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

That afternoon NJ. Sanvallier received
from his younger son, lieutenant in the
garrison at Versailles, the following let
ter:
VERSAILLES, May 26, 1888.
my DEAR FATHER-I am threatened
with a frightful disaster, which affects you
as we'll as me. write to you because can
neyer-must never-see you again am
unworthy Of you. Led away by friend,
speculated 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 have lost-it must be,
however, for the honor of the Sanvalliers
is involved. Alas it means very nearly
your complete ruin! I owe 468, 900 francs.
"Ah, curse me! I am a wretch! But I
did not suspect that such thing could
happen. After having tried in vain to
avoid this disaster l returned to my room,
wild, my brain on fire, determined to end
my life. But learned that they are re-
cruiting volunteer officers for Tonkin, and
I asked to be sent there. Suicide changes
nothing in the situation, 1t but leaves
stain on the family.
"Out there, at least, my death will be
useful. 1t will have nothing about 1t to
mako you blush, and 1t 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
everl CAMILLE SANvALLIER."
NJ Sanvallier, widower of several
CT linz pf fI,, al
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 Augusta,
painter of some originality, married to a
charming woman and father of a little T.
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 liquidated 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,
n 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-
It seemed to him that the objects around
him were no longer the same. He raised
himself feebly, as if crushed under bur-
den too heavy to be borne, his limbs trem-
bling, his whole being unnerved by the
shock. Then he fell back again, and two
large tears tricklcd down his face.
The sum must be paid the next day. He
must procure it at any price 1t was hard.
The foundrymans fortune was composed
of material and merchandise. Would such
a forced realization yield the necessary
amount He did not know yet. And then
afterward, with the debt once paid, could
he fulfill his contractss By that time it
would be failure-the failure of Sanval-
lier Fail! He, officer of the Legion of
Honor, Judge of the tribunal of commerce.
Never! He would sooner kill himself But
before that he would try everything-he
would attempt the impossible.
And all night long the poor man search
ed, calculated and contrived combinations.
In tho morning he started out with anguish
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
and delivery ORDERS then set out in anoth-
or direction, beginning again the same
story everywhere, imploring everywhere
the same service. In the evening, as he
was examining the results of the days
work, Auguste arrived with his wife and
Andree. He also had borrowed and had
sold his pictures at a very low price, and
he brought 10000 francs. Andree, igno-
rant of the misfortune of her parents, be-
gan Immediately to play with her Jeanne,
q doll nearly as tall as herself, which her
grandfather had given her some time be-
fore, and whom she loved, she said, like
a real daughter
She placed the doll in an armchair and
was contemplating her from a distance,
when, apparently astonished that, with
such lifelike appearance, she did not
move, she put this question to her moth
err, 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. Sanvallier thanking them
with tears Then, thoughtful and grave,
she turned toward her doll again, kissed
her with the deep passion Of last fare
we'll and, approaching her grandfather
gave her to him, saying with sweet, re-
signed air, "There, grandfather, you may
sell her to the shop,nanr'
NJ. Sanvallicr, taking the child in his
arms, broke into sobs, murmuring: "Thou, /
too, my angell All, the wretch, the
wrctchn'
Candles debt was paid. Their honor
was saved, but M. Sanvallier's fortune
had vanished. However, thanks to certain
he was allowed to continue
In the proprietorship of the foundry. Then
no said to himself that he would work yet
In spite Of his 60 years, that ho would work
without rest, with the anxious desperation
of those commencing life who are tor
mentpd with the care of the morrow He |