Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-10-28
NJ. de ThommeraH. bis voice.

tunlty oil speaking to me alone. She toid
of 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 10 let her know how
he lived, to hide nothing from her.
Could this be the same Jean he Thorn
meray whom had known How could
he have fallen so low from the heights
where had left him!
| 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
word-as if 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 be gan to excuse
himself for having so long neglected
me.
"All that is excused, | said. 81 have
come from Brittany where saw your
parents, and as you have always spoken
of them with respect, lam only fulfilling
duty when | come to tell you of the
sad state in which found them
"Thanks. Monsieur, you need not 90
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 no
longer knows me- Well, sir, be my
Judge. | am not saint Not being
able to reform the age as I 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 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 l
keep up the state of the house and be-
longings l won by my luck My parents
lived according to the manners of their
time. l live according to the ways of
my own"
1t was sad to hear this young man
cxult 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 a woman whom he thought
deserving of his hearts devotion, in spite
of his mothers penetration, which had
sounded the dep his of unworthiness in
the character hidden beneath the charms
of beauty and an artless M nrer; how,
when he came 10 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.
"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-
ton and charity. Society is not as bad
as you think it, but you, you, sir, arc
much worse than | feared. Still, why
not return TO your family who are
grieving for you? Your youth is no,
dead, it is waiting for you there.
cit is 700 late must confess to you
that since my sOjourn at Baden the
gambling fever has never left me. Let
us live and enjoy ourselvcs-after u.
the deluge! 1t is now my hour for the
bourse, and to my regret am obliged t.
leave you"
zone word more | said, rising
"Until now you have been successful
} but fortune will not always be on you
side. What will you do when she be
trays you? For that day will surel
come
LET it come. am ready"
You will kill yourself" | said. II
; did not answer. "And God and you
: mother?" After moments hesitation
he held out hishand. | took it.
you have fallen low indeed, my boy
This explains the sorrow of your family
3 | understand it, and | share it. But
e even now, | do not give you up
: He smiled sldly and | left him.
: A few days after this wrote to Ma
: dame de Thommeray and gave an accoun
2 of my interview with Jean. | did no
G try to see him again Other thought
y occupied me- War was declared. TIL
c enemy was already marching on Paris
h the world was filled with the noise q
q our disasters.
IS Whoever did not see Paris during tn
If last days of the siege cannot form a
d idea of the physiognomy of the city q
n that time. The confusion and tigh
o brought on by the first news Of out de
d feat gave way to manly thoughts al
It noble resolves. Every one was ready f.
d great sacrifices. A current Of heroisl
d ran through all hearts Men watched u
/ the ramparts; citizens, transformed inl
i soldiers, drilled in the squares and %
sr dens with their muskets and rifles; q
q classes Mingled and fused togcths
If forming only one soul--the soul Of the
is country. lived in the streets durr
IN those feverish days. attracted by e. 81
!, noise, mingling in the crowd, gatheliI
N all the news One morning on the ON
d Voltaite, between the Pout-Royal 90
NJ the Bridge des Saints-Peres, ! met Jes
is face to face
ID "At lastr' said, greeting him. "Ai
k you have siaidl | MN glad.
'd 'Ycs. have stnId here. he reptile
a.. az wa. Obliged % IU0k after ms lor.ut
et Now it b nll arranged ! have dm'
NO out 40 my money. and leave this eve
eos ing to So aud Iiye .u foreign Hn1 '
"lou arr g|'He HNHt ] rohlm'