New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1890-12-31
The Prodigal's Return.
Translated from the French.
BY ALFRED ROLAND HAVEN.

which lay on a table. These were
tradesmen's bills and dunning let
tiers. A bitter smile played about
his lips as he murmured
"When the stag is at bay all the
dogs rush upon him. 1t is the way
of the world" ~.
He pulled the bell peimpatiently.
The SUNNI ons was answered by a
White-haired servant, whose face pre-
sented the impressive. almost eng
NAUTICAL gravity peculiar to domes-
Tics employed in old families.
"Pierre," said the Baron, "have
you been to see NJ. Alcide Dantier?''
. Eyes, monsieur. He said that it
was impossible for him to come, as
heis to start on journey this even
ing
and NJ. Desloges?'
''He said that he was short of
money and that he regetted much
that he was unable to obliged you"
"And Comte d'Autrin? He could
hardly offer such an EXCUSE"
" II was told that he was away from
home"
They are all alike. One has plen-
ty of friends in prosperity, solitude in
adversely. Did the tradesmen's re-
plies vary as much?'
"No, monsieur; they were unani-
nous in declaring that they could
not wait.''
"But you told them that they
would be paid in full?"
II have carried out your instruc-
tions, MONSIEUR
"That is we'll. They shall be paid;
not one ofthem shall bepaid: not one
of them shall lose a cent
AS his master, ceased speaking to
him Pierre retired.
The baron, left to himself, again
ran over the papers which lay before
him. Beside the bills there were mem
oranda ofmortgages and other bust
ness documents of different kinds
which testified with brutal eloquence
to his irretrievable ruin.
The baron was twenty-five years of
age, and only three years had elapsed
since he had received his paternal in
heritance-years of foolish dissipa-
ton, during which he had spent
money recklessly, as though possessed
OF an inexhaustible purse. Young,
handsome, the bearer OF a name, we'll
known among the noble families of
France, he had friends without num-
Der who sought his companionship
in their pleasures, and nowh he was
brought face TO face with the SOM bre
reality and knew that when hi,djebts
were paid he would be as p|epr as
JOB. Il
His melancholy thoughts turned to
the old manor of Brantel. In this
home, which had been in the family
formany generations, bis CHILDHOOD
was passed. There he had grow, up
under the watchtul eye of a mctler.
whose life was an example of alI';he
virtues, and whose memory was Sill
fresh in the country round about
where she had dispensed charity With
wisdom. He remembered we'll tie
winter day when he followed her dad
body to the village graveyard. h
He could see himself seated atatAe
family table, face to face with hisIssss1I
Their, a heroic soldier, austa,o III niatI nF
ner, severe to himself as to othersss
who instilled in his son the principles
of an infexible morality. He recalled
all the scenes OF that patriarchal life,
which now seemed to HIM an exist
ence of poetic serenity. ! Again
thought he saw the old terrace froIft
which one could see the distant hofs
zon, the garden which descended te,
the bank of a stream, which he
used to angle for trout,5he beach
trees of the forest, who's. shade he
used to seek on summer dys. Atthes
turning of a walk he sar the sweet
and smiling face OF a BEAUTIFUL gf1.i,
whose voice seemed toalm to pos,
sess wondrous charm;le saw her
blush when his mother made dis
Greet illusions to her hoes for their
future. That dream MS broken
and the young ma rejoicing
in his independence, oade adieu
to the tranquil litepf the old
manor. Then came ne feFerish
passion of youth, dissiItion follow
ing dissipation, and nhts withoutaI
sleep. At last he exclaed:
''Oh if could begin i life agair!',
Sorrow and regret orcome him 8 3
not the cowardly sdioura gement
which renders acknowledgements
He was one of thosesW knew how
to accept the responsibility Of their
errors and who find themselves
the strength in which regain their
lost ground. One ting, however,
surprised him that h6ld servants