The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-13

a be read on his Youthful face. Such
; youthful face, that in seeing the ma
row red ribbon on his buttonhole, pee
pie sometimes asked him for his story
And he, to avoid the embarrassment
felt in speaking of oneself, answere
somewhat maliciously:
II was born twenty-six years agr
and since then-nothing ever happene
to me-
But it was not SO! It happened
him that he had bravely won this re-
ribbon, which showed so advantageous
ly upon his breast. Having been sen
to Tonauin as a cavalry officer he ha,
freed battery of artillery. which tn
enemies already believed in their pcs
session.
Unfortunately 1t also happened t,
him during the fight that he had re
ceived a 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 thi.
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. Mime. Julia Duchemin,
whose hus band owned glass-worxs 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 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 acquaintance they had-but
| with whom they sustained almost con-
slant intercourse - were Nine. Bour-
gcois, widow, and her daughter An
toinette. a young girl of eighteen.
How pretty she was!-not so much
in regularity of feature. hut in her sim
plicity, her natural grace. her personal
charm.
AS for Nine. Bourgeois, she was kind
ness itself; but jovial, induigent, 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
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.
It was not far. it is true. Three hun
dred yards from the glass works. They
lived in 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 a pity she is so richn'
'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 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:
81 beg your pardon! To WOO young
girl you know to be millionaire, when
besides your salary you scarcely have
three thousand a 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 Shout
der, with heavy heart, exclaiming:
You are crying. What is the mat
ter? What ails you?"
'Nothingr' she replied, wi tn 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.
l beg of you, 60 not hide it from mel
Sister, dear little sister! You have no
right 10 conceal it from me"
She hesitated for moment, then in
a low voice in accents choked with
sobs. she whispered: eve may have
to go into bankruptcy"
impossible to stop now. She had to
her confidence. 1t was sim
pie and short
A bank suspended payment Through +
this they would lose large amount.
That is why Duche:nin was travelling
Alas! his letters announced nothing
good
But IN the meantime. what IS the
between this disaster and
Fredericll's love for Anfoiuette?
All, yes-yes, Becoming rich through
:is wife. the lieutenant would have
come to his bro.her-in-law' s rescue
Let Us see, Was this-which OF itself
was perfectly regulsr-an absolute ira-
possibility
Frederick and Antoinettc suited ore
apother-loyed one another. perhaps
aE1Dihe'e BaookrTS, Y. Y.
P1Ag Shouid IS soon