The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-04-24
A Hero of
ManyHearts
He Was Finally Tied Down
to One.
By SADIE OLcOTT

Jules Ggnoux of Paris was a MEM
Der Of that nobility which before the
great revolution lorded it over France,
but which since that bouleversement,
under a republic, simply is a shadow
of its former self. Jules was a count
by Inheritance; but, having been
shorn of everything except the title,
he dropped that also and was known
simply as Jules Gignoux, the best fell
low In Partisan social life.
He possessed an evening suit that
was all he needed to maintain his po-
sition, though he must have had some
income. for he was nothing Of a
sponge. 1t would be impossible to ten
whether he was more popular with the
men or with the women. He had
many affairs with the latter, but had
infinite tact in getting out of them all
without reproach.
| When the pan-European war broke
out Jules was one of the first 30 join
the colors. He had only the military
training that is required of every
Frenchman and took his place In the
ranks with many of his aristocratic
associates.
And here It is to be remarked that
whatever fault Is to be found with an
aristocracy war seems to bring out its
most redeeming feature. During our
own war on both sides what Is called
the best blood In the land sprang to
arms. In the pan European war the
British aristocrat went to the front In
greater proportion than any other
class. In France all classes responded,
for the very existence of the nation
was in danger. In Germany, where
every man is made soldier, all re-
| sponded.
War may have been natural to Jules
Gignoux, for his title was obtained by
an ancestor In the time of Charlie
magne. At any rate, he stepped forth
with alacrity. But Jules did not step
forth till he had hidden adieu to the
several young ladies who were In pos
session Of his heart at that particular
| time. There were Nile. Nathalie De
sire, Mile. Louise Cherbutier and Mile.
Delphine de la Tour. These were the
principal ones, though there were
others
''Send me some memento of battle"
said Mile. Desire. IF you are deco
rated,' said Mile. Cherbutier, 81 claim
the honor of being the first woman to
wear your decoration" Should you
be wounded" said Mile. de La Tour,
give me the bullet that made the
wound. l will wear 1t suspended over
my heart"
Jules promised as asked In all these
cases except in the matter of the dec
Grafton, for he modestly declared that
he had no expectation of a decoration.
Then, after vowing eternal constancy
to each and every one Of these young
ladies, he tore himself away and was
soon on a train with his regiment hur-
rying toward the Belgian line.
1t happened that Jules Gignoux was
enabled to keep every one of the prom
ises he had made. A fragment of a
shell struck the metal clasp of his belt
and fell at his feet. Picking up the
fragment, he put 1t in his pocket to
send to Mile. Desire. He received a
bullet in his side. 1t was cut out by
surgeon. Jules asked for it and kept
it for Mile. de la Tour Finally, when
an attack was made on the enemy's
trenches, Jules was the first man to
gain them. When half a dozen men
stood In line to receive crosses at the
hands of General Joffre, Jules was
one of them.
"Well, now" said Jules to himself,
what a lucky dog l am! 1 never
dreamed that l would have a decora-
ton for my dearest Louise. The god
of war has showered favors upon me-"
If Jules had been In the Turkish In
stead of the French army his rejoic-
ing would have been In order, for he
might have married all three of the
recipients of his favors. Being a
Frenchman, it would have been better
for him if he had obtained a token
for only one of them. Though Jules
was a brave man In face of an enc
my. morally he was something of a
coward. He saw no reason why he
should not give each and every one
of the three girls the memento she
coveted. not saying anything about
the favor granted the others. The
girls were members of the upper 30
cial world Of Paris and were liable to
meet one another. Suppose they did
meet? Suppose they compared notes?
Had not Jules extricated himself from
worse complications than this?
Jules did not get back to Paris for
some time after he had gathered in
all these treasures for his three best
girls. He was wounded second
time, being very nearly killed, and
after being discharged from the hos
pital he was given a long leave, for
it was not considered by the surgeons
that he would be fit for service again
In many months, if at all He return
ed to Paris and showed himself In the
Bots de Boulogne in a carriage, one
arm In a sling and a pair of clutches
protruding from the window.
Paris had changed as much from
the Paris to which he had been ac-
customed as war had changed since
the Franco-Prussian war. Each one
of Jules three sweethearts was in a
hospital taking care of wounded sol
diers. Nevertheless the heroism be
had displayed in battle caused a pro-
found sensation in the creme de la
creme Of Partisan society to which
he belonged. Those women who were
devoting themselves to the wounded
in the hospitals when they needed
rest drove In the Bots de Boulogne,
and there they would see the hand
! some Jules, his arm suspended In a
white silk handkerchief and his
crutches protruding throgh the cab
window.
One of the first acts of Jules after
his return to Paris was to call at
Mile. Desires residence with the bit
\ of shrapnel that would have killed
him had 1t not been stopped by bis
belt clasp. She had just come In
from the hospital and was resting
after great fatigue, but her hero lover
being announced she lost no time In
going down to receive him.
Dearest Nathalie" he said, 81 have
brought you memento Of the battle
field, as requested by you. In q
bayonet charge a shell fragment struck
me and would have killed me had II
not been stopped by the metal clasp
Of my belt. 1 have brought 1t to you
as the most worthy Of all the girls ]
know to possess such q memento OF
the war"
Mile. Desire took the bit of iron
given her, looked upon it reverently,
then turned her liquid eyes up to the
hero, with mute thankfulness at the
honor done her.