and now she was ravishing. He
had thought of her thus. 1t was indeed
she, MS pretty ms 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 n
little feeling of embarrassment.
The evening came on. The two Indies
arose to go, and he. unwilling to leave
them conducted them to their door. The
next day he met them again Mt the music,
and so on, every day. He seated him,
self near the daughter, and while tho
mother read her papers they talked con
tinuously, without. however, oaying
anything.
The autumn advanced. The leaves.
dry and withered, strcwed the ground,
and 1t was too cold to remain seated.
hey promcnadcd in the pathways of tn,
deserted park, the Captain and the
daughter, side by side, walking with n
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 passion,
he pressed her arm to his side. Ills ewes
gllstoned, aud she thought he was upon
the point of saying: 81 adore your but
he Kept silent, and became q little sad
HIS agitation seemed to increase with
the approach of the new year. He went
frequently to Paris, and occupied him.
self less with the two ladies. A great
unea 'iness seemed to possess him. Could
they have been deceivedl What mys.
terry was he preparingl
The 31st 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:
"Hc has been promoted. He has his
appointments"
At the same moment hurried stems
were heard; the door opened quickly,
and he who had been so impatiently OK.
| Dectcd entered IIe comn in or;I;n :.