The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-04-13


tain the result of the days efforts, Au
guste came in with his wife and Andree
To help his father the artist had parted
with some of his pictures at a sacrifice,
and he now brought the sum thus gained
Andree, unconscious of the trouble Ot
her elders, began to play with her Jean.
ME, doll nearly as big as herself, which
her grandfather had given her some time
previously, and which she loved, she said,
"as her own daughter"
But the child soon observed the sadness
of her parents and her dear grandfather,
and she looked with earnest, inguiring
gaze from one to the other, trying to dis
cover what was amiss. She saw her father
lay down his pocketbook; she watched her
mother place upon the table her bracelets,
necklaces, earrings and rings, while M.
Sauvallier thanked them with tears in his
eyes. With very thoughtful, serious ex-
preston on her little face, the child turn
ed toward her doll, embraced it with the
emotional fervor of last adieu, then car
ried it to her grandfather, saying in sweet,
resigned tones: "Take it, grandpapal You
can sell her too"
M. Sauvallier wept upon the neck of his
little granddaughter, murmuring: "You
also, my angelo Oh, that miserable boy"
Thus Camille's debt was paid, and the
honor of the Ssuvalliers was saved. But
the fathers fortune had gonel
He was able, however, to retain his bust
ness. He said to himself that he must
work still, in spite of his threescore
years: that he must labor necessarily,
with the anxious ardor of those beginning
life with nothing to rely upon save their
own exertions.
He reduced his expenses, gave up his
own house and went to live with his son,
sold his carriage and horses, discharged
his servants and stinted himself in every
possible way. Auguste became his design
er, Auguste's wife his clerk. Each accept
ed his or her share of the burden bravely
and uncomplainingly, as an important du-
ty which must at any cost be accomplish
ed.
The conduct of this old man, so jealous
for his name, so upright, so courageous in
misfortune, excited profound sympathy.
All who knew him pitied him; orders flow.
ed in, and soon a quite exceptional activi.
ty pervaded the establishment from base
ment to roof, inspiring M. SauvaIlier with
a little hope. But one persistent fear dis
GuIDcO blCbpY anu blOuDACh hlo waning
hours. 1t was that some day he might
hear that Camille had been gambling
again. He had forbidden all mention of
his erring son, but the thought of him was
ever present and lay like an incubus upon
his heart
One year passed, then another. The
foundry still fourished; work positively
ragged therein. 1t had no rest; it also, as
though endowed with a conscience, did its
duty nobly. Its furnaces glowed like ar
dent eyes; its mighty putting and snort
ing shook the ground; the molten metal,
red and Tuning, flowed from it's crucibles
like blood from its body. At an early
hour of the morning was heard its pierc.
ing summons to the work people, and all
the night long it's glare illuminated the
sky.
The campaign of Tonquin was in full
swing. In the midst Of an unknown coun-
try, harassed by innumerable difficulties,
the French soldiers were contending pain
fully with an irrepressible, every rallying
foe. The smallest success served to excite
the popular patriotism, and all awaited
impatiently the tidings of a decisive vic
tory.
One morning Auguste, looking very
pale, entered his fathers Office and handed
him newspaper. There, among --latest
intelligence, M. Sauvallier read the fol.
lowing:
FROM THE CAMP INTRENcHED AT DoNG-SoNG,
Feb. IL, 1885. {
Today Captain Sauvallier attacked the enc
my with extreme vigor, fought all the day
against considerable forces and captured sue
cessively three redoubts. In attacking the last
of the three his soldiers, overpowered by mum.
bers, were about to retreat, but although seri.
ously wounded in the head and thigh the gal
liant officer, borne by two men, succeeded in
rallying his company and leading them on TO
the assault. His conduct was admirable, but
his condition is hopeless. / have attached the
cross to his breast. This brilliant feat of arms
will enable me to enter Lang-Son tomorrow.
GENERAL BRIERE DE L1sLE.
Upon reading these words M. SauvallieI
felt strange emotion, in which anguish
mingled with joy. For moment he was
silent Then he said to his son, "You think
that it is he2 He is, then, a captain"
He read the dispatch again, then muir
INJURED softly: "The crossl Condition hope
less" And tear rolled down his cheek.
Two hours later the family received
formal intimation of Camille's deed and
state from the minister of war, and on the
following day all the journals were prais-
ing Captain Sauvallier, son of the respect
ed founder of Grenelle. And now they
gave details. Camille, it appeared, had
been nominated captain few months
back. Throughout the campaign he had
distinguished himself by his imperturba-
BILE GOODNESS under fire and reckless scorn
of the death which he seemed to seek.
His act of heroic energy stirred the en-
thusiasm of press and populace, and the
name of Sauvallier was on every lip. Ca
miles portrait appeared in the shop win
dows The illustrated journals depicted
him before the redoubt, carried upon the
shoulders of two men, his sword pointed
toward the enemy, encouraging his SOL
diers by his voice, gesture and look, his
forehead bound with handkerchief and
his face bleeding.
NJ Sauvallier could not go out of doors
without seeing his sons presentment.
From the news stalls of the boulevards,
the corners Of the streets, the publishers
shop fronts, ubiquitous Camille watch
ed him pass and seemed to follow him
with his eyes. Almost at each step the
father received congratulations, while
complimentary letters and. cards covered
his table to OVERLOOKING. But, alas, the
kilograms which he received daily from
Tonquin left him little hope that he should
ever again behold in the flesh this dear
son, Of whom now he was so proud.