Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-12-27
Che Braggart

New Years day always reminds me n
the incident during the siege of Paris
which recall with a distinct feeling
of pleasurable pride
Let my readers be treasured, how
ever, l am not about to lead them 70
the beleaguered rampant of the city,
nor to the outposts, but simply to the
Rue de Trevise, to the home OF my
old friend Dutailly. a rich merchant,
husband of a most excellent wife.
father of a charming daughter, a
clever business man, a good patriot,
somewhat of crank as regards poll
tics, but one of the best men in In
world and a good friend always.
Surprised by the investment Of
Paris just as he was packing his
trunks TO depart, the worthy man con
soled himself with the belief that the
city would not be held week Nine.
Dutailly. better advised, FASTENED to
lay in such a stock of provisions that
even had The siege lasted three
months longer the Dutaillys would
never have known what famine meant
She concluded her wise work by turn.
ing her garden into COW pasture,
hen farm and residence for pigs
which, three months later, were
worth their weight in gold.
When the autumn came and the
siege still continued her family rose
up and called her blessed and SO did
I, for dined twice week with the
Dutaillys. and on Thursdays and sun
days | made up for the privations OF
the rest of the week. There are no
words worthy to express my emotion
at the sight of real omelette. one
which was not the mere fiction Of
dream, and my Sunday dinner became
like enchanted feasts to me.
| was not the only guest at this
hospitable table. There was another
seat placed beside mine. This was
for young Anatole Brichaut. head
clerk in the big store and Dutaiily's
future partner and son-inlaw.
He was an honest lad, trihe mel
ucholy and ra9her timid but deeply |
"sAt GA3NNANtS III Aott Win HIS Ghlti ; |
daughter, Mile. Gertrude. who did not
appear insensihle to his affection. AL |
though II was not as yet an acknOwl. |
edged fact. the Dutaiflys thought sur |
iciently well of the probable marriage
10 receive the young man constantly =,
at their home.
y fortunately the war proved the |
obstacle in the course of true love
3richaut, a corporal in the corps of |
the Seine, did his duty as soldier
methodically and conscientiously, but |
without enthusiasm, and consequently |
without glory.
This Indifference exasperated the |
honest merchant. He was constant |
ly predicting decisive victories for
the French troops Brichaut, increiul,
Gus, timidly offered various unhap-
PLY proved grave defeats, Dutailly
felt that it was all the work of his
chief clerk
The presence of new guest at the
table complicated matters still fur
Their. One evening arriving rather
late. was surprised to find my seat
occupied by stranger, with red
cheeks and very broad shoulders, and
an air of great bravado. He wore
captains stripes sewed on a uniform
that must hive been looted from some
theater, and enormous boots. which
proclaimed to all the world that a
hero trod in them
NJ. Ro0llard. said Dutailly, intro.
dueing US, the captain OF the IA
nous Lost Children OF Courbevole."
had heard of the captain. His ex,
PLOTS consisted of removing from de-
serted houses in the outskirts OF the
city furniture and valuables which
might otherwise have awakened the
cupidity OF the enemy, and storing
them in safe places quite without the
knowledge of the owners,
AS soon as dinner was over in.
vented an excuse to leave the house
bored by the gracious lies of the ynl-
gar captain. TO whom fervently
hoped / had said farewell forever
But this hope was doomed TO a bitter
disappointment, The following Sun
day found him in the same place.
again on Thursday Finally, his place
was regularly spread.
The Dutailys We're completely fas-
cina.ed. ma me because the tender
gauaury shown her by Robillard
never fails to affect ladies OF her age.
and papa DutaiIly because Of the in
terest the dashing captain took in his
warhke predictions. Anatole, his
cold worse than ever. lost ground
visibly at each meal,
One day the corporal was obliged TO
keep to his bed, and for several weeks
he was absent from our repast. Dur
ing this time the captain boldly made
known his aspirations For the hand
% Asle. Gertrude. and his advances
We're not repulsed by her parents.
The day Anatole. eonvalescent and
thin as pipe stem, returned to our