The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-13

FRANCOIS LeVerr1er was the only
rrenchman in the village of Blue river,
oIheit a French Canadian at that
put the Germans and Scandinavians,
who. with the exception of LeVerrier
and Scharascheffsky the Pole, consti-
tuted the population of the place.
could not understand the difference be-
tween a Frenchman of France and a
Frenchman of Canada, and LeVerrier
gave up trying to enlighten them.
Moreover, he perceived that citizen
of a great country like France was
more important person than a colo
NAL. His assumption of nationality
made him the object of some national
aversions, as well as wearer of nation
al glories, and thereby led to study the
history of the ancestral land, he de-
bated the Alsace-Lorraine question as
holly as any Chauvinist.. In these dis
customs he had the support of the
Danes, who, having a German-land-
grabbing war to remember, dislike the
Germans quite as much as do the
French, and the Norwegians, who
thoroughly sympathize with Denmark.
LeVerriers Danish sweetheart could
see no good in these discussions. They
had actually brought about bitter
ness between the Scandinavians, led
by LeVerrier, and the Germans, for
the original disagreement on the ex-
tension of the German frontier had
become a disagreement on all subjects
and was carried into business and So
cial life.
How can / help it?" said LeVerrier,
in answer to Olga's expostulations.
Germany robs France and Denmark
of land and then says she is right.
How can 1 keep still when those Ger
mans say that?'
We'll, if you would drop it they
would said Olga Don't you see
the trouble it makes? 1t will hurt
your business.
LeVerrier laughed. 1T has never
been bigger. They have to come to
me-"
LeVerrier was right. He was the
only dealer In farm machinery in
town, and there not being enough pat
ronage to support two concerns he had
little fear of a rival. Nevertheless, that
day he received disquieting news. Jens
Mortenson, who owned the lumber
yard, wished to sell out and the Ger
mans were trying to get some one of
their number to buy the yard and put
in farm machinery, too. With all the
lumber trade and half the machinery
trade he would easily force out Lee
Verrier LeVerrier must buy the yard
himself, but he did not have enough
money. 1t being the depth of hard
times. it was hardly likely that any
one else in the village could raise the
$1,000 cash down which Mortenson de-
manded as first payment. This proved
to be the case, but LeVerrier's relief
did not last long, for he learned that
an attempt was being made to secure
small sums from a large number.
The pleasure of saying Il told you
so afforded Olga some solace in the
midst of the threatening trouble,
though her wedding day was being
postponed. LeVerrier bore up bravely.
There was a good chance that no Ger
man would buy the yard. Then there
was his rich uncle.
Your rich uncle?" asked Olga.
Jean Baptiste LaRousse of Quebec.
I never told you of him for fear it
might raise false expectations. He is
a bachelor worth $4,000, and before
my mother died he told her he would
divide his property when he died, half
Tor me, half for the churcn.
How is it raising false expectations
to tell me of this? He has promised
you the money.
When he dies. The false expecta-
tons are that he die. The French of
Canada live long. My great GRANDPA
Their died at 102, my grandfather at
1903, therefore my. uncle will live to be
l04. I shall write and ask him to give
me two thousand now and all the rest
Of his money to the church when he
dies. But whether he will do 1t, 1 can
not say; I have never even seen him.
AS a stroke of policy I will invite him
to visit me, but he will never come
way out here"
Two weeks passed and the rich uncle
was not heard from. The Germans
gave an entertainment to raise boz
nus for the lumber yard purchaser,
and during its progress pumpkin was
hurled through a window, an act at
tributed to LeVerrier by some, but
more generally. and. as it happened,
correctly. to Scharascheffsky. At the
beginning of the third week LeVerrier
was coming out of the post office when
he ran full tilt into a stranger, who
muttered his annoyance in the French
language. Eagerly, timidly, Lever
rier scanned the middle-aged man be-
fore him. 1t must be, ii must be his
uncle. What other Frenchman would
be in Blue river and at this time, too?
My uncle!" exclaimed LeVerrier, in
French.
Your uncle!" replied the stranger.
drawing back.
Il thought you must be my uncle,
Jean Baptiste LaRousee, of Quebec,
whom I wrote asking to visit me, but
If you are not"
Wait" said the stranger. with a