Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-01-03
CHAPTER ".
HISTORY OF THE CHoURINEUR.

HISTORY OF THE CHOURINEUR.
The reader has not forgotten that
two Of the guests of the tapis franc
were attentively watched by 9 third
person, whose arrival we have record
ed. One Of these two men. we have
remarked, wore a Greek cap, and kept
his hand concealed, and had asked the
Ogresse if the Maitre d'Ecole had not
yet come.
During the story of the GouaIeu8e,
which they could not hear, these two
men had conversed in low tone, re-
gardmg the door from time to time
with great anxiety. He who wore the
Greek cap said to his companion, The
Naitre d'Ecole does not come; | hope
that the ~g (comrade) may not have
been asSassinated. to steal his part OF
the booty. That would he flaming
for Us who arranged the burglary an
Swered the other.
The new conner, who was seated at
too great a distance to hear what
these men said. after having consulted
a paper which he held concealed III
his cap, appeared to be satisfied with
The result. for he came from the table
and said to the Ogresse. who was nod
ding at her counter. with her feet on
the stove, and the black cat on heT
knees. i say, Mother Ponisse, Just
Keep an eye on my glass and plate
I'll be back in a moment; and one
must look out for frecbooters.' 'Bt
easy, my good man, said Mother Pc
nisse; ii your plate and glass arc
empty, no one will touch them The
man laughed at the pleasantly OF the
Ogresse, and disappeared without an,
one noticing his departure.
As the door opened when the mar
went out, Rodolphe perceived in tht
street the coalman of whom we hav,
spoken; and before the door was clio
sed, he had time TO make an impatien
gesture, TO show how much he was an
|n0ycd at being thus watched; but thi
latter paid no attention to the contra
riety Of RodOlphe, and did not qui
the precincts Of the tapis frame.
Notwithstanding the glass Of brand,
she had taken, La Goualeuse did no
recover her gayety: under It's mdu
ence, her expression, on the contrary
became more sad; her back agains
the wall, her head hanging on he
breast, her large blue eyes gazing va
cantly around, the unfortunate crea
turc seemed overwhelmed with th
most gloomy thoughts. Two or thre
times, seeing the fixed regards of Re
dolphe, she had turned away in conft
sion, and could not account for the In
preston caused by this unknown
Restrained, oppressed by his presence
she reproached herself for not show
inc more gratitude to one who ha,
saved her from the ChOuineur; sh
almostre@Ts ttei aariag 50 plainly re
lated llet .lio. The Chourineur, o.
the contrary, was very gay; he alon
devoured the "harlequin. The win
and brandy had made him very taIka
tive; the shame Of having found hi
master, as he said, was effaced by tn
generous treatment Of Rodolphe; anC
besides, he acknowledged such vas
physical superiority, that his humilis
tion gave way to a mixed sentimen
Of admiration, fear, and respect.
This entire absence of revenge, tn
savage frankness with which he ha
acknowledged that he killed, and ha
been justly punished, the ferociou
pride with which he had denied tha
he had ever stolen, proved at leas
that, Notwithstanding his crimes, th
Chourineur was not completely ca
louS: this had not escaped the obsel
vation of Rodolphe, and he waited
somewhat curious to hear his story
The ambition of man is so Unsuitable
so bizarre in its pretensions, that Re
dolphe actually wished for the arriva
Of the Maitre d'Ecole, that terribl
brigand, whse throne he had aImoS
overturned. To allay his impatienc,
he requested the Chouriner to 90 o
with his story. Come, my boy sal
he to him, we listen. The Chour
neur emptied his glass, and thus b.
gan: You, my poor Goualeuse, yo
have at least been taken care Of b
La Chouette, whom the devil confounC
You have had at least a shelter unit
4 you were sent to prison as vagabont