Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-06-24
A LOADED BOMBsHELL.

credit. am proud Or IL.
Let the reader be treasured. shall not
conduct him to the ramparts, nor to the
outpoats, but only 10 the Rue Trevlse and
the house Of my old friend Dutai|ly, a
rich manufacturer Of chemicals, the bus
band Of an excellent wife, the father Of d
charming daughter, d skiiful manu'actUr-
er, good patriot, a little foolish respect
ing poi lcs, but after al the best fellow IN
the world.
Surprised by me investment Of Paris
when h. had packed his trunks toleaVe, be
was cOnsoied ny the conviction that the
city woulJ not hoid ont q week. Better
advised, Madame DutaliIy began at first
BY provisioning toe house, Ia which she
ama4sed such an abundance OF food that
had the siege lasted three months longer
the DutaiIlys would never nave starved.
ten she finished her work by putting In
her small garden u COW, a poultry house,
even d plg5ty, that three months l@ter was
worth It's weight II gold.
lin tae month Of October we blessed her.
| first, for whom plate was placed On the
DntaiIiy table Tuesday and Sunday even
ings, and who found there a recompense
for the privations Of the rest Of the week.
Why should not one be delighted In these
days Of scarcity at the sight Of a lard
omeIette, or morsel Of cheese which had
no parentage, a rare thing considering the
chemicals Of the house.
| was not the only guest received at this
h0spitable mansion. Another person mad
his plate by the side of mine, young Ana
tole Brichant, principal clerk Of the manu-
factory, the future partner and son-ln-law
of Duallly. This quiet, serious md some
what dlffident young man was very much
IN love with the daughter Of his patron,
and Mile. Gertrude was not lnsenslble to
his affection. Without having exchanged
a word, the attentions of Brichant were re-
ceiyed with favor by the Dutaillys, and the
union OF the two young people was tacitly
agreed upon; but, unfortunately, the war
post poned the event. Brichant, u corporal
III the corps, moved to the Seine and bar
RACKS of st. Denis, did his duty as a SOL
der conscientiously, as he did everything
else. but without enthusiasm; it must be
confessed, he execrated this edge, which
postponed his happiness, and mildly crit
cised the operations with a little bitter
feeling These criticisms did not fail to
irritate Dutailly, who was a follower of
Gen Trochu The was something else;
the Temps Just at that time published IA
series of articles whose author reconstructed
the military operations of the province ac
corsing to his own fancy. Dutailly had
taken these fancles as matters of fact. He
placed his little flag on the chart, at the
points decided upon by the strategist of
the Temps, followed with anxiety the fcti-
tions marches and counter marches, and
predicted after a brief delay decided VIC
tories for US. Rrichant, incredutious, Of
al h,to
cited and angry | interrupted TO stop the
discussion, but the host 1T the bottom of
his heart was not consnled for all the
battles his clerk prevented from gaining
The presence Of new guest c0mplicat-
ed the matter still more. was surprised
one evening arriving late to find my place
at the right of Nine. Dutailly Occupied by
a red faced, broad shouldercd AMI boas :
ful stran ger. He wore the epauettes of
CAPTAIN on his fantastic uniform-the cast
off clothing of some theater, and was shod
with enormous boots, In which it was I'M
possible for me to recognize a hero.
Monsieur Roblllard, said Mnsieur
Dutailly. introducing us, "eaptaion of the
Enfants Pert,us de Courbevoie y
Before had finished the soup | had
made up my mind respecting Robilard.
sisted of stripping the house in the sub
urbs Of the furniture that might tempt
the greed of the enemy. and putting it In
a safe place. asked how it happened
that this heavy featured man had come
this evening to partake Of our cheese
Nine. Mutually told me with some feeling
she had fall op the Boulevard Poisson
nier, slippery with frost Robillard, who
was passing, had carried her, slightly
bruined and partially insensible, TO the
cearest chemist, and returned home with
her. Out of gratitude she could do no less
than invite her preserver to dinner. This
explanation satisfied me. | hoped to be
rid of the hero from that time.
The rogue was no fool. He said he
was interested in large coal mining
business that obliged him 10 journey over
Europe, and entertained US very pleasant,
" with "reminiscences of his travels. The
war brought him to Paris whose danger
claimed his presence. As to his exploits
In the suburbs at the head of the Enfants
Perdus, they passed all credence. Mad
anne Dutallly listened to these falsehoods
with pleasure. Dutailly was DESTROYS to
believe, too. Gertrude alone was in
credulous. AS to poor little Anatole, paler
and more lost than ever in his large blouse
and tf1leted besides with a cold in the
head which makes one ridiculous, he
seemed crushed by the neighborhood of
the greet braggrt, who did not fail to treat
him TO dalnful illusions, scornful chances
and unpleasant comparisons.
| made an excuse to leave after the COT
fee. disguised with the boasting of this
gascon. to whom | thought to bid adieu
forever. In that was deceived On the
following morning, Sunday, | found him
In the same place; then on Tuesday. FL
nally he had his plate placed at all our re-
pasts.
The Datailly household vas fascinated
Roblllard had interested Nine. Dutailly
by his good humor and graceful gallant
" to which no woman of her age is In
sensible, and Papa Dutailly by the inter
est he seemed to take In the military
operations of the Temps and in arranging
the little flags on the chart. Anatcle.
still suffering from his cold, lost at every
meal BY this braggart all the ground he had
gained.
His dlsrepute was more obvious after the
aft tir of Bourget, where the courageous
boy had braveiy done his duty, and whence
be Rad returned wounded in the forearm.
He told us about the fight, the death of
Baroche, killed by his side, the surrender
and retreat, the sad end OF brave combat,
with so pitiable a dependency that the
captain treated him for while as a de.
serter and coward. If be did not do so, it