San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-10-24
Ny father returned;

4 DblltNe IL WAS lie,
My mother eJaculated angrily:
"You are iunatIcl You know very
well that il Is not Jules. Why do you
talk such nonsense
But father said persistently: Go and
see for yourself, ClarSse. | should like
very much to have your opinion"
She arose and Joined her two daugh-
tiers, and alsn went and looked at the
Old man he was dirty, wrlnkled and
did not turn his attention from his work.
My mother returned. and | saw that
she trembled. She SAID very quickly:
81 believe II is he. Go and pump the
captain 1t Will be- prudent, for we Ger
tainly cannot clam this worthless fell
low aS oar relative
My father Went and | followed, feel
ing strangely aglrate,l The captain, a
tall man very tim. ont with immense
whlskers walked the bridge with All I'M
portant ar ~ II he We're commanding
an India mail steamer My father
mounted the steps With ceremony, and
spoke Of his calling with compliments.
asked HIM OF the Importance OF Jersey,
Its inhabitants. their manners, their
dress, the nature of the soil. ere He
thought the captain would perhaps
speak of the United States OF America;
but he spoke only of the vessel III which
we were sailing, how it was equipped,
etc
Finally my father said. in a troubled
voice:
You have a very interesting old man
opening oysters. Do you know any par
ticulars of this good MANI
The captain, beginning to be bored by
the conversation, replied carelessly:
He is an old French vagabond whom
found in America last year. He has
relatives IN Havre, il appears. but does
not want to return to them, as he owes
them some money. His name is Jules
Jules Darmanche or Jules Davranche, it
is immaterial which 1t appears that he
was well to do at one time, but you see
yourself that he is much reduced at
present"
My father turned livid hue, his eyes
grew haggard. and. in an articulate
voice, he said:
'Ahl yes, very true. THANK you very
much, captain.
And he walked away, He approached
my mother, who said to him, in an agi-
tated voice:
Sit down; did you find out any
:Aing?"
He sank upon the seat ard exclaimed:
1t Is hel 1t is hel What are we to
do nowT
She replied quickly;
I'VE must take care that our son-in-
law suspects nothing Of this"
My father seemed paralyzed. He
murmured:
What catastrophe"
Ny mother calculated furiously:
Il have always thought it would
amount to nothing, and now he returns
in this statey As If one did not know
how deep Davranche could sink"
And my father passed his hand across
his face as if he would brush away
mothers reproaches.
Ny mother exclaimed:
Give money to Joseph Immediately
and let him pay for the oysters But he
is not to recognize that man nor to say
anything that. will cause him to be
recognized, and let us go to another part
of the shin where that man cannot ap-
preach usr
With these words she rose, and my
father gave me FIVE franc piece.
My sisters regarded our parents with a
surprised stare. and said the sea had
made mamma "A little uneasy, and de.
parted on my errand.
asked the old man:
How much do we owe you for the
oysters, sir!"
so Ionged to say, my uncle!"
He replied
Two and half francs"
gave him my five franc piece and he
returned me the change.
looked at his hand, a poor, wrinkled,
horny hand, and ! looked into his face,
so old and wrinkled and filled with deep
est sadness, and said to myself:
This is my uncle-papas brother
my uncle!
gave him ten sous as pourboire.
He thanked me profusely, and said,
God bless you, my young sir!' in the
tone of one receiving aims.
My sisters looked at me, amazed at
my generosity.
When returned the two francs to my
father, mother said, in surprised voice
Ibid they cost three francs? That is
impossible!'
1 declared in firm voice:
Il gave ten sous as pourboire.
My mother started and looked at me,
exclaiming:
You are crazyl To give ten sous to