The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-07

from his younger SODA lieutenant in
garrison at Versailles following let
ter:
VERSAILLES, May 25, lSs3.
My DEAR FATHERA terrible catastrophe
has hefallen me, one which will he a blow to
you also. am writing about II because dare
not face you ! deserve never 10 see you again.
Led astray by companion, | have been
gambling on the Bourse and am involved in
yesterdays crash, In which so many fortunes
have boon suddenly swampcd.
scarcely dare TO tell you how much hnvo
lost Yet | must do so, for the honor OF tho
Sauvalllers is concerned Alas, you will be all
but ruinell
owe the sum Of +S,l1O francs. Oh, what a
miserable wretch am,
When found that the smash was inevitable,
went mad and entered my room with the in
tention Of putting an end 10 my wretched T.
istence. But more sober thoughts prevailed.
changed my mind had heard that officers
were being recruited for Tonquin, and deter
mined TO volunteer for this service. My suicide
would not have bettered matters II would
rather have left an added blot upon our family
name. Out there, at all events, my death may
be OF use. II will cause You no shame and may
perhaps move you TO a little compassion for
your guilty but most unhappy and desrnis!ng
son, who suffers agonies at thought uf tie trou-
bile he has brought upon You, aad who now bids
you an eternal farewell.
CAMILLE SAEvALLIER
NJ Sauvallier, who hud been n wdower
for several years past, was one Of the most
respected business men Of paris-the own
er of a foundry judge of the tribunal of
commerce and an officer of the Legion OF
Honor He had two sons-Camille, the
lieutenant, and Auguste, an artist Of some
originality, who wns the husband Of q
charming wife and the fnthcr of n little
G-year-old maiden named Andrce. NJ. Sau-
lind al, a
embarking in trade Ho had shrunk from
exposing them to the ups and downs Of
business life. its trying fluctuations, it's
frequent cruel mischances. He had ar
ranged that at his death his estate should
be realized: he did not wish the business
to be sold outright, in case it should uass
Into the hands Of strangers, who might
sully the hitherto unblemished name of
Sauyallier. ...
And now, in spite Of all his precautions,
a disaster greater than any he had dream
ed of had overwhelmed him.
Leaning back wesrily in his armchair,
with haEEard eyes he reread his sons let
ter, In order to assure himself that he was
not dreaming. Yes, it was too truel Ca
mile had ruined perhaps dishonored, him!
1t seemed as though the objects that sur
rounded him-the very walls and furni-
staggering beneath too heavy burden, he
rose with difficulty, his limbs stifl, yet his
" ,ole frame sgitated. Then he sank back
into his chair, with two big tears flowing
down his cheeks.
BY hook or by crook he must procure
the sum, and tho debt should be paid to-
morrow. 1t would be a difficult task. The
wealth of the manufacturer consists of
material and merchandise. Would so bur-
ried u realization yield the necessary
amount lie could not tell. Again, when
tti- debt was paid would lie he able 10
fu iill his engagenentsy Bankruptcy star.
ed him in tine face. A Sauvallier bank
ruptY An officer Of the Legion of Honor
IA judge Of the tribunal of commerce, IN
solvent? Never! He would die first
But before it came TO that he would try
every experiment; he would strain every
nerve
So all night long the poor man planned
and calculated, and in the morning, with
heavy heart, proceeded to put his plans
into effect.
He visited his numerous friends and told
them Of his trouble, which elicited much
sympathy In order to help. some made
large purchases Of him, paying rendy mon
ey, others advanced or lent him money.
A day until the evening he was running
Rhout Paris collecting checks, bank notes
and orders.
In the evening, ms he sat down to ascer-
tain the result of the days efforts, Au-
guste came i'll 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 of
her elders, began to play with her Jean
1..h Il.
her grandfather had given her some time
previously, and which she loved, she said
las her own daughter"
But the child soon observed the sadness
of her parents and her dear grandfather,
and she looked with earnest, inqurng
gazo from one to the other, trying to dis
coves what was Rmiss. She SAW her father
lay fWNn his pocketbook; she watched her
mother place upon the table her bracelets,
necklaces, earrings md rings, while Nj.
Sauvallier thanked them with tears in his
eyes With a very thoughtful, serious ex-
preston on her little face, the child turn
ell toward her doll embraced it with the
emotional furvur Of n last aaieu, then car
ried it to her grandfather, saying in sweet,
resigned tones; " Take it, grandpapa. You
can sell her too"
NJ. Sauyidlier wept upon the neck of his
little granddaughter, murmurinH: You
also, my angelo Oh, thaJ miserable boy
Thus Camille's debt was paid, and the
honor Of the sauvallers was saved, But
tie fathers fortune had gonel
lie was able, however, TO retain his bust
ness He said to himself that he must
work sUill, in spite of his threescora
years; thnt he must labor necessarily,
with the anxious ardor of those beginning
life with nothing to rely upon save their
own eNertions.
lie reduced his expenses gave up his
own house and went To live with his son
sold his carriage and horses, discharged
his servants and stintrd himself IN every
possible way. Augpste became his design
er, Auguste' wife his clerk Each accept
ed his or her share Of the burden bravely
and uneomplainingly, rs an important du-
ty which must ut 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, aud soon quite exceptional activl-
ty pervaded the tablish ment from base-
ment to roof Inspiring N. sauvanicr with
a little hope. But one persistent fear dis
TURNED his sleep, aud troubled his waking
hours. IL WAS TINT some day he might
hear that Camille had been gambling
again. He had forbidden all mention Of
his erring son, bnt the thought Of him was
ever prese nj and lay like an incubus upon
his heart
One year passed, then another. The
foundry still 1ourished; work positively
ragged therein. II had no rea, 1t also as
though endowed with conscience, did its
duty nobly. Its furnaces glowcd like ar
dent eyes It's mighty pulling and snort
ing shook the gFo IL the molten metal,
red and fuminS, Fl ed from its cruc.bl
like blood from liz sniy. at an early
hour of the morning was heard its pierre
ing summons to the work people, and all
the night long it's glare illuminated the