Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-03-25
A GOVERNORS wO0ING.

Of the deputy governors Office.
II wns a largc, severe looking apartment
with a very high ceiling two windows
drnped with green dsmask curtains, wall.
and armchair. u the same color. and
heavy bookcRsc. u mahogany. The highly
vasrd floor reflected the cold symmeiry ~
The Official furniture, and the mirror over
the nantelplece reproduced with exaciness
4 BLACK marble clock. two bronze lamps
and pair u gilt candles,icks
Hubert Bolnville, the deputy governor,
vas seated. with his back 10 the fireplace,
Al a large mahogany desk which was ~.
tered over with deeds and various papers
lie raised his grave. melancholy facc which
wa framed In brown beard, tingNl with
few gray hairs aud his black eyes, with
tlrusl boxing lids. glanced ut The card
which the solemn usher handed 10 him.
on this card was written Ia a trembling
hand, Veuvo nlouet Cyidow Blonstl, but
the name eonvevrl no Information 10 him
and he put II down impaiisntly.
ut "a an old lady SIR, - said the attend
ant, in explanation; shall send her
away
"No. let her come In, +" replied the deputy
governor In tone Of resignation.
The usher Strengthened himself up In hls
uniform, bowed and disappeared, return
Ing the next minute 10 show Ia the visitor,
Who stopped on the threshold and dropped
an old fashioned courtesy.
Hubert 1oinvilie half rose from his chair
and with cold pollienois signed hu 10 a
seat. which she took after making another
courtesy.
She was a little old lady, dressed In shabby
mourning. Her black merino gown had a
A .s.Nf IL a
darned. a limp Grape veil, which had owl.
IDENTIFY served through more than one period
Of mourning. hung down on each side from
an old fashioned bonnet, and beneath =
front Of false brown hair was round,
wrlnkltd face with bright little eyes, a
small mouth and no teeth
"sir," she began. 10 n somewhat breath.
less voice. II am the daughter. sister aud
widow u men who served their country. |
applied some time ago 70 the department
for help, and have come 10 sec whether
there Is any hope"
The deputy governor listened without
moving q muscle n his face. lie had heard
90 many supplicntiou- of this kindi
"kyse you ever received any assistanccr'
he askei coldly,
"No. sr." she replied. Il have man.
aged 70 get on until now without asking
| have a small pension"
"Ah" he interrupted Ia n dry tone, I'm
that case am afraid We can do nothing
fof You. We have n great many applicants
who have no pension 10 rely upon"
"Ah. listen. sirih she cried despalrihgly.
II have not explained everything had
three sous. and they aru all dead. The laat
one taught mathematics. aud one day dur
Ing the winter. whcn he wns going from
the Pantheon 20 Chaptal college hc caught
a violent cold. which settled on bis lungs
and carried him OF In twu weeks lie had
supported me aud hi- child by teaching;
the expenses of his Hines. aud death used
up all our little savings, and had TO raise
money on my pension. Now ! am alone In
the world with my Hrandcliili, and we have
nothing. am seyuar- old, sir."
Tears had gathered under her wrinklei
ryclid. a- she spoke, and the deputy gov
rrnor was listening mofc attcntivcly than
he had done at first. A peculiar singing
intonation 81 the speakers voice and tho
sound of certain provincial expressions
,eemd To his ears like once familiar mu'
sic; the old lndy's way u speaking had for
him flavor ~ home which produced n
most singular sensation In his mind lie
rang his bell aud sent for Madame lllouei's
papers" and when the scflaic usher had
laid a thin package bcfofo him he exam
in.l the yellow pages with evident Interest.
"You arr from Lorraine. $50, madame"
hc said no last. turning toward her q face
les stern. aud on which . faint smile was
seen: II suspected II from your Accent"
AYES, sir am from Argunne," she an.
swerd. "And you recognized my accent
thought had long sine. Lost u, ! have |
A.sl..
camp.
Tho deputy governor looked with In. |
srcaslhg compassion At this poor widow 4
whom harsh wind had torn from her |
native forest and east into Paris like u
wiihend leaf lie felt his Official heart |
growing softer aud smiling again be- silidi |
II am also from Argonne. | lived near
your village TOT q long tine, ut Clermont" |
Aud then be added gnylyi "ksp up your |
courage. Mne Blouet, I hope We shall b, |
able TO help you. WIN you give mo your
addrssY'
NO ie Ruo de In Sante near the Capn.
chin convent. fhauk you, air. Tor your |
kindness. am very glad to have found q |
fellow cnuntfyman,' and after repeated |
eourtcslcs the widow took her departure
A. sson a. she was gone NJ. bolnyillc |
rose, and going TO the window stood look. /
Ing down into the garden with his face /
against the glnss But he was not looking |
at the tops Of the half leahcss chestnut 1
trees his dncumy gn1o wandered Tar oil TO. |
ward the cnst. beyond tho plains aud the |
ehalky hill, of Champagne. past large |
forest, to valley whrrc a quiet river |
flowed hetweun two rows Of poplar trees, |
To little old town with tile rooted houses |
Theru bis early childhood had been passed, !
aud later his vacations. Hts father. who |
was registrar In the ofiine of the chief ius. /
tlcc, led narrow, monotonou. life, aud be- |
himself was curly accustomed TO harl |
work and strict discipline. lie had left |
home when ia his twenty iirst year and /
had reiurncd only TO attend his fathers |
funeral
Possessing a superior intellect aud an |
Iron will, and hring an INTERCHANGEABLE |
worker, be- had risen rapidly on the uiiieial |
ladder, and nj ~ years OF age Vas made 4
deputy governor. Austcre, puhriual. re-
s,ryed aud coldly polite. he arrived at his |
oilice every morning az exactly 10 O'Clock |
and remained thcrr until D. taking work |
with him when he went home. Although |
be WIS possessed Of keen set-ihilitics, his /
bearing WIS 10 reserved aud undemon-
stratlyc that he was thou ht cold and stern.
lie saw very little OF society, his life bring
devoted 10 business, aud be- had never had
enough leisure 10 think Of marrying. His
heart indeed, had once asserted itself be-.
fore he had left home. but as he then had
neither position nor fortune the girl no
loved had refused him In order to marry u
rinh brakeman.
This early disappointment had left In
Hubert Boinville a feeling Of bitterness
which even the other successes of bis life
could not wholly cfIace, aud there WIS still
Atuge Of melanrholy In his being The
old lady's voice and accent had recalled tho
Thought OF the past, aud his quiet was