The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-16
THE RED RIBBON.

rols. lie was of Il good disposition. That
could be read on his youthful face, such
youthful face that OH seeing the mar
row red ribbon in his buttonhole people
sometimes asked him for his story. And
he, to avoid the embarrassment felt in
speaking of ones self, answered some
what maliciously:
u was born &c years ago, and since
then-nothing ever happened to me-"
But it was not So 1t happened to him
that ho had bravely won this red ribbon
which showed so advantageously upon
his breast. Having been sent to TonQuin
as q cavalry officer, he had freed 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
bullet in the side.
AS ho had been too recently appointed
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 how
ever we'll healed it might have been, he
remained very weak. He was sent homo
W OcCOIuc stronger.
And this is how, for the last fortnight,
he had been living i'll clover at the home
OF his sister, Nine. Julia Duchemin,
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 hap
plncss. His brother-in-la law, jacques
Duchcmin. had been obliged to leave on
the day following the young officers mr.
rival
AS compensation there was between
the brother and the sister the lattcr's
daughter, II girl just over years of age.
who appeared delighted with Uncle
Fred and with the gold lace of his uni
form, and for whose benefit Frederick
became II boy again.
All the acquaintances they had-but
with whom they sustained almost CON
slant intorcoursc-wcre Nine Bour-
geois, widow, and her daughter An
toincttc, 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 Il jovial. indulgent, sen
Eible, smiling kindness.
Mother and daughter were "a charming
pair.
That Is what our young man had az
certaincd at once, to his no small salts
faction. He found an attraction he had
never before experienced i'll meeting
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
drcd yards from the glass works. They
lived III ii large villa, surrounded by a
fine park, which belonged to the young
girl i'll her own right, without counting
other property which it was rumorcd
amounted to over million.
But Frederick did not care for that.
1t was the Young girls character which
attracted him.
One morning after breakfast Frcder-
ick was smoking II cigar III the garden
by his sisters side, i'll whose skirts the
little Martha was diligently curling her
dolls wig.
at the table they had spoken of An
toinctte, and now-now they still spoke
of her Then after moment of silence
Frederick said, with sigh:
What pity she is so rich'
"Why:' asked Julia, looking steadily
at her brother, with eyes full of anxiety
"To WOO a young girl you know to be
a millionaire, when besides your salary
you scarcely have $4,000 Il year, would
not he acting like gentleman"
To her brothers surprise, Julia did
not answer. She had turned her head
aside. He put his hand on her shoulder
with heavy heart, exclaiming:
"You are crying! What is the matter?
What ails you:'
Nothing" she replied, with u smile
drowned i'll tears.
The young man kneelcd before her,
and putting his arms around her said:
"Julia! Julia! have but you in tho
world. You have some sorrow. Oh, l
beg of you do not hide it from me! Sis
ter, dear little sisterl You have no right
to conceal it from me-"
She hesitated for moment; then in a
low voice, in accents choked with sobs,
ihe whispered her confidence. 1t was
simple 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 CON
pectiou between this disaster and Fred
tricks love for Antoinette?
All, yes, yes! Becoming rich through
his wife, the lieutenant would have come
IN his brother.in-law' rescue