Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-09-13
THE BOMB.
BY yfCTORIEN sARDoU.

Have ever done anything worthy o
praise9 Yes, am van enough to b.
proud of an incident which occurred
du-ing the siego of Paris.
beg the reader not to bo alarmed
| will not conduct him to tho ramparts
nor to tho outposts, but simply to Tro.
wise street, and to the house of my old
friend, Dutailly, the husband of an OK
cellent wife, the father of a charming
daughter, successful manufacturer
slightly crazy on the subject of poll
tics, but, take him all in all, one of thu
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
to the needy, the Dutaillys were greatly
beloved in that quarter of the city; es
pecially by myself, because l was vel
coined to place at their table every
evening, where | was able to make III
for the privations of the day. VIII,
would not have rejoiced, in those day.
of scarcity, at the sight Of an omclet
and other good things, washed down
with excellent winel
was not the only guest received at
this hospitable table. Young Auatolc
Brlebant, superintendent of the factory,
had pace By my side. He was
clever fellow melancholy, delicate, some
what timid and greatly in love will
his employers daughter, Mss Gertrude,
who did not seem Indifferent to his at.
tentions. Although no formal engage
ment had been contracted, the union o
the two young people was a thing tacit
ly agreed upon BY the parents, bu. un
fortuna ely the war had adjourned th,
official ratification. Briebant, corpora
in the Volunteers of the Seine, per
formed his military duties faithfully
! but without enthusiasm. cursing tn,
lengthy duration of the siege which dc
layed his happiness, and cursing tn,
military operations quietly, as was hi
manner, but not without bitterness.
These criticisms did not fail to irri
tate Dutailly, who was a strong par
tisan of Gen. Trochu, and things wer
still further aggravated by anothe
cause. The Times published at tha
/ period a series of articles wherein tn,
author described the military operations
in the provinces, according to his wilC
imagination. DutallT took the
dreams seriously, and predicted decisiv,
victories in short time; the incredu
lous Briebant risked timid objection
Dutailly became excited and angry, anC
accused his superintendent of prevent
ing the realization of these victories.
The presence of another guest still
further complicate the situation. On
evening was surprised to see my plac
at the right of sIrS nutailly occu
pied by an individual who was red faced
noisy and boastful. lie wore captain
shoulder straps on a fantastical coat
which looked as if it might have bee
picked from the discarded clothing o
some theatre, and had on immense boots
after the manner of theatrical hero.
Dutailly introduced him to me a
Captain Robillard, commanding the Los
Children of Courbevoie.
Before the conclusion of the frs
course / had made up my mind obou
Roubillard, aud was sure that his mill
tary exploits consisted in removing
furniture from deserted houses in tn
suburbs, for fear that it might tempt tn
cupidity of the enemy, aud depositint
t in safe places, unknown to the owners
wondered with dismay how the hcav
rufian was invited to gnaw our part o
the cheese; but Mrs. Dutailly PRESENT.
gave me an explanation, not withou
emotion. She had been out walking
late in the afternoon, aud had fallen
hurting herself considerably and beinl
stunned for a moment Robillard, VIII
was passing, had aided her to retur
home, and, in recognition of his kind
hsss, she could not do less Than in
vite her savior to dinner. This expl
nation reassured me, and hoped tha
my first sight of the hero would also b
the last. He said that the war ha
brought him back to Paris, whose safet
required his presence, As TO his prov