Arizona republican., 1892-07-17
4 B0MBSHELL.

The return of New Years day recalls
 always 10 my memory an episode of the
 s.ege of Paris, which gained me some
 credit, l am proud of it.
 Let the reader be assured. 1 shall not
 conduct him to the ramparts, nor to the
 oltposts, but only to the Rue Trevise
 and the house of my old friend Dutailly,
 rich manufacturer of chemHals, the
 husband of an excellent wife. the father
 faCharming daughter, a skillful manu-
 tacturcr, a good patriot, little foolish
 respecting politics, but after all the best
 fellow in the world.
 Surprised by the investment of Paris
 wBen he had packed his trunks to leave,
 he was cOusoled by the conviction that
 tbc ely would not hold out a week.
 Better advised, Mime. Dutailly began at
 first by provisioning the house, in which
 she amassed such an abundance of food
 that had the siege lasted three months
 longer the Dltaillys would never have
 starved. Tlan she finished her work by putting in her small garden a COW, a poultry house, even pigsty, that three months later was worth its weight in gold.
 In the month of October we blessed her. l first, for whom a plate was placed on the Dutailly table Tuesday and Sunday evenings, and who found there recOmpense for the privations of inc rest of the week. Why should not one be delighted in these days of scarcity at the sight of a lard omelette. or a uorsel of cheese moistened by excellent wines which had no percentage. rare thing considering the chemicals of the house:
 l was not the only guest received at this hOspitab!e mansion. Another per son had his plate by the side of mine, yoHng Anatole Brichant, principal clerk Of lAe manuiactory, the future partner and son-in-law of Dutailly. This quiet, serious and somewhat diiIident young nan was very much in love with the daughter of his patron, and Mile. Ger trudo was not insensible to his affection. Without having exchanged word, the attentions of Brichant were received with favor by the Dutaillys, and the union of the two young people was tacit- ly agreed upon; but unfortunately the War postponed the event.
 Bnchant, a corporal in the corps, moved To the Seine and barracks of St Denis, did his duty as a soldier consci- entiously, as he did everything else, but without enthusiasm; it must be con icssed he execrated this siege, which postponed his happi~esS, and mildly criticised the operations with a little bitter feeling. These criticisms did not fail to irrita te Dutailly, who was fol- lower of General Trochu. There was something. else; The Times just at that time published a series of articles whose author reconstructed the military opera tious of the province according to his own fancy.
 Dutailly had taken these fancies as matters of fact. He placed his little flags on the chart, at the points decided upon by the strategist of The Times, followed with anxiety the fictitious marches and counter marches, and pre- dicted after a brief delay decided vic- tories for us Brichant, incredulous, of icred a timid objection. Dutailly was excited and angry. interrupted to stop tho discussion, but the host at the bottom of his heart was not consoled for all the battles his clerk prevented him from gaining
 The presence of new guest compli- cated the matter still more. was sur prised one vening arriving late to find my place at he right of Mime. Dutailly occupied by a red faced, broad shoul- dered and boastful stranger. He wore the epaulettes of captain on his fan tastic uniform-the cast off clothing or some theater--and was shod with enor- nous boots, in which it was impossible for me to recognize hero.
 M Robillard," said M. Dutailly, in- troducing us, captain of the Enfants Perdus do Courbevoie.'
 Before had finished the soup 1 had made up my mind respecting Robillard. The exploits of the soldier of fortune consisted of stripping the houses in the of the furniture that might tempt the greed of the enemy and put ling it in safe place. l asked how It happened that this heavy featured man had come this evening to partake of our cheese. Mime. Dutailly told me with some feeling she had had a fall on the l