The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-08
Nine, PauI's Son.

Dupuy. Septime Clairvine. or Victor lie
Saucer, as the case may be.
| In that way when Helen Cameron mar
ried Paul de Longuy, a rich sugar grower,
and came to live in one of those splendid
parishes which run along the river front,
she was greeted, after a tour abroad, with
rather a sedate and shy cordially, as
NINE. Paul"
| Helen's American ideas Of the proprfe-
ties and fitness of things did not take
kindly to this abbreviated mode of ad-
dress. But when she heard PauPs father.
a stately and imposing man. an erstwhile
Judge on the Supreme Bench and a po-
| litical leader of much weight and import
! ance throughout that part of the state.
! addressed on all sides as Monsieur Bien-
venu,' she laughingly succumbed to the
| inevitable, and finally grew so accustom-
ed to being Nine. Paul. that her name
De Longuy actually grew to sound queer
| and unfamiliar.
| Nine Paul and her son (now aged 10
| had always been fast friends, with much
mutual admiration and love for each
| other.
They were both handsome, headstrong,
spirited. and impulsive, inseparable COM
panions. and great chums.
Jacques-generally called Jack-hardly
| of that deadly fever known as "perni-
cious' among the people who live on the
! rich bottom lands of the Red and the riv-
erside parishes, Paul de Longuys wrench
from his adored young wife and baby
| boy was mercifully so beclouded by stu
por that he slipped off into the dim shad-
ows without knowing that he was taking
a plunge into the vast waters of eternity.
Then came the absorption of supervising
Jacques education.
For Helen determined TO keep her son
with her, sent for a tutor, learned and
mild gentleman, who had held a profess
sor's chair in some great college until
his health broke under his too arduous
duties, and ensconced him in a bright
and sunny suite of rooms across the CEN
ter hall of the fine old rambling country
house, with authority to store jacques
receptive mind with ancient and modern
ideas to his hearts content.
The result was satisfactory so far
Better educated than most lads Of his
age, self-reliant, brilliant, keen-sghted.
like his handsome American mother, and
yet strongly resembling Paul de Longuy
in his aesthetic tastes and fine simplicity
of manner, Jacques was not only idoized
at home but was universally liked by
the Acadian hunters of Ascension and the
field hands on the place, as well as by his
own set and people,
Jacques longed for college life its stir
ring ambitions, and glorious games, and
was chatting under the firm but mild rule
of his old professor at home.
"He is my only son, and too hot-headed
and immature. So long as I can SHE'D him
from the temptations of life, old friend,
1 surely WILL" Nine. Paul had declared
determinedly.
The fall passed and bright winter days
came, and there was not the joyous con-
tentment and happiness which had form
erly reigned in Nine. Paul's home.
It was not that there was any real
lessenlng of affectation between those two
but the little cloud had grown and spread
between them, obscuring to each the ten
der devotion of the other, while blurring
and swelling to disproportioned dimen-
sions the supposed exigencies of the one
and the heartless Indifference of the
other.
Then pride stepped in, putting its thin
coating over words and actions, steehng
the heart and sealing the lips so that
each reprimand by Nine. Paul was met
with silence on the part of Jacques and
followed by a prolonged absence.
Then came rumors of war.
There was a mastering of troops. The
president issued his call for volunteers.
Companies were being formed all through
the country and the rich parishes of
Louisiana and Jacques suddenly threw off
his apathy and indifference, and mis-
blithe whistle rang out CHEEKY and bright
through the high ceilinged rooms of the
old house.
OF course, Jacques had to organize a
company.
Nine. Paul acquiesced willingly because
the absorption in things military, drill
equipment and organization, brought out
all the splendid energy of the young fell
low, and restored his joyous humor of
former years.
Jacques de Longuys well-drilled COM
pany was the plaything and attraction
of the whole parish. and every one focked
to see the drill and cheer paraders on
the green in front of the parish church |
each Saturday afternoon, rain or shine.
Nine. Paul herself worked a gorgeous |
company flag and its presentation was |
the cause of a grand and joyous celebra- |
ton.
The beautiful spring months were merg- |
ed into lazy summer, the fields were |
beautiful in their budding rows of straight !
green cane and corn. All the flowers were |
aglow in the garden, and the night-hloom-
ing Jasmine was beginning to perfume the |
night air, when Jacques de Longuy strobe /
into the cool library where his handsome !
mother sat. idling over some new books /
just brought by the postman.
Laying a caressing hand on her shoul- !
der. he said, standing tall and soldierly /
by her side: Mother. ! have enlisted in .
the Second Louisiana Volunteers"
Nine. PAU let the volume she was hold /
ing sink slowly until ii rested or her
knee. and said not a word, while her face
grew white and her mouth quivered /
slightly.
Mother, dearest, the call was for
louisiana volunteers. 1 could Hot stay
behind. l am athletic and nearly six feet /
in height. You Will not dishOnor me by /
objecting. The recruiting officer believes
that I am 20. You must let me go. If you
refuse. you will not see me again"
So this was the end OF all her loving
solicitude.
Highly educated. so young and so mex
jacques. her only son, was 10
be recruited in among a herd of COM
mon recruits, and taken over on some
transport 20 Cuba. TO die there Of fever or
while s1orming intrenchments and breast
works.
Nine PauFs heart was breaking.
DO not oppose him. Nine Paul" said /
the old lawyer. Let the boy go campaign
ing as his ancestors did before him. He
viii return safe and sound when this war
is over. and ne VIII wear the straps Of an
officer. OF this you may be well as
sured."
= III