The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-19
TWO MEN AND A MAID.

"why don't you tell Louis of his cousin's
persistent attention TO your" asked Nine
Dupuis of her daughter Hortense as they
stood opposite each other before their
easels copying two of the old paintings in
the Louvre gallery.
"Why should annoy Louis, who is quite
Jealous enough without any provocation9"
said Hortense.
"Jules is lazy, incompetent, unworthy
fellow" remarked the mother, ''and will
not earn all his life as much as Louis
makes In year."
Poor Juiesi He cannot sell his pic
lures" said HorSense
''Louis had no such ambitions" ex-
claimed Mime. Dupuis. His mother
PLACED him in ap office when he was Is.
Now he Is only 20, and he Is the conaden-
tial manager Of Henri Constant g. Co.,
with an income Of 10000 francs, the
chance Of making as much more with his
own commerce and the prospect of becom-
ing a partner. On the other hand, his
rascal Of cousin never thinks of begin
ming picture while he has got q napoleon
left from the sale of his previous one."
Hortense merely said, "Poor Julesp
and went on with her painting
Mme Dupuis was widow with mod
crate amount of rents, which sh0 and Hor.
tense augmented by painting copies Of the
old masters in the Louvre for English and
American tourists, who were moro inclined
to buy such under the empire than they
seem to be now that France has repub-
lican form Of government, though why
constitutional changes should act upon the
independent rule of art Ia difficult to say.
A few months from that morning, when
Hortense and her mother were talking
over their work, the world was to see the
beginning Of that great crisis from which
France has not yet recovered. The terrors
Of CONSUMPTION are only truly emphasized
when the hazard of the drawing Is really
game of life and death, when the augmen-
tation Of country's soldiers Is rendered
needful by the imminence Of war. Such
was the case in France on the eve of the
Franco German struggle. All the reserves
were called out, and the empire prepared
for the mighty combat with its redoubt-
able antagonist.
Jules Lemoine walked into the office Of
his cousin Louis His visits had been
rare enough at the bureau Of his prosper
GUS relative, whose success imbittered the
feelings of his needy and irregular cousin,
but Louis had never quite broken off asso-
citation with the painter.
GOOD morning, NJ. Louis" said Jules
somew hat flippantly. II have dared to in
trude upon your valuable moments to bid
you goodby."
"Goodby?" echoed Louis inquiringly as
he looked up from his correspondence
"Have you some commission abroad?'
II have o commission to paint the fields
Of Germany blood rcd," answered Jules
boastfully. "At least" no added, II have
no commission, being only Of the rank
and file, but that Is the work am going
to execute"
"oh, yes, said Louis; "you were drawn
two years ago."
"Our corps is now called out and join
tomorrow, explained Jules. II think you
paid for substitute.
YES" answered the other; sit was not
such an expensive proceeding then as 1t
would be now. am surprised that you
did not study your convenience in the
same way"
II had no money to spare" said Jules.
"Besides, what did it matter to me wheth-
er was handling brush or welding
rifleS A poor beggar with nothing to live
for may console himself that he has
country to die for"
"a country gains by citizens life, not
by his death. A man who extends the
commerce of his fellow countrymen into
foreign markets Is more Of patriot than
he who writes his country's name In blood
upon the strangers soil "
"At any rate, his life is moro comfort
able and remunerative," said Jules LAS
for myself, Nine. Dupuis has made life
valueless for me-"
Louis eyes flashed for ono second; then
the lids fell, and he replied quietly:
II do not sec how Nine. Dupuis can
have affected your lifef"
do you wish to see, Louis LemoineP"
asked the other I'm the same way that
you have done; you have blighted my life
in thwarting my love-
PLEASE do not talk nonsense" said
Louis. do you think that your love was
hindercd in its fulfllment by either Nine.
Dupuis or myself Do you think that
young lady like Hortense, whose existence
has never been in discord with the refine
ments of her social surroundings, could
ally herself With He was about to say
"a vagabond, but he corrected himself
and added, "a bohemian like your"
"She may not have the same contempt
for mo that you have for your fathers
nephew" said Jules. "Well, it does not
matter much now, at any rate for the pres
emit We shall see II l return with my
shield or upon It, Meanwhiledo not think
that you know all the secrets of Hortense's
heart.
Then he strobe out of the office, leaving
his cousin with another sudden accession
of passion, which only cooled down into
suspicion and discomfort.
What secrets did Hortense confide to
Jules which she did not tell her loverP
Thus she has enabled this man to boast Of
an intimacy which she ought not to have
accorded to him.
He would have questioned Hortense on
the subject that very day, but she and her
mother had gone to England ON visit to
relative who had made that country his
home He did not care to write to her on
such an indefinite statement as that sug-
gcsted by Jules, who, after all, might DO
only Dragging and lying. Then Lemone
applied himself to the details of commerce
once more and tried to forget his previous
annoyance.
The next morning Jules, decked in his
regimentals, entered his cousins office
again. He was flushed and excited and
had evidently been pledging his friends OF
the studio in bidding them goodby
II have brought that letter from Hor-
Tense" he said as he flung paper upon
Louis table.
For moment Louis was about to return
1t to Jules unread, but his jealousy check
I'd his good impulse, and he opened and
read the note which his cousin had brought.
AS Louis grasDed the meaning of the
words he turned pale; but, controlling his
feelings as he handed the paper back to his
cousin, he merely said: