Iuka reporter., 1893-10-19

ing my visit his mother found an oppor
tunity of speaking to me alone. She told
ol her son and of the sorrow he had
brought upon them-how he had com
promised himself, falling lower and
lower from day to day, in the wicked
world Of Paris, and how his family no
longer looked upon him AS their own.
She made me promise to 90 to see him,
to write to her and to let her know how
he lived, TO hide nothing from her.
Gould this be the same Jean de Thom-
meray whom had knowna How could
he have fallen so low from the heights
where | had left himg
| went back to Paris. | found. him
living in richly furnished apartments,
and held out his hand to me with an
easy grace, as if he had not & pang in the
| world-as il the luxury, in the midst of
which | had surprised him, had been
| bought by the efforts of glorious and
| honest labor, instead of the fruits of the
gaming table, He began to excuse
himself for having so long neglected
| me.
"All that isexcused, (" said. 81 have
come from Brittany where I saw your
| pMents, and as you have always spoken
of them with respect, am only fulfilling
duty when | come to tell you of the
sad state in which l found them"---
Thanks, Monsieur, you need not go
on" He interrupted me calmly and
| with tone Of great urbanity 1T is
nothing new you tell me. MY way OF
| living is a subject of scandal and trouble
to my family. My brothers disown me,
my mother weeps in secret, my father nc
longer knows me. Well, sir, be my
judge. | am not saint. Not being
able to reform the age as / once thought
OF doing, you remember, I have ended
by adopting its ways and wearing its
livery. 1t seems to me that, in society
where money is a god, not to be rich
would be an impiety. / have played, l
do not deny it, and | have al
ways won. BY my skillful playing i
keep up the state of the house aud be-
longings l won by my luck. My parents
| lived according to the manners of their
time. | live according to the ways OF
my own."g
1t was sad to hear this young man
exult in his fall and glory in his ruin.
All about him betrayed the habits of
| the life he now led. His very smile,
once SO sweet and clear, had cold ex-
preston like the hard luster of steel. He
told me his story=how he had been
basely deceived and robbed of his last
| centime by Il woman whom he Thought
deserving of his hearts devotion, in spite
of his mothers penetration, which had
sounded the depths of unworthiness in
the character hidden beneath the charms
of beauty and an artless manner; how,
when he came to his senses, his youth
was dead, and new and worse man
had come to live within him. He be-
lieved no more in anything good.
"Ihere are no longer any womenln
he said.
"You are mistaken" replied ''We
have mothers, sisters, friends, wives,
who every day and every hour quietly
accomplish miracles of goodness, devo-
ton and charity. Society is not.as bad
as you think it, but you, you, sir, are
much worse than l feared Still, why
not return to your family, who are
grieving for you2 Your youth is not
dead, it is waiting for you there. .
''It is too late must confess to YOU
that since my sojourn at Baden the
gambling fever has never left me. Let
us live and enjoy ourselves after us
the deluge 1t is now my hour for the
bourse, and to my regret | am obliged to
leave you"
"One word more" / said, rising
"Until now you have been successful !;
but fortune will not always be on your
cilh Wbat mill Il Io. 81, /
trays you9 For that day viii surely
come"
Let it come am ready"
"You will kill yourself, I said. He
did not answer. Sand God -and your
mother2' After moments hesitation
he held out his hand. took it.
"You have fallen low indeed, my boy.
This explains the sorrow of your family
| understand it, and l share it. But.
even now, do not give you up---''
He smiled sadly and left him.
A few days after this wrote to Ma
dame de Thommeray and gave an account
of my interview with Jean I did not
try to see him again. Other thoughts
occupied me. War was declared. The
enemy was already marching on Paris (;
( eHS NOi ~ was hiiCo WAN tuc uOlSo VI
our disasters.
Whoever did not see Paris during the
last days of the siege cannot form an
idea OF the physiognomy of the city at
that time. The confusion and flight
brought on by the 6rst news of our de-
/ feat gave way to manly thoughts and
noble resolves. Every one was ready for
great sacrifices. 4 current OF heroism
ran through all hearts Men watched on
the ramparts; citizens, transformed into
soldiers, drilled in the squares and gar
dens with their muskets and rifles; all
classes mingled and fused together,
! forming only one soul--the soul Of their
country. lived in the streets during
those feverish days, attracted by every
noise, mingling in the crowd, gathering
all the news. One morning on the Quai
Voltaire, between the Pont-Roya and
the Bridge des Saints Peres, / met Jean,
face to face
sat last" said, greeting him. "And
you have staidl am glad"
Eyes, have staid here" he replied.
~ was obliged to look after my fortune.
Now it is all arranged. have drawn
out all my money, and leave this even
ing to go and live in foreign land ="
s'YOu are gOino aWlvt' I eNctnimad