Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-12-23

walk akOnB the Alarne, IN spite or MS ~
years he still carried himself erect and
hardy leaned on the cane which he carried
since he had laid down the sword.
AT the bridge he was hailed by a fisher
man whom he had known for years.
Allow me to congratulate you, captain.
that a'j6f tirphew has passed his
ton with honor
Il thank you, Paul"
The captain continued his walk lost in
thought. Without knowing 1t the man had
touched a tender spot. The young Rene
Dubuisson had indeed passed his examin-
atiou ahead of all, and thereby gained the
slsht 10 enter Ecole Polytechnique in
Paris, and the old caprain was Justly proud
Of him, but there were other things which
people did not know.
To give the young man an education
the captain had made great sacrifices, and
now he did not know wherefrom to get the
money TO pay for him while at the Ecole
Polytechnique,
The young man was really not his
nephew at all, but only his ward. There
are in life people who lose and people who
lind.
was stationed at Vincennes, he had found
a baby boy on his doorstep one morning
as he was leaving his house.
Three months before ne had lost his only
child, a little girl OF 3 years, and so he
ora his wife decided to keep the boy and
lave out that he was their nephew.
Then came the time when the captain
was pensioned, mis- wife died and the edu-
cation and maintenance OF Rene cost quite
a little money, especially as his nurse,
J~ulictte. had remained in the house.
The budget was painfully small-a pen
sion OF 1850 francs a year anu 800 francs
froml@the Legion of Honor. His wife's
Qowry had all gone TO pay for the educa-
tion OF the boy.
And NOW he would have to go to Paris
TO study, and that would mean five hun
dred francs for his equipment and a
thousand francs a year for tuition and
board. Where was all that money TO
come from?
When the captain entered his den, the
window OF which opened into the garden,
he heard the voice of Rene and Juliette
outside.
@Oh, Monsieur Rene, you do not know
how proud i am of you and how happy
that you are to study in the great city"
My dear old Juliette!"
Il am only afraid that you Will become
so proud that when you come back you
will have no more thought of your old
nurse"
shame on you. Juliette. You know
that will always love you just as much
as do now"
The captains brow darkened when he
heard these words. He had tunst made
up his mind that to save the wages which
he was paying the nurse he would have TO
let her go and then borrow the necessary
money either by pledgilng his pension or
by ~rdortgaging his house.
But who would lend him the money?
He had few acquaintance in the town,
and the very idea of asking anybody for
4 loan made him blush.
And still that would be easier than TO
discharge Juliette. who had now been i'm
his house for eighteen years. HIS thoughts
wen back to the day she came. He had
just returned from the mayors office,
where he had gone with his wife to regis
Ter the child.
When they came In the baby, who was
evidently hungry. was yelling at the top
of its voice. He was ON the point Of
going to the Intelligence office Tor a nurse
when the doorbell rang. a young and un-
usually pretty girl OF 20 stood brushing
OH the doorstep.
Il beg YOUR pardon, / am afraid l have
made q mistake"
What do you wish?"
II was told that somebody in this house
wanted q nurse"
eve do, indeed the captain replied.
The girl vas evidently strong and healthy,
though she was unusually pale. She told
OF how she happened to be looking for a
position and was engaged OH the spot by
The captain. who had nor heard one word
OF what she said.
They had never regretted engaging her,
No mother could have loved Rene higher
ihan she did.
And now. because of tile miserable ques-
ton of money. he would have to send her
away. But it was for Rene's sake ard
the sacrifice must be made
lie went to the window and called.
.sJulictte.v
Monsieur lie Captaine."
He asked her to come in and sit down,
and With a voice trembling just a little
he said:
.'Juliette. i nave something to tell you
which ma yhurt your feelings. as 1t hurts
mine to tell you. | am forced TO ask You
20 leave us"
She turned deadly pale. What rave 4
done To deserve this, Monsieur lie Cap
itaine?'
'.Juiiette, you ought to know that you
have done nothing TO displease me. but
there are times when one is forced to do
unpleasant things because it is necessary.
Ii wiz cost much money TO send Rene to
Paris and keep him there and / must econ
0fnize. I shall be perfectly frank with
you-I have not the money and do not
know where to get 1t. Shall i sell the
house where we ave all been so happy
or shall / pledge my pension
JuIiette's face frightened. "Oh, captain,
how you scared me. / could not think
that / should have to leave your house,
the only house hat / have. What should
j have done? / am too old to take a new
position, hut now when / know that 1t is
only for my wages. / am happy again. i
do not want any age and you know
how little it costs TO keep me here
Tire captain listened, deeply moved.
90 captain" she continued, II could
aaver bear TO part from you and Rene.
whom j have nursed and seen grow up.
] love him as Ii he were my own son.
j have five Thousand francs In the bank
Which ! have saved out OF my wages and
j beg you To- take IT."
THAT j could never do, Juliette.i You
are stlsl a young woman aRd the day may
.Dlne when you viii marry and have your
own home and need the money, and 1
might NOT be able TO return Ii right away.
Juliette looked up, and In a voice trem-
ling with motion said:
..yo need never give II back to me.
MY family, my home. Is the boy that /
lave nursed at my bosom, al whose bed
l. have sat night after night when he was
sick. and you. captain. who have always
been SO good TO me. and your dear wife
who now sleeps beneath the sodt My life
could not epay you for b you have
done for me"
'sYou exaggerate. Juliette: 1t Is I who
must be thankful TO you for staying with
80. "a <*xk Il LII A-H yt~AA 49, 49,