The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-02-25

EaiiSu baSh " Hh5A"ua WAN " hNSNNn
leg.
Some eighteen weeks after the English
mans Eeparture, Thevenet received
letter from England, the contents of
which were the following:
You receive the inclosure as proof Of my
most profound gratitude. 1t isa draft for
two hundred and fifty guinens on Mons
Panschaud, banker, in Paris You have
made me the happiest of earthly mortals in
depriving me of my limb, which stood in the
way of my earthly happiness.
Worthy man, now you may know the
cause of my foolish whim, as you then called
1t. You asserted, on the occasion referred
TO, that there could be no reasonable ground
for a self-imposed mutilation such as mine. |
offered then to lay you a wager. You acted
wisely in not accepting it
After my second return from the East In
dies | made the acquaintance of Emily Har-
ley the most perfect of women. l adored
her, Her wealth, her family connections were
satisfactory to my relatives. To me her
beauty and angelic disposition were alone at
tractive. mingled in the throng of her adj
mirers Alasl my good Thevenet, l was for
tunate enough TO become the most unfortu-
nate of my rivals. She loved me-beyond
any and all men, me. She did not conceal
it; and for that very reason she dismissed
me. In vain / supplicated for her hand. Her
parents and friends all Joined with me. In
vainl She remained immovable.
For long time was unable to discover
the ground of her objection to marriage with
me, whom she passionately loved, as she her
self confessed. At length one of her sisters
disclosed to mo the secret. Miss Harley was
marvelously beautiful, but had the misfor
tune to have been born with one leg, and by
reason of this imperfection she hesitated to
become my wife. She feared would esteem
her less ON account of this imperfection.
at once resolved to become like her.
Thanks to you, my good Thevenet, the thing
was accomplished.
| returned to London with my artificial
leg. My first thought was to visit Miss Har-
ley. / had previously written to England
that through fall from my horse / had
broken my leg and that amputation had be
come necessary. l had the sympathy of all,
and Emily swooned the first time she saw
me. She was for long time inconsolable,
but she became my wife. The day follow
ing our marriage l contided to Ter my secret
how great a sacrifice my desiI @ to possess her
had cost me. She loved me so much the more
tenderly. Oh my good Thevanet, if l pos
sessed ten legs to lose, would. without a
sign of regret, give them all for Emily.
l shall be grateful toyou so long as | live.
Come to London and visit us. Learn to
know my glorious wife, and then say again
1 Nln u lOoi. NhAfsLES 1EMfLh.
Mons. Thevenet showed this letter to
his friends, and rotated the incident, and
laughed most heartily as often as he told
the story. Nevertheless, he is a fool, 4"
said he.
The following was Mons. Thevenet's
reply;
Sir, thank you for your magnificent pres
ent, for so | must call it, because | cannot
term it compensation for the small service l
rendered you.
L wish you happiness in your marriage
with the most worthy Of English ladies. 1t
is true a leg is much to give for beautiful,
virtuous and tender wife; yet not too much,
il in the end one does not come to feel that he
has been cheated in the exchange. Adam
was obliged to sacrifice rib for his wife;
and it has cost many other men a rib for
| their loves--some head. But after all you
must permit me, very moderately, TO stand
! by my opinion. Indeed, for the present mo
ment you are right. You are now in the
paradise of the spring time of matrimony.
| But / am right also, with this difference
| only, that my view comes but slowly to be
recognized and accepted, like every truth
which one at first declines to receive.
Have care, sir; fear that within two
/ years you will regret that you had your leg
/ taken Off above the knee.
You will think it would have been much
| better below the knee. At the end of three
| years you win be convinced that the loss OF
| a foot would have been sufficient. In four
years you will affirm that the sacrifice of a
/ great toe and in five years, the amputation
of a little toe would be too great. At the
end of six years, you will confess that the
cutting OF the nail would have been suth'
/ cient
say all this without any purpose of de
tracing from the worth of your estimable
wife. In my youth l could any day have
sacrificed my life for beautiful woman, but
never leg; for that l should never, my life
long, have ceased TO repent. If l had done
so, 1 should to-day say, 'Theyanet, thou
/ vast a fooln
With which have the honor to be,
Your most obedient servant