The Newtown bee., 1899-05-05

DOESN'T NEED A FORTUNE TO MAKE
PEOPLE HAPPY TRANSLATED FROM
THE FRENCH OF EMILE SoUvEsTRE
FROM THE SPRINGFIELD SUNDAY RE-
PUBLICAN.
Although at the beginning of this GEN.
fury Dieppe had already lost much OF
its Importance, its maritime commerce
had still greatness OF which the mod
crate trade of our day gives no sugges-
tion. The time Of fabulous fortunes was
not so far past that one did nos behold
from time to time those sudden million
aires, whose return from far-away lands
is so often exploited upon the stage. In
fact more than one merchant was to be
seen in Dieppe, his ships filling the port,
who had set out 20 years before as
common sailor. These successes were
an incentive to the stropg and peren-
NAL hope to the unlucky. They made
the unreal possible and the impossible
probable.
This miracle seemed about to be ac-
cOmplished for one poor family of the
little village of Omonville, four leagues
from Dieppe. The widow Maury had
known many trials. Her eldest son, the
actual breadwinner of the family, waa
lost in ship wreck, leaving four child
rem to the care of his mother. This mis-
fortune caused The breaking off of the
marriage of the daughter, Clementina,
and at the same time upset the plans OF
the second son, Martin, who had to leave
his belated studies to work on the farm.
But in the midst of the anxiety and de-
press ion of this unfortunate family all
at once came ra7 of hope. A letter
written from Dieppe announced the re-
turn of brotheI-in-law of the widow
who had been away for almost 20 years.
Uncle Bruno had returned with some Gu
riosities of the New World, as he ex-
pressed it, intending to establish himself
at Dieppe. This letter aroused at once
many speculations. Although it told
nothing definite, the son, Martin, who
had some education, thought the style of
man too clever and vigorous to have
failed ia getting rich. Doubtless the
sailor was coming home with few tons
Of gold to share with his own people!
Once started, imagination goes far.
Each one added their surmises to those
of Martin. Even Juliette, the bound girl,
began to wonder what the uncle from
America would bring her.
II shall ask him for red bodice and a
gold cross" she said to herself, after
hearing Martin read the letter once more
aloud.
"Ohl" sighed the widow, "if my poor
Didier was alive, he would have patron
now"
"There is Miss CIementina,'' the girl
remarked; "she would not object to a
dowry."
"What for?" said Clementina, impa-
tiently.
"What for p repeated Juliette. "Why,
50 that Mr. Marks relations wouldn't say
anything more. They have sent him
way, but he will soon come back ii
Uncle Bruno wants him.
"Perhaps he doesn't want to come
back" the young girl murmured.
"Oh, well, if it isn't he, it will be
somebody else," said Martin, who
thought only of getting bis sister mar
ried, while she thought of the husband.
with an uncle from America you will
be well married. Perhaps he has some
one that he would like for nephew"
sob, 1 hope not! the girl cried.
There is no haste about my being mar.
RED"
"What there is haste about Is finding q
situation for your BROTHER" said the
mother, in tone of anxiety.
1.-THE count has given me constant en-.
couragement about taking charge of his
land" Martin said.
eyes, but he doesn't decide; mean.
while we must eat. Great folks neve,
think of that. Their minds are on their
own pleasure, and when they happen to
think of the bit Of bread they promised
you, you are already dead of hunger"
1--WE shan't be afraid of that, now thai
Uncle Bruno is coming" said Martin
"His letter says, L shall arrive at Onion
vile tomorrow with all that possess.
That doesn't look as IL he would forget
U.s."
HE must be on the way now," the
widow exclaimed she may come at any
minutel Is everything ready, Clemen.
tina?"
The young girl. busting about, has
tened to exhibit to admiring eyes
spread Of rare abundance. There was
leg Of mutton, just from the oven,
great piece of bacon fianked by twt
plates of wheaton cakes, and dish O
sweet cream. Several mugs of strcns
cider completed the repast, which calico
forth cries of delight from the children
Juliette told, too, of an apple tart still
aimmering at the fire.
The widow produced from cupboard
a tableeloth and napkins yellow from
lack of use. The servant maid pickei
out the plates with fewest hicks and pu
at one end of the table the one silve
spoon which belonged to the family.
These preparations were hardly com
pleted when one of the children who wa
keeping watch outside burst into tn
Dom exclaiming: sHere he is ! here b
isY'
'sWho is it?' cried the mother.
"zounds 1t is Uncle Brunol'' answer
d strong, jolly voice.
A sailor stood framed in the open door