The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1893-10-18
LANCASTER, s. c.. OCT. 1s, 1898.

NJ de Thommeray, his voice, his
language and his gesture were not those
OF father who has buried his son. Dur
ing my visit his mother found an oppor
unity Of speaking to me alone. She told
ot her son and of the sorrow he had
brought upon them-how he had com
promised himself, falling lower and
lower from duy 10 day, in The wicked
world Cf Paris, and how his family no
| longer looked upon him as their own.
She made me promise to GO to see him.
to write TO her and TO let her know how
| he lived, to hide nothing from her.
Could this DO tho same Jean dc Thorn.
meray whom had knownl How could
| he have fallen so low from the heights
| where had left him?
| L 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 u pang in the
| world-as if the luxury, in the midst of
which l 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 is excused" l said. "I have
| come from Brittany where saw YOUR
parents, and as you have always spoken
| OF them with respect, am only fulfilling
| duty when l come to tell you of the
sad state in which l found them"--
Thanks, Monsieur, you need not 90
on. lie interrupted me calmly and
with tone of great urtanity. 1T Is
nothing new you tell me. My way of
living Is subject of scandal and trouble
to my family. My brothers disown me.
my mother weeps in secret, my father no
| longer knows me. Well, sir, he NV
| Judge. L am not saint Not being
able to reform the age as 7 once thought
| OF doing, you remember, | have ended
| by adopting its ways and wearing its
| livery. 1t seems to me that, in a society
where money is n god, not to he rich
would be an impicty. have played, |
do lot deny it, and have al.
was won. BY my skillful playing |
! keep up the state of the house and be-
longings | won by my luck. My parents
lived according to the manners of their
time. live according to the ways of
| my own
1t was sad to hear this Young man
cNult 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 n 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 10y woman whom he thought
deserving OF his hearts devotion, in spite
oil bis mothers penetration, which had
landed the depths of unworthiness in
the cha' S>"ter hidden beneath the charms
VI pcauly auo a. -t~ss mGnner; how,
when he came 10 his senses, his 18th
was dead, and new and worse man
had come to 1.-Two within him. He be-
lieved no more in anything good.
There are no longer any women!"
he said
"You are Mistaken" / replied. "we
have mothers, sisters, friends, wives,
who every day and every hour quietly
accomplish miracles of goodness, devo-
tion ard charity. Society is not as bad
as you think it, but you, you, sir, are
much worse than feared Still, why
not return TO your family, who are
Srieving for your Your youth is not
dead, it is waiting for you there"
1T is too late, must confess to YOU
that since my sojourn at Baden the
gambling fever has never left me. Let
- ~ "h' ouJ's oulsNlNts us
the delugc! Ii is now my hour for the
bourse, and to my regret ! am obliged to
leave you"
'Onc word more" ! said, rising.
"UBtil now you have been successful:
but fortune will not always be on Your
side What will You do when she be.
trays your For that day will surely
come"
Let it come. am ready"
"You will kill YOURSELF" l said He
did not answer, And God - and your
mOtherf" After momefl,s hesitation
he held out his hand. took it. ss.
You havo fallen low indeed, my boy.
This explains the sorrow of your family.
i understand it, and share it. But,
even now. do not give you up"
lie smiled sidly and left him.
A few days after this wrote to Ma
dame de Thommeray aud gave an account
| Of my interview with Jean. did not
| try to sec him again. Other thoughts
occupied me. War was declared. The
enemy was already marching on Paris :;
the world was filed weh the noise Of
| our disasters.
Whoever did not see Paris during the
last days of the siege cannot form IN
''N' " ''N bhlo'oeSupthy VI tho CIV ~
that time. The confusion and flight
brought on by the first news of our de.
feat gave way to manly thoughts aud
noble resolves. Every one was ready for
great sacrifices. A 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 muskcts 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 nes One morning on the Quai
Voltniic, between the Pont-R Royal and
the Bridge des Saints-P -Peres, ! met Jean,
face to face.
eat last!" said, greeting him. "And
you have sIaidl am glad"
Eyes, l have staid here" he replied.
az was obliged to look after my fortune.
Now il is oil arranged. l have drawn
nnI Ill ms, F.,nncy anA I loa-a ,ki, ....-