The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-09

creditors were clnnlOrous, PLANTATIONS, hvu@a'
sioc.s. bonds. all have been sacrificed, and
still more u demanded. Monseur's voice l.
hoarso with emotion; he knows his name i
on every tongue in New Orleans, he, the
honorcd and llnitcred merchant Of yesterday,
the ruin man Of today.
Madame. seated in the old home which has
becn her inheritance in her own right, but
which she has sacrificed 10 save her husbands
honor. hears bis story. and rising with the
heroisrn born Of the noble principles she in
herits, goes ont and presently returns with
casket containing all her OWN and her dangh-
tors jewels. and pansinS "a moment before
her mirror she takes the diamonds from her
own ears and, placing them among the heap.
begs her husband 10 dispose of ALL
lie protests, but she and her daughters are
insistent. what are diamonds, whatnre ruoie-
compared 10 a fathers honor And .hcn
madame remembers there is one thing more
OF value, one thing from which She had EaVer
intended to part. and going ont again, while
the Girl, look on africhied and her husband
stands specchlcss in amazemeat She brings DID
piece bv piece the service of royal Dresden.
SLe points % H. her husband grasps hcr
meaning: but BE takes her in bis arms ana
kisses her and tells her "Ncvcr. be has no
right 10 allow her 90 sacrifice thls,' be knows
how proud she has been Of 10. Low she has
treasured il above all her possessions, aul TIE
resolution it required for her 10 part from H.
and he. touched beyond measure firmly re
fuse, and bids her restore H. 90 its place again.
But She proudly draws herself TO her luii
height and says: no! / viii not listen; ]
have given up al improperly, ] have parted
from my diamonds, this, too, snail goo! rae
world shall never he able 20 say that re
tanned single article of valuo Wink. my bus
band owed a debt"
The next day well known auctionecr OF
the rue Royale was sent for. lie Is accus-
toned 10 such calls, is this old auctionecr, for
every day witnesses the breaking Of hapn!
and elegant homes. Meiame shows lin ihe
service: his owes CLEAN with satisfaction BE-
car ,carco upprcs-, for he knows MS value.
still he prc;ond- that it is not worth much,
one mu.. De business like, you know. In
COOL calculating way DE- examines g. and in
differently begins % count the pieces. be
seems disturbed. Dee coo, over thcm again;
slo..iy. carefully and -,ill third time. With
f.o same result. "Nadamcn DE cxciAims.
'the set is incomplete; there ore two piates
missing. whore are tnoyf
Madame turns pale. They are bioNo'
she replies IN her imperfect Lr-Hah, rolling
her rs most cmphaically.
"Ah.r says the aucti1lcar. mcrcdulon,iY
noting her change Of countenance; "tne set
loses half Us value. II SOU can find those
two Plates twill hc 90 yourinterot TODD SD.
They are broke" she repeats, beer eyos
flashing Ere her wordscomius with difficulty,
..thoy arc broke, | saym And her daughters,
Standing near. wonder 40 her emotion and
still more al the temerity Of the individual
who had dared 10 profane by touch, much
les, 10 break. two pieces Of that precious heir
loom.
There IRE such realities rs true friends
heart, whom the smile, nor the frowns OF
fortune can change The proposed sale OF
the famous service became n0ised about the
fluhourg and two survivors Of the old reSl
ment of soldiers, two of the fow who had re-
turned bearing the remnants OF the lattored
FLAG. remembering the gracious trust thal
madame had reposcd in their command and
her uride on that memorable morning when
She recouuted the history Of her beautiful
service determined if possible that She should
not part from it, They accordingly devised
"A little scheme by which they would buy ii
I'm. and when the talk Of tie failure and sa-e
of proporty had all subsidized TO quietly pre-
sent it 10 madame as a mark Of esteem from
the oh command, thus making it douDiy
precious in her eyes.
But with "A w0mans quick intuition She
saw through their design; and. though heI
heart was touched by the nobility and aislll-
tercs,ednoss Of their purpose, size tores1w
that however innocent in reality, the world
would still say that this was only scheme
on her part 20 retain possession Of IT, ana She
kindly but firmly refused to sell it TO them.
4 few days after the service, VITA all IT.
proud tradition and association, passed I'r-
over from her hands and became the prop
erty of a well known lady of this city.
several SQUARES from her old home IN the
rpe Rampart madame now lives She 9es
without a uang. without sigh, the scene oi
har former triumphs and successes, the man-
sion which size was 50 Wei fitted 10 grace,
oc.upied by another, though many and eie-
cant have been the entertainments which tnc
present proprietors have given since their oc-
cupancy thereof.
Her daughters and herself, though their
yeptle hands have never been accustomed T.
the most trivial labor, have meet their trials
with the courage and fortitude that 50 many
of the creole women of New Orleans have
di,plavcd under similar circumstances In her
sorrows and reverses madame Il moro oI "a
queen than she was in the proudest hour oil
her social triumphs; for TIE true woman
nature has been brought 20 the surface tine
deem UNDERGONE Of real nobility Of character
and action has burst into melody.
In the front room of her new home with
IL, simple adoruments, there hang upon the
wall two brackets which support two rare
and beautiful plates The visitor Is at once
struck with the delicacy and grace Of tho de-
SIGNS. and upon remarking this % madame
with the slightest quiyer in her voice, she
will tell YOU the history Of her relics, and
add with faint sigh, They are all that ]
have kent % leave to my children as herit-
ace of The old days. And then, with her
BRIGHT and beautiful smile, She Will qmcAj
turn the conversation into another channel
Marie L. Points i'm New Orleans Ficayune.