The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-18
THE TRADEGY
OF PONCE.
A Tale of the War, By
Clifford Wilmot.

snder La Duke has been court marua4ed
and sentenced for life Ponce. Porto
Rico. Court martaled and sentenced
Tor life that's all.
CHAPTER ].
II was early IN the ffties that la Duke,
senior came from Canada and settled
near the little town OF Marinette. WIS.
Here. wife, we may find prosperity
and happiness" said the head or the
family. when they we're sheltered under
the Stars and stripes. For la DUKE.
pere. had seen but little OF the bright
aide OF life 81 Canada but with true
French spirit hoped for the best.
Ills black eyed wife, who was alreacy
showing signs OF age, nodded her heah
br!skly and answered cheeriiy' VINO
knows" They had courage, these la
Dukes. husband and wife. Courage De
gets confidence. and cheerfully La Duke
started out on his new life. But money
was scarce. and work seemed even
ScarcGr The wolf lowered near the La
Duke household and at times boldly
entered the little home. Still there was
4 little work. and there was soup bread
and on rare occasions "A little wine. But
water was oftener On the table than the
black coffee. or the wine, red or Whlte'
Nraimentl water IS plentiful.
God Is good" said Ia Duke, and Sun
hoped. But Madame La Duke sighed at
times ana thought OF Paris. II was de-
iightful on Sundays. When the sun
sh0no through the trees in the gardens,
and tinted the falling spray in the fouh-
tains was that not "a sight2 And some
times a ramble out IN the country. once
she had been as far as Vernon. That
was the great event in her life-the great
event until she crossed the ocean and
came 90 Canada
IL was in Quebec she had seen her hus-
band 10 beau Jacques he was then
Ia 4H ~
thought Of them. and at times thought
OF the high heeled shoes and silken pet
ticoat Jacques promised her when times
were better. But, mon Dieu,' said
Jacques, "times are not yet better
Have courage. ma cherie, they are to
come" Some years passed and the la
Dukes still lived and still hoped Things
were brighter by and by and one day
madame found her high heeled shoes and,
silken petticoat. She was happy and
again sang al day.
But she wanted something else.
CHAPTER IL.
The doctor was sent for IN q hurry
one day and IL Beau JACQUES lowered
Ground anxiously.
Hle was waiting and hoping.
Everything IS all right. Mr.. la
Duke" said the doctor as he passed by.
lie was rubbing his hands briskly and
feemed fun Of oontentment. lie Beau
Jacques envied him. your wife Is
doing nicely and the boy is charming
Charming my dear sir charming. Good
morning my dear SIR. good morning"
ana the doctor walked briskly away,
humming tune.
And so Alexander. he who was after
wards TO be courtmartialod and impris-
oned for life was born.
rs he not handsome, JaccQucs?' said
the mother fondl". Jacques looked
CT tho little puckered up face and the
tiny head, covered with black hair and
answered YES The little head moved
and the tiny lips parted and q wall was
heard And The mother said fondly;
DO YOU hear that jacques he can
cry already. Has ho not lovely VoiceY'
And again Jacques answered "N es."
What else was there o. be said. Moth
iHg most certainly, nothing.
There was red wine and white wine
on the table shat night. and joy IN the
j. Duke home. For had not son and
heir been bornf What more could be
desired
hui Ia DUKE before ne slept that
niFht made some mental of-cul atoms.
There was the doctor 10 be paid ana
there were many either things. and last
ly. another mouth TO feed. u was small
nut IN time it would STOW. ana also me
appeute' Mon 'ieu! therc We're many
Things Wen, there must De icwer hish
heeied SHOES. sllken dresses. ana less
or the req Vine rms was "a serious
matter aiter am, ana long ana deeply
JaccQUs pOndcred and wondered. A
wall reused him, and he ceased ponder
ing and wonGcrins. That wall was real
ity
But Madame Ia Duke was happy. and
calculations troubled not her mind. Her
first born slumbCred by her side. and
it was contentment enough TO look at
the tiny one 40 more thoughts OF gay
Paris. the garden or the fountains. Here
was something else 10 live for now II
was her own. and Of her own flesh and
blood. What mattered the high heeled
shoes the silks the red wine, now. All
vanished ia the coming OF her boy.
There was nothing remarkable about
the early childhood OF Alexander. In
common with others he was brought up
went 90 school. played hockey and did
everything that boys usually do. As
time went on lie Beau Jacques, who
had now outlivcd the name, became
more prosperous and even succeeded in
buying a small hotel He was happy
then. for Il had been the dream Of his
life 70 stand behind a shining bar, with
white apron on and hear himself called
landlord. Verify he was happy, although
he did not seem TO make money. But
then few strangers came. No matter
he was a landlord.
Alexander sometimes helped him. and
sometimes worked elsewhere. AS he
grew up ne began 10 develop some
what violent temper. There was some
thing Of the Gallo fire IN him. caught