The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-09-07


bis vile that Of cashier at the foundry
And each went to his or her work, accept
ing their several tasks without frown,
with the feeling Of a great duty that must
be accomplished.
The conduct Of this old man, so jealous
Of his name, SO upright, SO courageous In
his ruin, excited the most profound pity.
All who knew him sympathized with him
In his hard lot Orders increased rapidly,
and soon an unwonted activity pervaded
the establishment, stirred it from founda-
ton to roof and rekindled NJ. Sanvaliier's
hopes little. But dread haunted him,
troubling his sleep and arc ting his
thoughts in the midst of his occupations.
He feared to hear some day that Camille
had speculated once more, that he was
again in debt. He forbade all mention Of
him In his presence He was henceforth
the wicked son, he Of whom all are
ashamed, the remembrance Of whom,
heavy as remorse saddens the paternal
home and makes the meals silent.
The months passed, year slipped by,
then another. Now, down at Grenelle, the
foundry was seized with fury of work,
with an enormous productiveness. 1t never
rested, but gave itself entirely and as II
with conscience to the performance Of ita
duty. Its furnaces blazed in the shadow
of the sheds like piercing eyes. Its power
full blast shook the surrounding ground.
The melted metal, smoking and red, ran
like its lifeblood in the crucibles. In the
morning, long before the hour for work,
1t called the men with it's shrill cry, and
all night long 1t illumined the sky with
wi sr,hk srbt ob -,
At that time the campaign of Tonkin
was at Its height. Our soldiers fought
desperately against slippery enemy, al
ways springing up afresh in an unknown
country, harassed with difficulties with
out number. The slightest success excited
the patriotism of the populace. The oper-
atoms had lasted n long time, and they
awaited with impatience the definite VIC
tory which would make us masters of the
country.
One morning Auguste entered his ia
theirs private office, looking very pale, and
handed him paper. The latter read from
The Latest the following dispatch: From
the intrenched camp Mt Dong Song.
"Feb. 10, 1886.
Captain Sanvallier attacked the enemy
this morning with great yigor, fought all
day against large forces and took success
fully four redoubts. At last his soldiers
gave way, crushed by the superior num-
bers Of the foe Although grievously
wounded In the head and his thigh pierced
with ball, he insisted upon being carried
by two men to rally his company and led
them to the assault. Captain Sanvalliers
conduct was admirable, and his condition
is now desperate. have placed the cross
on his breast This brilliant exploit will
permit me to enter Lang Song tomorrow
Twenty seven killed, 43 wounded.
GENERAL BRIERE De L'IsLE."
A strange emotion, in which anguish
mingled with joy, caused M. Sanvallier's
heart to beat rapidly. For moment he
remained silent. Then, his gaze little
unsteady, his eyes wide open, with a sad
establishment, he asked his son in slow
voice: "Do you believe that 1t is hep He
would then be captain?' He went over the
dispatch second time, murmuring SOFTLY
"The cross-condition desperatep' and q
tear coursed down his cheek.
Two hours later letter from the minis
ter of war informed the family of the event.
and the next day all the papers were talk
ing Of Captain Sanvallier, recalling the
fact that he was the son of the honorable
foundry owner of Grenelle.
Soon they gave all the details. Camille
quoted many times In the doings Of the
day, had been made captain several months
before. His conduct had been signalized
during the campaign by an imperturbable
GOODNESS under fire and a profound con-
tempt for death which he seemed to seek.
That act Of heroic energy stirred the en-
tire press and enrantured the people, and
the name of Sanyallier was in everybody's-
mouth. His portrait appeared in the book
sellers windows. The illustrated papers
represented him before the redoubt carried
on the shoulders Of two men, his sword
held toward the enemy. He was rousing
his soldiers with his voice, his gestures and
his glance, while his forehead was hastily
bandaged with handkerchief, through
which the blood oozed.
Now the foundryman could not go out
without seeing Camille on every side-in
the kiosks of the boulevard, at the corners
of the streets. Camille looked at him as
he passed, followed him with his eyes as if
he was living, and only left him to meet
him again farther on.
At every step NJ Sanvallier received con-
CALCULATIONS His table overhowed with
letters and cards complimenting him. But,
alas the dispatches which he received daily
from Tonkin left but little hope. Would
the son of whom today he was SO proud
ever returnP
One morning three months afterward M.
Sanvallier was working in his office, when
the door softly opened half way and the
curly little head of Andree appeared The
littlewitch seemed happy Heroyes sparkled
with mischief. And suddenly she entered,
holding by the hand Captain Sanyallier,
and cried in her sly little way, "Look, |
here he is" Auguste and |
his wife entered the office in their turn. |
M. Sanvallier, who had not been prepared |
for the arrival of his son, rose quickly; |
then stood motionless, choked by his emo
tion. He saw Camille with the scar on his |
forehead the cross on his breast.
1t was then he, the hero whose name |
France had learned, whose great deed \
would live in books-it was he, the living |
honor Of the family. Timid and embar-
raised as a guilty child, Camille hung his
head, but he saw his father changed
grown old on his account-and he thought
IF his fault with extreme anguish of heart
hou very huihpiS, u httic pohp, ieuuy W
get down on his knees, he came forward
with slow steps to his father feet, but Mt
hat moment NJ. Sanvallier, with an abrupt
start, seized him round the neck, crying in
| voice suddenly broken with tears: "No,
Jalnille In my arms! In my arms, my
,hildr' And father and son held each 9TH
IT close, their shoulders shaking with sobs,
while Auguste and his wife wept beside
hem.
They had stood there, silent, for several
when Andree who had left the
Dom, came in again, ran up to the captain
With her doll and presented her to him.
This is Jeanne" she cried. "Do you
herr Kiss her, then Don't you
jhink she has grownf"-From the French
'or Short Stories.
Speedy Bullets.
Locomotives xvo,lY inn ,p1ar hi rh proc- |