Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-05-03
NWHEN NJ. de Bossue returned to
Wv the court in Franee be was mos [

NTHEN NJ. de Bossue returned to
wv the court in France he was most
coldly received. The king refused 10
see him and the kings courtiers were
quite uncivil. At his sweetheari's
house, in the Rue des Saints Peres, the
door was closed in his face. lie was
filled with establishments and grief, both
of which were increased when he went
TO see his friends. All looked askance
at him, few deigned even 10 speak 10
him, and none accorded him the expla-
nation he sought.
Too proud 10 question strangers, and
Yet sensitive enough TO suffer keenly
under the trea,meua be had received, he
went 10 his room TO brood alone.
There was n mirror here. and in this
he surveyed himself. The hardships Of
war had deprived him Of his good looks;
his face was drawn and haggard. his
skin wrinkled; his eyes were dull and
sad; while across his left cheek a long.
dsfguring scar told where a saber had
cut deep.
He left the mirror and sat down de-
| jec;edly. 81 am grown ugly" he said
''apd poor, and therefore they shun
me-" lie thought Of his life. offered 10
his country and TO glory; Of his hard
campaign in America and the indies;
of the famous battles In which he had
done his part under Montcalm and Vau-
dreuil-"but all this" be told himself,
has been in vain. The king, my love,
my friends, they are none of them left
to me. The only faithful one of them
all-my horse, who used 10 lick my
hand and neigh gladly at my coming
he, too, is gone, for have sold him.
No one-nothing is left TO mel"
One black thought was succeeded by
another, and his gloom and melancholy
increased till life seemed but a burden
to be got rid Of lie was a man Of
promptitude and decision. and, having
come to this conclusion, be did not pro-
crastinate. His pistol lay ready 10 his
hand-oue shot and the deed was done.
At court they said M. dc Bossue had
u the fever" Weeks and months passed,
and they spoke of him no more.
But there remained to Dossue an old
time friend. After serving in Spain for
some ten years, and growing discon-
tented with his work. NJ. lie Comte de Ia
Puysaye returned to France and 10 the
court. He gained prestige at Mesdames
de Buhess'. de Chauyein's, dc Surgere's
and Luxembourg asked pew service
of the king. and solicited a regiment
B lie called himself friend Of BossUe's S.
Poor fellowl" he said; "only 80 years
old. What could have made him leave
us in that way?"
His face clouded when he heard the
story, for he was brave man himself.
"A coward" he cried; "impossiblel"
"But yes!" said his informer; I'VE re-
peat only what the reports said-re-
ports which we're sent 10 the ling Iii
rect. NJ. de Bossue. it seems. diskked
the enemy TOO greaily-so much so. in
fact. that he could never bring himse!
to approach him."
''Bossue a coward" cried the count;
''he must have changed greatly, then
May not those reports have been faiseg
| "Well, the marshal himself" and 50
on. La Puysaye heard tho story re-
| DcaltO u stOIe u tlAutrf HNh lhNAh wa
the mention of Bossue's name brought
forth only curses or reproaches. lie
ended by renouncing him.
"But." lie said TO himself one day. q
can'tforget him. ] loved kim well and
believe love him still Very well.
shall allow myself this little eceen-
lriciiy-that of loving a dishonoret
wretch. Bossue remains my lrieud
and Of all the world alone shall recall
him with something other than dis
dain."
lie hung the dead mans portrait or
his wall once more. But the portrait
was an old one, and no longer resem
bled anybody. La Puysaye. discon'
tented. wished for some other souvenir
J something which Bossue bad used
} lie thought Of The horse. where is he
b uow2 They tell me that he sold him
That horse carried poor Bossue for ter
years. must find him."
Once, while his friend still served
with him. he had seen the horses
curious beast. Of dark-yellowisl
color the product Of cross between 1
Spanish barb and an Indian pony. ID