Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-02-10

me to divine what he could not or
would not tell me. | talked with him
while thinking at the same time. w"
had exchanged n few commonplace re-
marks, and as raised my eye to the
rack thought to myself:
80 he has three children: tn" sweet
meats are for his wife. the doll for his
girl the drum and gun for his sons.
and the pates dc fol gras for himself"
Suddenly | asked him:
You are n father"
NO" he replied.
felt confused. as though | had com
mitted an improperly. and continued:
II beg your pardon. thought You
were, In hearing your servant speak of
playthngs. We often hear without
listening. and draw conclusions, in
spite of ourselves"
He smiled and murmured:
NO, | am not even married.
stopped at the preliminar rieS"
pretended to remember all at once.
"Ah. that's true: you were engaged
when | knew you to Madcmoisellr de
Mandal, l believe"
Yes, monsieur. your memory has
served you cxcellently."
l was excessively audacious. and
added:
Il also have IA vague idea of having
heard that Madrmoisclle de Mandal
married ur-Monscur"
"Monsicur de Fleurcl." he interrupted
in IL calm tone.
Yes. that's it, | remember even to
have heard about your wound"
looked at him intently. and he
blushcd. His full. puffy face, already
purple from the constant att1uX of
hlGod became still more highly colored.
He replied with the animation and sud
den nrdor of a man who pleads IL case
lost in advance in his mind and heart,
but who wishes to win it before public
opinion.
People are wrong in pronouncing
mademoSclle'S name with mine. When
| returned from the war-without my
feet. alas!-I should never have accept
ed her offer to become my wife. Was
such thing possible? When wo-
man marrics it is not to make Il parade
of generosity; it is to live every day.
every hour, every minute and every
second by the side Of Il man; and if
the man is dcformel. as | am, she con-
demnS herself in marrying him to Suf-
feringS that will last until death. On,
| comprehend and admire all the SacIl-
fees and all the devotions. when they
have a limit. But | do not admit that
a woman should rcnounce an existence
which she hopes will prove happy. and
abandon all her joys and dreams for
the sake Of satisfying the admiration
of the gallery. DO you believe that Il
man can induce il woman to tolerate
what he cannot himself support: And
besides, do you think that my wooden
feet are attractlve:
Monsieur Revalierc became silent
What could | say to him? felt that
he was right Could l blame her.
scorn her, or even admit that she was
wrong? No However. the d"n"ue-
mcnt. which conformcd to the rule. to
the average. to truth and probability
did not satisfy my poetic app"tlte
These heroic Stumps called for noble
sacrifice that was wanting. and eN'
perienccd IL profound deception.
HAS Madame de Flcurel any chii
dren?" | asked him suddenly.
"Ycs. a daughter and two sons.
These TOYS are for them. She and her
husband have been very kind to me-
The train mounted the incline at
Saint German, passed through the two
tunnels and entered the station.
was about to offer my arm to help lh'
mutilated officer alight. when Nv"
hands were stretched towards hlm
through the open door. =,
Good morning. my dear Revaleir'.
"Ah. good-morning. Flcurel.
Behind the man was a woman. Smil-
ing radiantly and throwing her good
morning" with her glovcd fingers. a
little girl by her side jumped with JOY,
and the two youngsters looked with
eager eyes at the drum and gun that
their father was taking down from the
rack.
When the disabled man was upon
the platform all the children kissed
him. Then the crowd started OH. the
little girl holding in her hand the var
nishcd support of the crutch. ms she
would have been able to hold. in walk
ing by his side. the thumb OF her Dig
fricnd.-Guy de Maupassant.