The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-09-18
THE FAMILY NAME.

ter:
VERSAILLES, May 25, 1888.
my DEAR FATHER-I am threatened
with frightful disaster, which affects you
as well as me. write to you because l can
neyer-must never-see you again. am
unworthy of you. Led away by friend,
l specialized at the Bourse and have be-
come involved in yesterdays downfall, in
that unexpected collapse where so many
fortunes have been wrecked. dare not
tell how much l have lost-it must be,
however for the honor of the Sanvalliers
is involved. Alas, it means very nearly
your complete ruini owe 46S, 900 francs.
"Ah, curse me! am wretch! But
did not suspect that such n thing could
happen After having tried in vain to
avoid this disaster returned to my room,
wild, my brain on fire, determined to end
my life. But l learned that they are re-
cruitinR volunteer officers for TonkiR, and
1 asked to be sent there. Suicide changes
nothing in the situation, it but leaves .
stain ON the family.
Out there, at least my death will be
useful 1t will have nothing about it to
make you blush, and it will perhaps inspire
YOU with little compassion for that guilty
but unhappy and despairing son who
suffers keenly from the wrong which he
has done you and who bids you goOdby for
ever! CAMILLE SANvALLIER.
NJ Sanvallier, widower of several
years standing, one of the most esteemed
foundry owners Of Paris, was judge of the
tribunal of commerce and officer of the
Legion of Honor. He had two sons-Ca-
mile, the lieutenant, and Auguste, a
painter of some originality, married to
charming woman and father OF little b.
year-old girl, Andree.
He had kept them away from all COM
mercial enterprises, fearing their inexperi-
ence and dreading for them the universal
cruel risk of business. He also exacted
that after his death the business of the
foundry should be hquidated and not sold,
in order that it should not pass into other
hands, and thus be sure of preserving for
ever intact the name of the Sanvalliers.
And now, in spite of all these precautions,
u misfortune greater than any which he
could have foreseen had fallen upon him.
Dumfounded and wild eyed, he sat in his
easy chair. He must reread the letter to
assure himself that he was not dreaming.
1t was really true Camille had ruined
perhaps disgraced-him.
1t seemed to him that the objects around
him were no longer the same. He raised
himself fecbly, as if crushed under a bur
bling, his whole being unnerved by the
shock. Then he fell back again, and two
large tears trickled down his face.
The sum must be paid the next day. He
must procure it ut any price. 1t was hard.
The foundryman's fortune was composed
of material and merchandise. Would sucn
forced realization yield the necessary
amount? He did not know yet. And then
atterward, with the debt once paid, could
he fulfill his contracts: BY that time it
would be failure-the failure of Sanyal-
lier. Fail! He, officer of the Legion of
Honor, judge of the tribunal of commerce:
Neverl He would sooner kill himself But
before that he would try everything-he
would attempt the i'm, ,ossible.
And all night long me poor man search
ed, calculated and contrived combinations
In the morning he started out with anguish
in his heart. He appealed to associates,
comrades and friends, relating to them the
dreadful misfortune. They interested them
selves according to their ability. In order
to aid him some of his colleagues bought
his goods for cash; some advanced and 9TH
ers lent him money.
Until nightfall he traversed Paris by
carriage in all directions. He returned,
bringing to his cashier checks, bank notes
er direction, beginning again the same
story everywhere, imploring everywhere
the same service. In the evening, as he
was examining tho results of the days
work, Augusta arrived with his wife and
Andree. He also had borrowed and had
sold his pictures at u very low price, and
he brought $4,000 francs. Andree, igno-
rant Of the misfortune of her parents, be-
gan Immediately to play with her Jeanne,
IL doll nearly as tall as herself, which her
grandfather had given her some time be-
fore, and whom she loved, she said, like
q real daughter. "
She placed tho doll in an armchair and
was contemplating her from n distance,
when, apparently astonished that, with
such q lifelikc appearance, she did not
move, she put this question to her moth
er, dolls are persons. aren't they?" But
the young woman did not hear her.
The little one was struck then with the
sadness of her parents. She began to OBJ
serve what was passing around her, gazing
from one TO the other, seeking to under
stand. She saw her father giving his port
folio, her mother laying on the table her
bracelets, necklaces, earrings and her
rings, and NJ. Sanyallier thanking them
with tears. Then, thoughtful and grave,
she turned toward her doll again, kissed
her with the deep passion of q last fare
well. and, approaching her grandfather,
gave her to him, saying, with sweet, re-
signed air, There, grandfather, you may
sell her to the shopmann
NJ. Sanvallier, taking the child in his
arms, broke into sobs murmuring: Thou,
too, my angel! All, the wretch, the
wretchp
Camilles' debt was paid. Their honor
was saved but NJ. Sanvallier's fortune
had vanished However, thanks to certain
arrangements, he was allowed to continue
IN the prOprietorship of the foundry. Then
he said to himself that he would work yet
in spite of his 10 years, that he would work
without rest, with the anxious desperation
of those commencing life, who are tor
mented with the care Of the morrow. He
reduced his expenses, gave up his apart
ments to live with his son, sold his horses
and carriage, sent away his servants and
diminished his personal needs.
Auguste took the place of designer and
his wife that of cashier at the foundry.
And each went to his or her work, accept
ing their several tasks without a frown,
with the feeling Of great duty that must
DO accomplished.
The conduct Of this old man, SO jealous
of his Eame, 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. Sanvallier's
hopes "a little. But dread haunted him, Il
troubling his sleep and arresting his
thoughts in the midst of HIS occupations.
He feared to hear some day that Camille
had specialized once more, that he was
again in debt. He forbade all mention of |
kim i'll his presence. He was henceforth |
tho wicked son, he of whom all are |
ashamed, the remembrance of whom,
heavy as rcmorse saddens the paternal |
homo and makes the meals silent
The months passed, Il yeHr slipped by, |
then another. Now, down Mt Grcnelle, the |
foundry was seized with fury of work, |
with an enormous prpductiveness. 1t never |
rested, but gave itself entirely and as if |
with u conscience TO the performance of its |
duty. itI furnaces blazed i'll the shadow |
Of the sheds like piercing eyes. Its power
lul blast shook the surrounding ground. |
The melted metal, smoking and red, ran |
like its Likelihood in the crucibles In the |
morning, long before tho hour for work,
II called the men with it's shrill cry, and |
oil night long it illumined the sky with a
bright light which blazcd above its head
At that time the campaign of Tonkin
was at its height Our soldiers fought
dies ferateiy ngainst q slippery enemy, al
ways Springing up afresh in an unknown |
couI try, harasscd with difficulties with
out lumber. The slightest success excited |
the JatriCtism Of the populace The oper- |