The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-02-13

Some eighteen weeks after the English.
mans departure, Thevcnct received n
letter from England, the contents OF
which were the following:
You receive tho inclosure as a proof of nv
most profound gratitude. 1t isn draft for
two hundred and fifty gunens 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 whm, as you then called
1t. You asserted, on the occasion referred
TO- that there could he no reasonable ground
for solf imposed mutilation such as mine
oifered then to lay you 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
NET: hcT h:r weAith her family connections were
beauty and angelic disposition were alone at.
tractivc. mingled in the throng Of her adj
mirers. hlasl my good Thcvenet, I was for
tunate enough to become the most unfortu-
nate OF my rivals. She loved me-beyonl
any and all men, me- Shc did not conceal
II; and for that very reason she dismissed
me. In vain | snpplicatcd for her hand Her
parents and friends all joined with me. In
vain She remained immovablc.
For long time was unable to discover
tho ground OF her objection to marriage with
me- whom she passionatcly loved, as shc her.
sclf confessed. At length ono Of her sisters
disclosed to me the secret. Miss Harley WINS
marvelously beautiful, but had tho misfor-
tune 70 have been born with one leg, ana by
reason OF this imperfection she hesitat ted to
becomemy wife. She feared would esteem
her less on account Of this imperfection.
L at once resolved to become like her
Thanks to you, my good Thevenet, the thing
was accomplished.
l returned to London with my artificial
leg. Hy first thought was to visit Miss Har-
ley. ] had previously written to England
that through g fall from my horse I had
broken my leB, and that nupMtat,ou had be-
some necessary. had tho sympathy OF all
81. sy Sr ons eas $ ts she
but sho became my wife. The day follow.
Ing our marriage conded to her my secret
how great sacrifice my desiI to possess her
had cost me. She loved mo SD much tho moro
tenderly. Oh! my good Thcvanet. il pos
sessed ten legs to lose, would. without a
sign OF regret, give them all for Emily
shall be grateful to you no long as live
Come to London and visit us. Learn to
know my glorious wife, and then say again
81 am fool" CHARLES TEMPLE.
Mons. Thevcnct showed this letter to
his friends, and rotated the incident and
laughed most heartily rs often as he told
the story. Nevertheless, he is fool"
said he.
The following was Mons. 'Thcvoncts
reply:
Sir, THANK you for your magnificent pres
ent, for SO must call it, because I cannot
term 1t compensation for tho small service
rendered you.
I wish you happiness in your marriage
worthy pT iSh
is true n leg is much to give for u beautiful,
virtuous and tondcr wife; yet not too much,
IL III the end ono does not come to feel that he
has becn cheated in tho exchange Adam
vas obliged to sacrifice rib for his wife:
and 1t has cost many other men n rib for
their lovc---some head But after all YOU
mus permit ME, very moderately, to stand
by my opinion. Indeed. f"r the present mo.
ment you are right. Yea 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 accented Hk- ever ruin
"nicn one at first declines 10 receive.
Have q care, sir; fear that within two
years you will regret that you had your leg
taken off above thu knee
You will think it would have been much
better below the knee At the end of three
years you will be convinced that tho loss of
. foot would have been sufficient In four
years you will affirm that the sacrifice of n
great toe, and in five years, the amputation
Of little too would be too great. At the
end OF six years, you will confess that the
cutting of the nail would have been suffi-
cient
say all this without any purpose of de-
tracing from the worth Of Your cstimnble
wife. In my youth | could any day have
sacrificed my life for beautiful woman. but
never ley; for that should mover INV life
long, have ceased to repent IL had done
81" | should to-day say, "Thevauet, thou
vast fool"
With which have the honor to be.
Your most obedient servant,
THEvENET,