The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-10-07
IIIT RED RIBBON.

could De rs1E Oh his youthful face, such
a youthful face that on seeing the mar
row rob RIBBON IN his b~uttonhole people
some INES asked him for his story. And
he. t, avoid the embarrassment felt in
speaking of ones self, answered some
what 1n2~liciousty:
Il was born &c years ago, and since
then-nothins yer happened to me-"
But it was not SO. It happened to him
that he had bravely won this red ribbon
which showed SC advantageously upon
his breast. Having been sent to Tonquin
as a 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 ne had been too recently appointed
lieutenant 10 be promoted TO the rank G.
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
10 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 d glass works at
Doves, 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 d compensation there was between
the brother and the sister the iatter's
daughter, a girl just over 6 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 acquaintance they had-but
with whom they sustained almost con-
slant intercourse-were Mime. Bour-
geois, a widow. and her daughter An
%toinette, a young girl Of IS.
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 jovlal, induloent, sen
sible, smiling kindness.
Mother and daughter were g. charming
pair.
That is what our young nan had as
certained at once. to his no small 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 tc go for them off he
went at once.
1t was not far, it Is true. Three hmm
dred yards from the glass works. They
lived in a large 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 oven d million.
Bnt Frederick did not care for that.
It was the young girls character which
attracted him.
One morning after breakfast Freder-
lex was smoking a cigar IN the garden
by his sisters side, in whose skirts the
little Martha was diligently curling her
dolls wig.
At the table they had spoken of An
t~oinette, and now-now they still spoke
of her. Then after a moment of silence
Frederick said, with a sigh:
What a pity she is so richt'
Why" asked Julia, looking steadily
at her brother, with eyes full Of anxiety.
ITO WOO q young girl you know to be
a millionaire, when besides your salary
you scarcely have $4,000 a year, would
not be acting like d gentleman"
To her brothers surprise. Julia did
not answer. She had turned her head
aside. He put his hand On her shoulder,
with a heavy heart, exclaiming:
"You are crying! What is the matter?
What ais your
''Nothing!" she replied. with a smile
drowned in tears.
The young mar kneeled before her,
and putting his arms around her said:
Julia! Julia! have but you in the
world. You have some sorrow. Oh, I
beg of you do not hide it from me. Sis
ter, dear little sister! You have no right
to conceal it from me-"
She hesitated for a moment; then in a
low voice, il accents choked with sobs,
she whispered her confidence. 1t was
simple and short.
A bank suspended payment. Through
this they would lose a large amount.
That is why Duchemin was travelling.
Alas, his letters announced nothing good!
But in the meantime what is the con-