The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1893-09-21

- ton; that could
be read on his Youthful face. Such a
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:
II 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 a cavalry officer he had
freed a 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 u 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 1t 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 Duchcmin,
whose husband owned a 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
II. l.l.- i .., ,-
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, a 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 a boy again.
AL the acquaintanccs they had-but
with whom they sustained almost con-
slant intercourse We're Nine. Bour-
geois, a widow, and her daughter An
toinette, n 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 Mime. Bourgeois, she was kind
ness itself; but a ~jovial, indulgent, sen.
sible, smiling kindness.
Mother and daughter were a charm
ing pair.
That is what our young man had
ascertained at once, to his no small sat
isfaction. lie found an attraction he
had never before experienced in meet
ing 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
bred yards from the glass works. They
lived in n large villa, surrounded by Il
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 a million.
But Frederick did not care for that.
1t was the young girls character which
attracted him. Impossible to be bored
in her presence. One could talk freely
on numbers OF subjects. Besides, she
was not dull, and was we'll read. And
how heartily she laughed, uttering
sometimes very sharp remarks.
One morning, after breakfast, Fred
erick was smoking a 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 a momen
of silence, Frederick said, with a sigh:
What a pity she is SO rich!"
"Why?" asked Julia, looking steadily
at her brother with eyes full of anxiety.
Why? Forsooth! that was easily I'M
derstood. Because without that the
young man would nave felt no ~scruples
in avowing his love for Antoinette, and
would nave asked for her hand.
What does it matter?' said his sis
ter, with an inexplicable emotion.
Frederick replied:
II beg your pardon! To WOO a young
girl you know to be a millionaire, when
besides your salary you scarcely have
three thousand a year, would not be
acting like a gentleman"
To her brothers surprise, Julia did
not answer. She had turned her head
aside. He put his hand on her Shout
der, with a heavy heart, exclaiming:
"You are crying! What is the mat
ter? What ails you?"
"Nothingl' she replied, with a smile
drowned in tears.
The young man kneeled before her
and putting his arms around her, ex-
claimed:
Julia! Julia! / 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 a moment, then in
a 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
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
connection between this disaster and
Frederick's love for Antoinette2
Ali yes--yes! Becoming rich through
his wife the lieutenant would have
come toAis brother-in-law's rescue.
Let us see! Was this-which of itself
was perfectly r~egular-an absolute i'm
possibility?
Frederick and Antoinette suited one