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

One afternoon NJ Sauvallier received
from his younger soma lieutenant in
garrison at Versailles-the following let.
ter:
VERSAILLES. May 25, 1883.
NY DEAR FATHER-A terrible catastrophe
has befallen me, one which will be blow to
you also. am writing about 1t because dare
not face you. deserve never TO 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 been suddenly swamped.
/ scarcely dare to tell you how much have
lost. Yet must do so, for the honor of the
Sauvalliers is concerned. Alas, you will be all
but ruinedl
owe the sum of 48S,OOO francs. Oh, what a
miserable wretch ami
When found that the smash was inevitable,
went mad and entered my room with the in
tention of putting an end to my "A ched ex.
istence. But more sober though ~ revealed.
changed my mind. / had heard that officers
were being recruited for Tonqun, and deter
mined to volunteer for this service. My suicide
would not have bettered matters. 1t would
rather have left an added blot upon our family
name. Out there, at all events, my death may
be of use. 1t will cause you no shame and may
perhaps move you to little compassion fol
your guilty but most unhappy and despairing
son, who suffers agonies at thought of the trou.
BILE he has brought upon you, and who now bids
you an eternal farewell.
CAMILLE SAUvALLIER.
NJ. Sauvallier, who had been a widowel
for several years past, was one of the most
respected business men of Parasitic own
er of a foundry, a 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 was the husband of a
charming wife and the father Of little
6-year-old maiden named Andree. NJ. Sau.
WALLER had always deferred his sons from
embarking in trade. He had shrunk from
exposing them to the ups and downs Of
business life; its trying fluctuations, its
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 pass
into the hands Of strangers, who might
sully the hitherto unblemished name OF
Sauvallier.
And now, in spite of all his precautions,
a disaster greater than any he had dream.
ed of had overwhelmed him.
Leaning back YEARLY in his armchair,
with haggard 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-
ture-were no longer the same. AS one
staggering beneath too heavy burden, he
rose with difficulty, his limbs stiff, yet his
whole frame agitated. 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 the debt should be paid to-
morrow. 1t would be difficult task. The
wealth of the manufacturer consists Of
material and merchandise. Would so hur.
riedl "a realization yield the necessary
amountP He could not tell. Again, when
this debt was paid, would he be able to
fulfill his engagements? Bankruptcy star.
ed him in the face. A Sauvallier bank.
ruptS An officer of the Legion of Honor,
a judge of the tribunal of commerce, in.
solvent? NeverI 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 mar 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 elected much
sympathy. In order to help, some made
large purchases of him, paying ready mon
ey; others advanced or lent him money