Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-08-19
OLD SERIES.


tina, is possible; one may have five hun.
dred thousand francs and yet be poor"
"0ne must be q wide'awakc dreamer
like you to DO astOnished at that. In our
modern society, Eve hundred thousand
francs, my poor friend is nothing. or al
most nothing. but happily ! shall not
stop there in q little while shall bave
double that SUN. The next year hops to
becolne chiei counsellor OF the Parliment Of
Paris and then before twelve months |
shall have = million"
As the weather was rainy, they scpara.
ted early.
&" A rcroir. :" said Conrad.
4" Au i,roir, aud be little wiser, replied
the lawyer.
All that Tsncrcd had predicted was real
ii,d. IIs wa. elected by bis brethren bo.
tonnier-.a distinguished honor. which
ought To nave sufEiccj to any public man
hut riches were especially tho end at which
he aimed. lie pelormed prodisles Of la
bor. No peace. no truce. no fe,e-, no din
ner--he must become a millionaire; and
he became one.
On tho day appointed. Conrad, who had
arrived first at the rcrds;rouT. was struck
by the change in his friend. A premature
badness gave his head thu appearance OF
age. Green spectaeles protected the ewes,
formerly 20 brilliant. Ills hollow checks
were imprinted with that siekly palene.s
given TO wax figures. When the artis, pres.
sed hi, hand in his own he could almost i'm
agine he was grupng the fingers OF mar.
HE statue. lie did not. however betray his
surprise. As soon as they were seated at
the table. he raised hi. gas. I'LL |, caught
the rays Of the sun. and said, Z" To the
mountains of Moryan!'
The lawyer did not appear To understand
him. have my million. Conrad" ho
said.
81 suspected it," cried the artist. "No
would he moro rejoicci than I, II with so
much more money you had not 50 much
less yuuth." Phen sol,ening his voice, he
said -" Ny Tancred you are killing your.
.eli. For the sake Of being rich. you are
bringing on your.rlfa prcmiiure old age.
You allow yourself no time for sleep, or
loJd or diversion. see threads ofsllyer al.
ready in your hair crows feet are around
your ,ys. you never smile. Listen. Tan.
cred. have just enlarged my hou.e At ST.
German. have garden and little park
a fne black cow which gives us the swecics,
Of milk, a beautiful pro'pect--some nice
wine in my cellar you are worth your mil
lion now throw your black robe to the
winds and come with me; in sik months
you will become once moro as you we're
when We entered Pari. ten years ago.
BAH" said Tancrcd. ~ admire you
and your idyl. What has put |, into your
head that am slck2 | am thought the
hea thic.t among our lawyers. Qui, my
practice t, go drink milk Ii would b. u
bad time Tor it, since the million that
wished for year ago, will not suffice
now"
How is that 2" asked Conrad. in aston
, ishment.
"it is very simple. have two children
"A son and daughter. There must b. a
fortune for the .on. and dowry for the
daughter, and must keep something Tor
my .ell 20 | am forced to labor yet"
"what will you do, then, with your mil
lion2"
P.haw what is an apple cut in quar-
tiers? must 20 TO work. In three year,
there will he a million for my children. and
a million for myself, and then intend TO
rest"
Seeing that 1, was all determined. Conrad
made no reply, but when they parted he
said TO himself that their meeting would
henceforth be more dillisuls. lie was not
deceived. A few days before the thirty first
Of October. be received note from his
friend begging BIN to defer their annIversa.
ry. lie sad he was oserwhelme' with work,
which was only too true. +" We shall SEQ
at TIE commencement Of winter he added.
Winter passed. and the Two other seasons
followed. hut still noTancred. The ihirty-
iir.t of October returned. 4 letter was
brought TO Conrad. 81 know what u con.
tains," be said. Gncred wrote that, in
addition 10 his other labors. he Was seeking
to he elected deputy, which Obliged hun to
defer their meeting. Z" IL is oil over, sa'd
Conrad +" There will bc no more thirty
first Of October"
Twelve months passed, and this time, on
the day appointed, Tancred alighted from
his carriage. He was now decidedly an i'm.
portant parsonage. Elected deputy. and
also. for the second time, bOfonHier OF bis
order, he occupied u distinguished position.
lie was one OF fifteen or twenty men who at
this time concentrated upon themselves the
public attention.
.'You will soon become Minister Of
State" said the artist. when they were
seated.
"Ah! prefer my Office to portfolio.
II brings me in, a, the very least, two hun
drcd thousand francs a year."
"wha, are you still thinking Of mo-
ney ?"
"And why should I not think Of III IL
Is the nerve OF modern society. l have
changed. or rather enlarged, my plans; two
millions are not enough must have three