Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-28
A new YEARS GIFT
- By Victorien Sardou. -


New Years day and the gifts accom-
panying 1t always remind me Of an cpl
sode of the siege which, / can say with
out Boosting, reflected great credit up
on me.
The reader need not be alarmed. /
am not going to drag him TO the fortt-
hcations nor TO the outpostS Of the city,
but merely TO the house Of my old
friend Dutailly, n wealthy manufac-
turer Of chemical products, the husband
Of an excellent woman, the father OF a
charming daughter, a good patriot, n
triie weak I'm pOlitics-in short, the
best fellow In the world.
Surprised by the Investment Of Paris
just as he was about TO pack his trunks
and depart, he had Consolcd himself
with the thought that the city would
not hold out more than eight days.
More prudent. Nine. Dutailly had, at
the very first stocked the house wish
provisions, laying In such q supply that
II the Siege lasted a month longer, the
family would have been in no danger
Of starvation. She had completed her
task by dividing her little garden into
n COW pasture, a poultry yard and n
pig pen; three months later her pigs
were literally worth their weight in
gold.
by the month OF October all her
friends blessed her for her foresight,
among the others, as a cover was laid
for me at her table on Thursdays ana
Sundays, where / found compensation
for the prlyations OF the rest Of the
week. How could one help u feeling of
mild ecstacy on those days, at the
sight OF II ham ome!ette or u morsel Of
gruyere cheese, which were to be
washed down by excellent wine that
had no relationship, strange enough,
with thu chemical nrnlnrtg of the
house.
/ was not the only accredited guest ct
this h~ospitable table. Another, young
Anatole Brlchaut, head clerk in the
factory, had his plate laid beside mine.
This worthy fellow, who was timid
and rather melancholy, was smitton
with the charms OF Mile. Gertrude, and
the young lady was not insensiblc TO
his love. Without a word having been
exchanged on the subject. the suit Of
Brichaut was viewed so favorably by
the Dutaillys that the union Of the
two young people seemed To be q filing
tacity agreed upon.
Unfortunately TIE war postponed
the end OF this happy courtship.
Brichaut was a corporal I'm the militia
OF the Seine, and was quartered at
Saint-Denis. lie did his duty as a SOL
der consCientiously, as he did every
thing, but without enthusiasm, II must
be confessed; he inwardly cursed the
never-ending siege that retarded his
happiness, criticising it's management
mildly, as was his custom, but not with
out bitterness. These criticisms never
failed to arouse Dutailly, who was n
fanatic on the subject of Gen. Trochu.
Added TO this was another source OF
dispute between them. The Temps
published a series Of articles in which
the writer carried on the military OPP
erations I'm the provinces TO suit his
dellrious fancy. Dutailly took these
fantasies seriously. lie stuck up little
flags on the map at the points desig-
mated by the strategist OF the Temps,
following with anxiety the marches
and countermarChes, and predicting
speedy and decisive victories. Bri-
chaut, incredulous, risked timid objec-
tons which made Dutallly furious.
Fortunately, / vas there to interfere
and quiet the disputes; but in the
depth OF his heart the proprietor could
not conEole himself for the battles his
clerk prevented him from winning.
The presence of a new companion
tended to complicate the situation. Ar
irving late one evening, / was surprised
at finding my place on the right OF
Nine. Dutailly occupied by an unkonwn
parsonage, with n ford complexion,
broad shoulders. a noisy, boastful
name He wore n fantastic uniform
and enormous boots.
IN. Robillard." said M. Dutailly, In
PRODUCING him, captain OF the Enfants
Perdus de Courbevoie."
Before the end of my soup my mind
was made up concerning this Roblllard.
HIS exploits probably consisted I'm re-
lieving deserted houses OF the furni-
ture hat might tempt the cupidity OF
the enemy, and putting it in n safe
place, unknown to the rlghtful own
ers. / wondered why this heavy-jawcd
mandarin had been invited TO stay to
dinner. Nine. Dut0illy soon explained
and not without emotion. At dusk she
had had quite a dangerous fall on the
Boulevard ~Poissonriere, which was
with froat. Robillard. who
happened TO be passing, had carried
her to the nearest drug store II had
brought her home. Through
she could not do less than
him to remain to dinner. This
explanation treasured me. / hoped 10
be soon rid Of this hero.
The man was no fool He represented
himself as interested in an extensive
coal business that obliged him ia travel
all Over Europe. War, he said, had
brought him Jack toParis, whose safety
his presence. AS to his valor-