River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-09-18

to beset domestic joy. Camille had
not been blameless-far from it, but
the course taken against him had been
too rough. 1t almost would-yeg, it
certainly would-be very well if he, NJ.
Beauyille. could meet with the widow
and the baby and do what he could for
them. NJ. Beauville's pen paused in its
rapid fight, and something conspic-
uously moist fell upon his paper. The
Child of Freedom had human weak
ness. lie hastily dashed an inkstained
handkerchief over his eyes. muttered
remark uncom Dlimentary to himself
under his breath, and prepared to re-
sumo his task.
But he hesitated. What was that
sound outside the door? NJ. Beauville
sprang to his feet and glanced toward
the stove. The sound again, much
palmer Was it-could it be-a child's
laughter? VI. Beauville carefully push
ed back a panel in the wall and depos-
tied the precious manuscript in the
cavity it covered. Then he opened
the door of his room wari1y, in fear of
trap-ths creatures of tyrants are
sometimes very artful, and up to
tricks.
Outside stood priest from st. Sui
pice, with little boy in his arms. The
one had a thin, fine gentle face, and
wore robe of rusty black and the
other was fat, red-cheeked, smiling,
and had bright, warm coat.
"Have | the honor" asked the priest,
"of addressing NJ. Beauville?"
"YOu have" answered the Aspirer,
CURLY.
'"Then. monsieur, ask pardon for
the lateness of my visit. / have had
difficulty in finding your abode. and |
deliver my charge into your hands.
Your grandson"
"The mother?" interrupted NJ Beau
vile, startled.
Madame died yesterday 1t Montma
ire. She intended to send for you at
the end, but there was not time. She
was proud, too proud and poor. Had
she approached you before it would
have been, she thought, to beg; and
you had said you hated her. So she
worked hard, but she was not strong,
and-well, her tears are dried, and
she is at rest now. But her son? All,
she loved him, and before she
died she prayed me to carry him to
you"
"Do you know me?" asked VI. Beau
vile of the boy, who answered by hold
ing out his hands fearlessly and laugh
ing mo, you cannot. How should
you? What's his name?"
What's his name?''
'Surely monsieur knows?'
eyes, 1 remember, it is Georges. Give
him to me-"
NJ Beauville gently took the boy. He
called out to the departing priest that
he would see him again. Then he re-
entered his room and fastened the
door. He seated himself in his chair
and held GEORGES on his knees. The
boy was not at all afraid, but chatter
ed in a shrill voice and in broken sem
fences, which somehow failed'to sound
complete. NJ. Beauville listened for
time in silence. The baby talk moved
the heart of the patriot Eventually
he began in interrogate. He asked
about his dead son, his wife, life, deeds,
hopes, death. He learned little, be-
cause the knowledge of Georges was
limited. He sighed at last and, placing
the boy upon the floor near the fire,
at the front of the table, gave him an
illustrated volume to amuse himself
with.
The report had to be finished before
daybreak. 1t was brought forth and
NJ. Beauville set to work at it afresh.
His heart was filled with a strange
mingling of JOY and sorrow. He was
to be allowed to do something for the
child, but for the parents he could do
nothing.
At length he became absorbed in the
report, and worked steadily until he
had finished, and then read over and
corrected what he had written. AS he
finished each he dropped it distracted
ly to the floor, where his temporarily
forgotten grandson was seated, play
ing quietly by the stove. Folio after
folio was treated thus, the boy still
making no sound. The last folio con-
tanned only line or so, but M. Beau
Vile held 1T longer than he had done
the others before he turned to send
it after these.
AS it f1uttered downward the door
was burst open without ceremony and
the room was filled with gendarmes.
NJ Beauville rose with loud cry and
instantly fell back into his chair. For
a second he thought himself lost A
sharp exclama ton aroused him and he
raised a white face to see what had
happened.
AS each folio of the report had beer
tossed from the table to the floor littI
Georges had seized and transferref
them to the stove. Absorption in hi
work and temporary forgetfulness o
his grandson's presence had prevented
NJ Beauville from being suspicious
or detecting the odor of burning
paper.
The discriminating evidence was a
mass of ashes.-St. Louis Republic.
Her Golden Opportunity.
The following letter was sent by a
Mississippi man in response to mat.