The Goodland republic., 1907-03-01
A DEPUTY GOVERNORS
WOOTNG.

(By Paul Armond-)
'fCan you receive Nine. BIouet, sir p
asked an attendant as he opened the
door OF the deputy governors Office.
Hubert Boinville, the deputy gov
ernor, raised his grave face and
glanced at the card.
'It is an old lady, sir" said the at
tendant
Let her come in" replieI the
deputy governor. The visitor was q
little, old lady, dressed in shabby
mourning.
"Sir," she began; 'T am the daugh-
ter, sister and widow OF men who
served their country. applied some
time ago to the department for help,
and I have come to see whether there
Is any hope"
The deputy governor listened with
out moving.
Have you ever received any as
sistance?'' he asked, cOldly.
NO sir,' she replied. 81 have
managed to get on until now without
asking. have a small pension"
"Ah," he interrupted, in that case
am afraid we can do nothing for
you We have q great many appli-
cants who have no pension to rely
upon"
"Ah, listen, sir!" she cried despair
ingly. "I have not explained every
thing. I had three sons and they are
all dead. The last one was carried OF
two weeks ago. He had supported me
and his child. I had to raise money
on my pension. Now I am alone in
the world with my grandchiId, and we
have nothing. I am eighty-two years
old, sir"
you are from Lorraine, I see.
madam" he said at last 'I suspect
ed you from your accent"
yes, sir. am from ArgOnne," she
answered.
Ct also am from ArgOnne. I lived
near your village for a long time, at
Clernant," and then he added. Keep
up your courage, Madame Blouet, I
hope we shall be able to help you
VIII you give me your address %
mo. II Rue de Ia Sante, near the
Capuchin convent Thank you, sir,
for your kindness"
As soon as she was gone n. Boin-
vile rose, and going to the window
stood looking down into the garden
until his dreamy gaze wandered far
OF to a little Old town with tile-roofed
houses. He had left home in his
tWenty-hrst year and had returned
only to attend his fathers funeral.
Possessing a superior intellect and
an iron viii, he had risen rapidly and
at thirty-eight years OF age was made
deputy governor.
His heart, indeed, had once asserted
itself, before he had left home, but
as he then had neither position nor
II =
him in order to marry rich trades
man.
Suddenly he returned to his chair,
drew Nine. Blouet's petition to him,
and wrote upon it the words, very
deserving case" Then he sent the
document to the clerk in charge OF
the relief fund.
On the day Of the official assent to
Nine. BlOuetts petition II. BoinvilIe
left his Office earlier than usual, for
the idea had occurred to him to
announce the good news himself to
his aged country woman
Three hundred francs. The sum was
but a drop, but to the poor widow It
would be as a beneficent dew. Hubert
Boinville walked all the way to the
Rue de Ia Sante. Directed to the
Widow Blouet's lodgings upstairs, N
BoinvilIe knocked. and great was his
surprise when he saw before him
girl OF about twenty years. holding up
q lighted lamp and looking at him
with astOnished eyes.
''Is this where Nine. Blouet lives 20
asked II. BOin7ile after a moments
hesitation, and the girl replied, yes,
sir. Be kind enough to walk in;
grandmother, here is a gentleman who
wants to see you"
81 am coming" cried thin, piping
voice from the next room
Holy mOther!" she cried in am
lzement on recognizing the deputy
governor, sis It possible, sir2 Excuse
ny appearance was not expecting
he honor Of q visit from you. Claud-
site, give NJ BOinvilIe a chair"
N Boinville explained the visit, and
he widow exclaimed:
"Oh, thank you, sir! How good you