The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-04-18
FORTUNES FAV0RITE.

L ~ ~ II VIII
lie was happy go-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
u regiment of Hussars, and an officer of
the Legion of Honor. He had an m
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 gay and
philosophical, accepting without a muir
muir the fatigues and privations of cam
paign, 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 wears my
senior, and he loved me as though | was
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 a 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 gazcd at it moment
with look of admiration Then, hand
ing it to me, he said
"It is Suzanne. She is right, poor girl.
ought to have informed her of my ar
rival"
Then he handed me the letter, saying:
"What progress she has made!"
'Why, of course!' l replied, "she is
seventeen years old; you forget that"
read the letter, which was as follows:
envy DEAR GUARDIANS it right for you
to act thus toward poor little prisoner who
has only you in the world and who loves you
so much? Only one paltry letter since your
departure for Mexico! And l have had to re-
celve from one of the Sisters of the Convent
the news of your return to France For the
past eight days every time have heard the
bell announcing the arrival of visitor have
thought it was you who had come to see me-
But 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 wearied heaven with prayers for your
protection. Fortunately shall pass part
OF my vacation with your sister. Come and
see me at her house, and sacrifice little of
your time to your little SuzANNAn
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 beautiful Sc
ductive creature, with golden hair and a
sylph-like 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 beautiful estate in the valley OF
Chevreuse.
Soon after our arrival at my aunt's
home noticed that whenever my uncle
was in the presence of Suzanne he was
cold and reserved. At times. Ire woulu
pass his hand over his forehead, as though
his thoughts troubled him. Every morn.
ing by o'clock he was on horseback,
and it was often 10 before he returned,
his horse always showing signs of having
been ridden hard
Suzanne's position was well known il
the family. An old friend of my uncle, q
Captain in the Third Cuirassiers, had, or
bis death-bed, named him in his will as
the guardian of his daughter Suzanne
then girl of eight years, pupil in con.
vent.
One morning my uncle aroused me early
Two saddled horses were waiting for us
and accompanied him in his daily ride
We were riding side by side when, sud
denly turning toward me, he said:
"Why do you not marry2"
/ laughed and replied:
because have not cared to do so
And your
"Ah, II am too old What do 70,
think of Suzannel
''She is one of the most beautiful ant
fascinating girls have ever met
every well, wish you to marry her.
] looked him full in the eyes. He wa
confused
"That is not true" said. ''Yor
49, her."
laughed with forced laugh as h
led:
Nonsense! my ward Why, an
lty-three years older than shci
Id be mad to think of marrying her
do not know whether or not yo-
mad, but l know, my dear uncle, tina
are trying to deceive yourself
1t is not so," he answered. t'H
lght it was generally supposed that
led to marry her | would leave thi
at once