The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-04-11

WY,N. the Deputy Gov
f&SgSSAIENTa> error's Office.
GSS@SA It was large,
&slNE0ITMTNMWNNA severe lookin 6
.jSSAIWNWNTW%SY apartment, with a
6sSss%SSSNA%SNMa very high ceiling,
@sss@SsssASAASSMMN9 two windows draped
sssssssSSSMMa with green damask
49, curtains, walls and
! armchairs Of the same color, and
heavy bookcases of mahogany. The
highly waxed floor reelected the cold
symmetry of the official furniture, and
the mirror over the mantelpiece repro
duced with exactness a black marble
clock, two bronze lamps and pair OF
gilt candlesticks.
Hubert Boinville, the Deputy Gov
ernor, was seated, with his back TO the
fireplace, at a large mahogany desk
which was Uttered over with deeds
and various papers. He raised his
grave, melancholy face, which was
framed in brown beard, tinged with
few gray hairs, and his black eyes,
with tired-looking lids, glanced at the
card which the solemn usher handed
to him.
On this card was written in trem>
bling hand, s'Veuve Blouet" Widow
Blouet), but the name conveyed no in
formation to him and lie put it down
impatiently.
''It is an old lady, sir" said the at
tendant, in explanation. 'sShel lsend
her away?"
':No; let her come in,'' replied the
Deputy Governor, in tone Of resigs
uation.
The usher Strengthened himself up
in his uniform, bowed, and disep-
peared, returning the next minute to
| show in the visitor, who stopped on
! the threshold and dropped an old
fashioned courtesy.
She was little old lady, dressed in
shabby mourning. Her black merino
gown Lad greenish tinge, and was
wrinkled and darned; limp Grape
veil, which had evidently served
through more than one period of
mourning, hung down on each side
from an old-fashioned bonnet, and be-
meath front of false brown hair was
round, wrinkled face with bright little
eyes, small mouth and no teeth.
Sir r'-she began, in a somewhat
breathless voice;I a1a~the dau2hser..
sister and widow of men who served
their country. I applied some time
ago to the department for help and I
have come to see whether there is any
hope
The Deputy Governor listened with
out moving muscle Of his face. He
had heard SO many applications of this
kind!
"Have you ever received any assist
ance?" he asked coldly.
"No, sir" she replied. 81 have
! managed to get on until now without
asking. I have small pension -
"Ah!" he interrupted in dry tone,
ssin that case am afraid we can do
nothing for you. We have great
many applicants who have no pension
to rely upon.
'Ah, listen, sir!" she cried despair
;ngly, 81 have not explained every
| thing. I had three sons, and they are
all dead. The last one taught mathe-
mates, and one day during the winter,
when he was going from the Pantheon
to Chaptal College, he caught q violent
cold, which settled on his lungs and
carried him off in two weeks. He had
i, supported me and his child by teach
ing; the expenses of his illness and
death used up all our little savings,
and I had to raise money on my
pension. Now I am alone in the
world with my grandchild, and we
have nothing. I am eighty-two years
old, sir.
Tears had gathered under her wrin-
kled eyelids as she spoke, and the Dep
uty Governor was listening more at
tentively than at first. Apeculiar sing
ing intonation of the speakers voice,
and the sound OF certain provincial ex-
pressions seemed to his ears like once
familiar music; the old lady's way Of
speaking had for him favor of home
which produced most singular sensa-
ton in his mind. Herang his bell and
sent for Nine. Blouet's 'tpapers," and
when the sedate usher had laid thin
package before him he examined the
yellow pages with evident interest.
ssYou are from Lorraine, I see, mad
ame," he said at last, turning towards
her face less stern, and on which
faint smile was seen; 81 suspected it
from your accent. "
eyes, sir; I an from Argonne, she
answered. "And you recognize my
accent? I thought I had long since
lost it. have been knocking about
France like flying camp"
The Deputy Governor looked with
increasing compassion at the poor
widow whom a harsh wind had torn
from her native forest and cast into
Paris like withered leaf. He felt his
official heart growing softer, and smil-
ing again he said:
81 am from Argonne. I lived near
your village for long time, at Cler-
mont" And then he added, Gayly:
sKeep up your courage, Nine. Blouet.
Z hope we shall be able to help yoI.
will you eive ne your address,
ssNo. - Rue de 10 Sante, naa1 the
Capuchin Convent. Thank you, s;r,
Tor vour kindness. I an very glad K
:!a7e found feiiow-couatryman. uaI
after courtesics TIE widow took Eer,,o
parture.