Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-02-07

but of that old home in the rue Rampant, of
which madame's fair daughter is now the
mistress. Around her have grown up her
own beautiful girls, graceful, accomplished,
surrounded by all the luxuries which genera
tions of wealth bestow, and clinging more
than ever, like graceful tendrils, to the dear
historic place now when all are about to
leave it forever. For unforeseen sorrows have
come upon them, an unfortunate business
venture of monsieur's has ended most dis
astrously; thousands of dollars were involved,
creditors were clamorous, plantations, houses,
stocks, bonds, all have been sacrificed, and
still more is demanded. Monsieur's voice is
hoarse with emotion; he knows his name is
on every tongue in New Orleans; he, the
honored and 1attered merchant of yesterday,
the ruin man of today.
Madame, seated in the old home which has
been her inheritance in her own right, but
which she has sacrificed to save her husbands
honor, hears his story, and rising with the
heroism born of the noble principles she in
herits, goes out and presently returns with
casket containing all her own and her daugh-
ter's jewels, and pausing moment before
her mirror she takes the diamonds from her
own ears and, placing them among the heap,
begs her husband to dispose of all.
He protests, but she and her daughters are
insistent; what are diamonds, what are rubies
compared to a fathers honor? And then
madame remembers there is one thing more
of value, one thing from which she had never
intended to part, and going out again, while
the girls look on affrighted and her husband
stands speeches. in amazement, she brings in
piece by piece the service of royal Dresden.
She points to it, her husband grasps her
meaning; but he takes her in his arms and
kisses her, and tells her "Never! he has no
right to allow her to sacrifice this;' he knows
how proud she has been of it, how she has
treasured it above all her possessions, and the
resolution it required for her to part from it;
and he, touched beyond measure, firmly re-
fuses and bids her restore it to its place again.
But she proudly draws herself to her full
height and says: moi l will not listen; l
have given up all my property, have parted
from my diamonds; this, too, shall go! the
world shall never be able to say that re-
tanned single article of value while my hus-
band owed debit"
The next day well known auctioneer Of
the rue Royale was sent for He is accus-
toned to such calls, is this old auctioneer, for
every day witnesses the breaking up of happy
and elegant homes. Madame shows him the
service; his eyes CLEAN with satisfaction he
can scarce suppress, for he knows its value;
still he pretends that it is not worth much;
one must be business like, you know. In
cool, calculating way he examines it, and in
differently begins to count the pieces; he
seems disturbed; he goes oyer them again;
slowly, carefully and still third time, with
the same result "Madame!'' he exclaims,
''the set is incomplete; there are two plates
missing, where are theys"
Madame turns pale. "They are broke!"
she replies in her imperfect English, rolling
her RS most emphatically.
"Ah," says the auctioneer, incredulously,
noting her change of countenance; "the set
loses half its value. If you can find those
two plates it will be to your interest todo so"
ssThey are broke" she repeats, her eyes
flashing fire, her words coming with difficulty,
sthey are broke, say!' And her daughters,
standing near, wonder at her emotion and
still more at the temerity of the individual
who had dared to profane by touch, much
less to break, two pieces of that precious heir
loom.
There are such realities as true friends;
hearts whom the smiles nor the frowns Of
fortune can change The proposed sale OF
the famous service became noiSed about the
faubourg and two survivors of the old regl-
ment of soldiers, two of the few who had re-
turned bearing the remnants of the tattered
flag, remembering the gracious trust that
madame had reposed in their command and
her pride on that memorable morning when
she recounted the history of her beautiful
service, determined if possible thatsh should
not part from it. They accordingly devised
a little scheme by which they would buy it
in, and when the talk of the failure and sale
of property had all subsidized to quietly pre-
sent it to madame as a mark OF esteem from
the old command, thus making it doubly
precious in her eyes.
But with a woman's quick intuition she
saw through their design; and, though her
heart was touched by the nobility and disin
terestedness of their purpose, she foresaw
that however innocent in reality, the world
would still say that this was only scheme
on her part to retain possession of it, and she
kindly but firmly refused to sell it to them
A few days after the service, with all it:
proud tradition and association, passed for
ever from her hands and became the prop
erty of a well known lady of this city.
Several squares from her old home in tn.
rue Rampant madame now lives. She see:
without pang, without sigh, the scene o.
her former triumphs and successes, the man
sion which she was so well fitted to grace
| occupied by another, though many and ele
| CANT have been the entertainments which thu
present proprietors have given since their &C
cupancy thereof.
Her daughters and herself, though theii
gentle hands have never been accustomed tx
| the most trivial labor, have meet their trial
with the courage and fortitude that so many
of the creole women of New Orleans have
displayed under similar circumstances. In hel
sorrows and reverses madame is more OF {
queen than she was in the proudest hour O.
her social triumphs; for the true woman
nature has been brought to the surface, tn
deep undertone of real nobility of character
and action has burst into melody.
In the front room of her new home, witt
its simple adornments, there hang upon thu
wall two brackets which support two rar'
and beautiful plates. The visitor is at one
struck with the delcacy and grace of the de
signs, and upon remarking this to madame
with the slightest CULVER in her voice, sh
will tell you the history of her relics, ant
add, with faint sigh, ''They are all that
have kept to leave to my children ass herit
age of the old days" And then, with he
bright and beautiful smile, she will quick.
turn the conversation into another channel
| Nfor;o T. Points in Nav Orleans Picayllne.