Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-09-23


pie sometimes asked him for his story.
And he, to avoid the embarrassment
felt in speaking of oneself, answered
somewhat maliciously:
az 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
3oved 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
eatter'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-
stant intercourse - were Nine. Bour-
geois, widow, and her daughter An
toinette, 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
sAscertained at once. to his no small sat
iisfaction. He found an attraction he
lhad never before experienced in meet
ring 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.
1t was not far, it is true. Three hun
dred yards from the glass works. They
aived in a large villa, surrounded by
fine 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
rumored amounted to over million.
One morning, after breakfast, Fred
erick was smoking cigar in the gar
den, by his sisters side, in whose skirts
the little Martha was diligently curl
ing her dolls wig.
At the table they had spoken of An
toinette, and now-now they still
spoke of her. Then, after moment
of silence, Frederick said, with sigh:
-'What pity she is SO richr
"Why?" asked Julia, looking steadily
at her brother with eyes full of anxiety.
Why? Forsooth that was easily un-
young man would have felt no scruples
in avowing his love for Antoinette, and
would have asked for her hand.
"'What does it matter?" said his sis.
ter, with an inexplicable emotion.
Frederick replied:
al beg your pardon! To WOO young
girl you know to be a millionaire, when
besides your salary you scarcely have
three thousand 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 shoul-
der, with heavy heart, eXclaiming:
"You are crying! What is the mat
ter? What ails you?"
"Nothing!" she replied, wi tn smile
drowned in tears.
The young man kneeIed before her
and putting his arms around her, eX-
claimed:
"Julial Julia l have but you in
the world. You have some sorrow-oh!
/ beg of you, do not hide it from me!
Sister, dear little sister! You have no
right TO conceal it from me-"
She hesitated for moment, then in
low voice, in accents choked with
sobs, she whispered: 'We may have
TO go into bankruptcy"
impossible to stop now. She had to
complete her confidence. 1t was sim
pie and short
A bank suspended payment. Through
this they would lose large amount.
That is why Duchemin was travelling.
Alas! his letters announced nothing
good.
But in the meantime, what is the
connection between this disaster and
Frederick's love for Antoinette?
All! yes-yes Becoming rich through
his wife, the lieutenant would have
come to his brother-in-laws rescue.
Let us see! Was this-Which of itself