The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-04-02
SPARTAN
THE THREE NUMBERS.
TCoNCLUDEDl |

An aged lady one day presented herself
at the Cafe Loupian, and asked for the pro-
prietor, to whom she contided that her
family was deeply indebted for eminent
services TO q poor mn ruined 10y tile events
OF 1914, but SO disinterested that lie would
receive no recumpense, and only wished TO
enter as gdrcon into an establishment where
he would be kindly treated. His name,
she said, was ProSpere. lie WAS no longer
young, and seemed some fifty years old;
and it NJ. Loupian would take him, she
would give to his master one hundred
francs month without the knowledge of
the gurcon.
Loupian accepted the offer. Shortly af.
terwards sufficiently ugly and i'll dressed
man presented himself. Madame Loupiau
looked hard ut him, and it seemed TO her
for an instant that she had seen this man
somewhere before; but upon lo"king again
she could recall no remembrance, and, bu-
sled with her affairs, soon forgot tue mo-
mentary impression.
The two natives of Nismes regularly fre
quented this cafe. One day one of them
did not make his appearance, and jokes
passed at Sjs absence. The next day came
and passed, still he came not Where
could he bel What could he be doing?
Gui.heah JSolari undertook 10 find ont tie
cause OF his absence GuiIhem returned TO
the cafe about nine. O'clock in The evening.
pale As death, and coul.l scarcely tini words
10 relate that, on the Pont des Arts, a, five
o'clock orst,,e previous norniny, the body
of the unfortunate Gervais Chaubarl had
Soen found, pierced 10y "a puniard. The
weapon remained in the wound, and on th.
handle were engraved the words-NuMDER
OSE.
ConJectures were abundant enough; but
slill all WAS conjecture. The police moved
heaven aud earth, hut the guilty person
contrived to evade all their Investigations.
Some time after the shocking event, u point
er. superb dog, belonging to the proprie,
tor oil the cafe, WAS poisoned, and Il young
waiter declared that he had seen II cu>lo
mer throw biscuits To the poor beast. This
young man gave description of the su<,
pecied customer. who proved To he Loupi
ans enemy, and who, TO annoy him. WAS
IN ihe habit OF coming 10 the cafe where
Loupan was, in n degree. under the cus,o-
mers command. An action was Il ought
against the malicious customer, but he sa,
istactorily proved his Innocence hy AN akibi.
lie WIS u supernumerary courier employed
by the post'ollice, and on the day in ques.
ton was proved TO he nj StraSburg. A
fortnight afterwards Madame Loupii.n's IA
vorite parrakeet went lire way of The poor
dog: the bird had been poisoned by bitter
almonds and parsley. Naturally enough.
searching inquiry was recummenced; but
without result.
Loupian, 10y his former marriage, had n
daughter, in whose eyes shone her sixteenth
summer. and who was beautiful rs nm angel
a dashing parsonage saw and loved, and
expended oxtravagant sums TO gain TO his
interest the waiter of the cafe and the
charming girls bonnie. BY these means he
obtained several interviews with The beauty.
and The generous gallant so well piled his
SUIT that the young lady. before she was
aware, found herself in the way of becom.
ing a mother before she WAS a wife. Sink
ing with shame, she yet had the good sense
10 ayow To her parents the situation in
which she found herself hy listening to the
winning tongue OF one whom she represent.
ell rs y marquis and II millionaire. Her pa
rents were in despair ut first, but they took
heart. sought, and obtained an interview
with monsieur. lie did not attempt TO deny
the paternity; but, ON tile contrary, OK. .fess.
Ell his determination 10 marry their daupb-
Ter, no. without acknowledging his wealth,
showing his family tree, and the titles to
his estates. The joy and gratitude OF the
Lonpians may he imagined The marriage
took place. and the bridegroom. who ap-
peared anxious to repair the mischief he
had done 10y the splenJor and publicity OF
the ceremony, ordered for the evening a
magnificent repast ofone hundred and fifty
covers at the Cddran- Bkeu.
Al The hour appointed The guests were
assembled; but where was the marauisl
Each regarded his neiglIbor with mute sur.
prse--when letter arrived. IL announced
th"t, ln obedience 10 the commands of the
KING, the marquis had repaired to the cha.
teau. lie apologized for his absence,
oegged That the company would dine with.
OF waiting for him. and informed them
'nat he would take his place beside his wife
at Ten O'Clock, Accordingly they went to
dinner, but without The amiabe BRIDEGROOM.
The bride did not look pleased, though The
guests felicitated her on the enviabIe posi-. !
ton OF her husband. The dinner was eat.
en-; and at the dessert waiter placed un-
der the plate Of each guest letter. All
expected An agreeable surprise. A surprise
they had. The letters informed them that
the husband was a convict escaped from tho
galleys, and that ne had fed.
Fancy the flightful CONSERVATION Of this
wre,cled family II appeared like hide.
Gus dream, nor could they reeIiss the si.us. !