Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1893-09-26
THE RED RIBBON.


Uncle Fred was simply very nice
fellow whose name was Frederick Bar
rois. He was of good disposition. That
could be read on his youthful face, such
youthful face that on seeing the mar
row red ribbon in his buttonhole people
sometimes asked him for his story. And
he, to avoid the embarrassment felt in
speaking of ones self, answered some
what maliciously:
81 was born 90 years ago, and since
then-nothing ever happened to me-"
But it was not so. 1t happened to him
that he had bravely won this red ribbon
which showed SO advantageously upon
his breast. Having been sent to Tonquin
as cavalry officer, he had freed a bat
terry of artillery which the enemies al
ready believed in their possession.
Unfortunately it also happened to him
during the fight that he had received a
bullet in the side.
AS he had been too recently appointed
lieutenant to be promoted to the rank of
captain, he received instead the cross of
the Legion of Honor, and this greatly
helped to heal his wound. Still, how
ever well healed it might have been, he
remained very weak. He was sent home
to become stronger.
And this is how, for the last fortnight,
he had been living in clover at the home
of his sister, Nine. Julia Duchemin,
whose husband owned u glass works at
Boves, near Amiens.
Frederick was happy there, for he
loved his sister, and his sister loved him.
There was but one drawback to his hap
piness. His brother-in-law, Jacques
Duchemin, had been obliged to leave on
the day following the young officers ar
rival.
As compensation there was between
the brother and the, sister the latter's
daughter a girl just over years of age,
who appeared delighted with Uncle
Fred and with the gold lace of his uni-
form, and for whose benefit Frederick
became a boy again. +
All the acquaintances they had-but
with whom they sustained almost con-
stant intercourse-were Nine. Bour-
geois, a widow, and her daughter An
toinette, young girl of 19.
How pretty she was! Not so much in
regularity of feature, but in her sim
plicity, her natural grace, her personal
charm
AS for Nine. Bourgeois, she was kind
ness itself, but jovial, indulgent, SEN
sible, smiling kindness.
Mother and daughter were charming
pair. .a.s.Iyfa ts. .4..t.,-
That is what our young man had as
certained at once to his no smnl salts
faction. He found an attraction he had
never before experienced in meeting
these ladies. Were they late in coming?
Time seemed heavy to him. And if his
sister advised him to go for them off he
went at once. 1aa
It.was not far, it is true. Three hun
dred yards from the glass works They
lived in alarge villa, surrounded by a
fine park, which belonged to the young
girl in her own right, without counting
other property which; it, was rumored
amounted to over q million.
But Frederick did not care for that.
1t was the young girls character which
attracted him. ~" oE 'i.4 Ni- ~
One morning after breakfast Freder-
ick was smoking a cigar in the garden
by his sisters side, inwhose skirts the
little Martha was diligently curling her
dolls wig. .1'gas t 4u-i sa
At the table they had spoken of An
.toinette, and now-now they still spoke
of her. Then after a moment of silence
Fredericktsaid, with sigh:
''What a pity she is SO richF'
"WhyY' asked Julia, looking steadily
at her brother, with eyes full of anxiety.
''To WOO a young girl you know to be
you scarcely have s., 900 a year, would
not be acting like gentleman"
To her brothers surprise, Julia did
not answer. She had turned her head
aside. He put his hand on her shoulder,
with heavy heart, exclaiming:
''You are crying! What is the matter?
What ails youl"
'sNothing!' she replied, with a smile
drowned in tears.
The young man kneeled before her,
aud putting his arms around her said:
Julia! Julia! have but you in the
world. You have some sorrow. Oh, 1
beg of you do not hide it from me! Sis
ter, dear little sisterl You have no right
to conceal it from me-"
She hesitated for moment; then in a
low voice, in accents choled with sobs,
she whispered her confidence. It was
simple and short.
A bank suspended payment Through
this they would lose large amount.
That is why Duchemin was travelling
Alas, his letters announced nothing goodl
But in the meantime what is the con-
nection between this disaster and Fred
erick's love for Antoinette?
Ah, yes. vesi Becoming rich fhro11oh
his wife, the lieutenant would have come
to his brother-in-law's rescue.
Julia, moved to tears, was saying:
And then Jacques is so kind. so dill
gent, 50 honesti If you only knew, Fred,
how he loves your sister and what hap
piness she owes him! All, ruin, priva-
tions-that is nothing! The hard part is
that man like Jacques should bear the
undeeerved stain Of kind Of disgrace.
VIII it ever be granted to me to console
him.
In his turn the young man kept quist,
lowering his eyes: thinking OF this mar