North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-11-15
p TUNKHANNoCK, Pa, WEDNESDAY, NOV. Is 1865. @ ]

once, bring in his dinner, aud so picnic
with them % #aa <1f'aH E-f'=
AS be had foreseen, while she was endeav--
oring to frame cortecus refusal, Madame,
alive only to the possibility of a comfortable
meal, gave glad assent and before the
yeung lady had rec overed from her surprise
and vexation, he appeared with superb cat
under one arm, and bearing tray with lit
tie silver box with the purest coffee, a cream
pitcher minus the nose, but fill led with excel
lent cream, sugar dish without handle,
sugar bowl with battered spon. stool
kuife and fork, and an old chicken on half
platter, pat of delicious butter on q dish
potched at the edge, some delicious tarts, and
bottle o choice wine. .#ea
AS there was no help for it, Rosine
made the coffee and cut the bread, her own
little share of the repast; while Monsieur
sat down by Madame and gave her pathet-
ic account of his ouse-keeping troubles.
With perfect gravity he, asserted that
lady friend had, in spite of his .protestations,
given him not only the cat, but canary
bird. mocking bird, and parcel of plants
in pots, which were really the torment of his
life. ....... &c.,.
He couldn't under any circumstances, give
away these articles, yet the birds were often
hungry and dry, and the plants were dying
for want of care. ~ ...- -.-..... ..e.e
Madame, who didn't once suspect that
this was pleasing fiction, devised for the
occasion by her guest, sympathized with him
SO heartily that a new idea then and there
appeared to occur to him.
"Might he venture to ask-could she take
the trouble to look after this convenient
household He had no claim, but the temp.
tation was great. He had seeds in abundance
for the birds, and the milkman and butcher
had orders to leave food daily for Pompine." )"
Rosne looked warningly at her mother,
but Monsieur did not appear to perceive it
1t was Madame whom he relied on and she
did not fail him.
"She would be..dalighted. It would give
her something to think of when Rosine was
from home. Rosine was good girl, but
really she was out more than appeared nee
essary or proper to her. Oh, yes she sho'd
be not only willing, but happy to oblrge him. ,
The call to dinner interrupted the flow of
Madame's eloquence. The meal passed
pleasantly. Monsieur was playfully protec-
tive toward the young lady, bat profoundly
defererftal toward the elder one, and his
wit was so light, his humor was so genial,
and his anecdotes were SO full of fun, that
Rosine even forgot her cares and felt some
thing other old time gayety. AS the even
ing drew to close M. Brillian hung the
bird cages and arranged the flower pots on
the balcony. This done, he remembered
put one other trouble that he need confide
to Madame. .- --'2v
HE wished to use the adjoining room for
a library. If Madame would some times con-
descend to give it a finishing touch, so that
he could feel little at home, she should be
wolcome to any or all tie books which were
there" w- '
There was another warning look on Ro-
sine's face, but Monsieur, fearful of it's effect,
lifted the hands of his hostess to his lips,
and took his departure with shower of bon.
mots which prevented all the discussion of
The topic. -ess-----
Rosine's dssuasives had no effect upon
Madame, who arranged the apartment which
had IS :.
found full of books, pictures, and statuetts,
iu the utmost disorder. There were excel
lent novels, works of travel and biography,
volumes of exquisite engravings, and all the
best French periodicals.. E.A
These were treasures, indeed and Madame
smiled again. What was still better, Ro.
sine's time was fully occupied by pupils who
paid literally and in advance. She suspect
ed M. Brillian's influence in all this, but she
could not decline to benefit by it, for with,
out 1t she must starve. Its acceptance, too,
was entirely unlike the birds and the flow-
ers, which she felt persuaded were intended
from the first as gifts, and in which she
could, therefore, take no pleasure.
For two months M. Brilllan was seen but
little ABOUT the house, and yet great baskets
of fruit and lovely bouquets we're continu-
ally finding their way into the apartments
of the Chatelles, and Madames' pocket was
never without supply Of bon bons, of which
she was immoderately fond. She pleaded
ignorance of the giver; and Rosine, finding
remonstrance unavaling, endured in silence
The cold weather had set Rosine to think.
ing how she could supply winter clothing and
fuel, when M. Brllian again begged permis-
sion to dine with Madame, picnic fashion.
"It was his fete-day,"he SAID, "always a
melancholy occasion. and he dreaded to
spend the evening alone" 5'
Madame was as gracious as BEFORE
ssMonsieur would be most welcome" and