The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-07-20
BLUE BLOOD.
BY Guy De Terramond.

room struck Z. In the same moment
the door was opened and the old Count
Rousselot cried out as he entered. ITO
/ the dinner tablet"
But. grandpa" said n clear. chlidlikc
voice. Jacques has not come home
yet"
The old mans brow darkened as he
said:
but he ought TO be here. We take
dinner ut sharp and IL this does not
suit jacques he can eat somewhere
| else"
/ Jacqueiine bowed her head In silence
and went into the kitchen TO see that
| the soup was served.
Count Rousselot was veritable HUI
| man clock and considered punctunlity a
| duty In all who came near him. To be
| late. AZ even a fraction OF n minute. was
/ n most serious offense I'm his eyes.
Jacques leaves his office at hair past
I g. Between then and 7 he has plenty
! or time TO take his aperitif and amuse
/ himself with his friends. i do not try
\ to hold him back. for he " young. but
I he must be here ut I. positively re-
I fuse TO wait for him"
Old Count Rousselot was veteran OF
many wars. As officer he had seen
| service In Crimea. Italy, China ana
/ Mexico. and his many trophies were
hung on the wall In his den. tastily ar
/ ranged around the grand cross OF the
| Legion OF Honor. which he had earned
/ By many fcats OF exceptional bravery.
Often the ola Count would stand In
/ front OF all these souvenirs lost IN
| thought OF times which had fled. They
/ were his 10y and his pride. They made
( him forget that fortune had not smiled
/ upon him In his house. In fact his hfe
/ In later years had been one chain OF
/ sorrows and misfOrtunes. His only son,
/ Of whom he had expected so much and
before whom was the promise OF gior-
lous career I'm the army. and his beauti-
/ full wife hid both been killed In rail-
I road accident three years after ther
marriage. SIX months later his own
wife whom ne had loved with all the
/ rervor OF his SOUL but who never rccov-
cred from the shock. followed them IN
premature grave.
lie had been left behind with his two
grandchildren. Jacques and Jncquellne.
an old man without any income but
his meagcr pension. and had only one
idea. that OF bringing up the two little
oncs TO become useful members OF So
rIcty. And I'm this he had been fortu-
nate. There was no better housewife
In all Paris than Jacqueline. and even
II jacques had not turned out hero.
as BETTING the noble blood OF the Old
family. he was. though stlll very young.
manager OF n department In one OF the
citys largest business houses, Win
prospects OF becoming Junior partner In
the firm.
But surely this was no reason why he
should be late for dinner.
An hour passed. and still no sign OF
jacques. Jacquellne began To worry. IL
was shortly after the terrible accident
on the underground railroad, and she
already pictured To herself her twin
brother manned or killed.
"Oh. grandpapa. i hope nothing mas
happened TO jacques
She arose from the table and looked
through the window. The night was
dark and stormy.
"oh. what should have happened to
him." the old man said In n voice which
he tried TO make appear unconcerned
In spite OF his anxiety. he Is out anus
ing himself"
lie aid not believe in his own words
and lie knew that Jacquellne knew he
did not. lie commenced walking up and
down the floor.
That boy was SO cffeminate. he said
TO himself. so little able to take care OF
himself. One could hardly believe that
the blue blood or tho Rousselots flowed
through his veins. he had inherited the
character OF his grandmother. IL he
had only been n girl. All the old mans
attempts TO awaken In him the love OF
the life OF a soldier had been I'm vain.
Jacques he had exposed himself TO the
murderous fire OF the enemy before Sc
bastopol and he would have sooner have
died than soil his fingers with CONNER
cial business.
Jacqueline had gone TO the kitchen
when Jacques opened the door and en-
tered the room.
Il must beg your pardon. grandpa.
for being late. but something happened
TO detain me and 1 had to change my
clothes"
II hope you will not let this happen
again." was all the old man said In his
most Icy manner, and when jacques
said that he was exceedingly sorry he
continued:
Il shall accept no excuse from YOU"
Jacqueline had n hard struggle not
10 throw her arms around her broth
er's neck when she saw hi safe and
sound.
Suddenly the bell rang. sec who
II is, Jacqueline." said the old man.
1t Is the police captain" she an
nounced when she returned.
The old count turned pale. What
did this mean? Had this visit any
connection with jacques late return.
Could II be possible that his grandson
was TO be arrested? lie handled 80
much money, and after all he was SO
different from the Rousseiots OF old. He
parcntly unconcerned. His face showed
no emotion.
Let the captain come In" the count
said.
M. Jacques Rousselot?" the officer
asked, looking ut the young man.
The old captain thought he should
drop dead. His heart stopped beating.
jacques. my own boy. what have
you done?" he stammered.
What he has DONE" the captain an
swered. II Will tell you what he has
done. count. He has just nj the peril
OF his own life saved three people from
drowning. And he seemed so ashamed
OF this that he sneaked away. and IL
my men had not followed him here we
would never have known who he was.
have come TO shake his hand and To
offer you my congratulations. dear
count. for having brought up n real
hero"
When the captain had gone the old
man was unable 10 speak. Violent
emotions struggled within him and n
great happiness. far too great To be ex-
pressed In words. came over him. So,
after all. the noble blood OF the Rous-
selots. the blue blood OF many genera
tions OF heroes. was not yet extinct; IL
was only the opportunity which had
been lacking.
jacques had done his duty rs every
one of his ancestors before. without
hesitatIng and without Boosting: he
had not even mentioned IL 60 Justify