The Bossier banner., 1893-10-19

be read on his Youthful face. Such
youthful face, that in seeing the mar
row red ribbon on his buttonhole, peo-
pie sometimes asked him for his story.
And he, to avoid the embarrassment
felt in speaking of oneself, answered
somewhat maliciously:
81 was born twenty-six 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 advantageous
ly upon his breast. Having been sent
to Tonquin as cavalry officer he had
freed battery of artillery. which the
enemies already believed in their pos
session.
Unfortunately it also happened to
him during the fight that he had re-
ceived bullet in the side.
As he had been too recently appoint
ed 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,
however 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 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
happiness; his brother-in-law, Jacques
Duchemin, had been obliged to leave
on the day following the young officers
arrival.
AS a compensation, there was be-
ween the brother and the sister the
latter's daughter, girl just over five
years of age, who appeared delighted
with Uncle Fred and with the gold lace
OF his uniform, and for whose benefit
Frederick became boy again.
All the acquaintances they had-but
with whom they sustained almost con-
slant intercourse were Nine. Bour-
geois, widow, and her daughter An
tolnette, young girl of eighteen.
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 a jovial, indulgent, SEN
sible, smiling kindness.
Mother and daughter were charm
ing pair.
That is what our young man had
ascertained at once, to his no small sat
isfaction. He found an attraction he
mad never before experienced in meet
ing these ladies. We're they late in
coming? Time seemed heavy to him.
AND II his sister advised him to go for
them, OFF he went at once.
was not far, it is true. Three hun
dred yards from the glass works. They
liVed in large villa, surrounded by a
nne park, which with the farms, the
woods and the ponds belonged to the
young girl in her own right, without
counting other property which it was
'umored amounted to over a million.
but Frederick did not care for that.
!. was the young girls character which
a'tracted him. Impossible to be bored
IA ner presence. One could talk freely
On numbers of subjects. Besides, she
was not dull, and was well read. And
now heartily she laughed, uttering
eometlmes very sharp remarks
one morning, after breakfast, Fred
srlck was smoking cigar in the gar
uen, oy ms sisters side, in whose skirts
.ne little Martha was diligently curl
ing her dolls wig.
AT the table they had spoken of An
oinette, and now-now they still
spoke OF her. Then, after moment
VI silence, Frederick said, with sigh;
What pity she is so richr'
"nyP" asked Julia. looking steadily
" ner brother with eyes full of anxiety.
nnyf Forsoothl that was easily un-
Fsss'ood Reeapse without that the