Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-09-29

unexampled rapidly, his wrapping pa
pers were quickly arranged against the
morrow, his door locked, his g&s extin.
guished, all in half his usual time, and he
presented himself TO his two friends.
Madame" he asked, "who was that
gentleman who just left heref"
His question was answered BY Chabus.
cal, who turned upon him sayagely, and
gave him blow upon the head which
sent him flying halfsenseless into cor
ner among some dust pans ana brushes;
"Why did you do that| demanded
madame, fercely, Ct Chabussal. "Cant
You see how small he isl hov thin his
legs and arms are ? that his head ID no
bigger than your two dstsi / wish the
rats had you"
Chsbusssl, standing over the PROSTATE
boy, did see 1t apparently tor the first
time in his life; and STOPPING, he raised
him to his arms by the collar, and went
and sat down by the fire.
One of the subtlest powers which Ma
ture bestOws upon US is that OF touch and
contact. Chabugsal never felt its influ-
lads head upon his shoulder, and put his
AuSO JILL 0UONt ILL., ~ ISAuCCA Lin w
silence, and, in gazing over the boys
head at the fire, his lips slowly sank upon
his smooth hair, and there they rested,
while he thought if it would pay better
to be kind to him or to be harsh much
wishing it could be the former, now that
he found it 80 pleasant. He 30 decided,
and he looked downward at the quivering
eyelids, and he saw tears trembling upon
them.
Ernest" said he, in whisper, "what
are you thinking aboutf" 49,
"Of dear France" murmured the boy,
with low sob, the tears breaking them
selves on Chabussars hand. Madame
came and stood by.
"And, supposing thought of sending
you back to France, what would you do
for mel
ooh, MONSIEUR" cried the boy, raising
himself and looking Chabussal in the
face, II could worship you'll You are not
plaguing me, are your"
"Would you tell two lies to get back to
France and be RIGHT"
1.-TWO liesp repeated the boy, in aston
ighment twill they hurt any Ones"
"No," said Chabussal, mot in the least
merely for forms sake"
"Well," rejoined the boy, after long
pause" for forms sake, think would.
What are they, monsieur?"
II will tell you tomorrow, Ernest"
replied he, smoothing the boys hair with
his enormous palm, "and tomorrow you
must not stir out Of this room. was
wrong to strike you; / thought you were
impairment. That wretch that you saw
go out Of the shop moment ago, is the
tax collector"
"Ah," replied the lad quietly, his head
thought he looked like NJ. VOL"
Wary Chabussal! Wary madame
| Gould the tax-collector have looked in
upon you and overheard your council,
where an ingenious network of false
hoods was agreed upon, by which the boy
was to be turned over to him for fright
full sum, much doubt If he would have
thought you far removed from pair of
knaves. A mythical friend, an acquaint-
ance, was to appear upon the scene in
name; Chabussal was TO recall to his
memory that this parsonage knew Of the
whereabouts of Just such triumvirate az
NJ. Viol described. he was to agree to
pnt himself in communication with this
party, and, after many terrible risks and
frightful troubles, was to produce the boy
| upon the payment OF the stipulated sum.
Early on the morrow, long before the
customary throng began, N. Viol present
ed himself. Madame precipitately re-
tired behind the screen, and her worthy
husband, fat, good natured. and in i'm
msculate' white, lied for twenty good
minutes according to the plan. NJ. Viol
became much excited, and leaned upon
the counter with pair OF eyes fixed upon
ChRbussal, in manner which made 1t ex-
tremely difficult for him to retain his
presence of mind. Again, in the after.
noon, M. Viol came; this time, OF course,
after the throng had disappeared. He
naturally grew more familiar with Cha
bussal, and began to ask questions which
were very annoying and displeasing, 80
much 30, indeed, that Chabussal fatty de-
clined to answer some Of them. 1t would
never do for either to quarrel, and 80 they
begged each others pardon, and became
civil again.
M. Viols refrain was, "The boy! the
boy, at any price l" Chabussal's was,
"The difficulty, the distance, my friend !"
| Madame and he had agreed that the
already tremendous price might possibly
be increased by dsllying, and therefore
they resolved to avoid closing the con-
tract until they had reached the very end
of the rope; as it was, however, they
shook hands and embraced in their cham
Dor, and concocted more falsehoods The
more eager N. Viol became, the more OBJ
stacles they pretended to find In the way
OF producing the lad. If N. Viol became
vexed, Chabussal became sad at his want
of confidence, and assured him, with his
hand upon his heart, that he was
moving heaven and earth.
On the next day an incident occurred
which nearly sent Chabussal into conyul-
sions. M. Viol was present In the shop
In the evening, and was looked upon with
about as much complaisance as would be
bestowed upon royal tiger. He said he
was very tired, and wished to know If
Chabussal would loan him his boy for q
moment to fetch pair Of shoes from a
neighboring shop.
~ regret to say have no boy, mon
sieur," responded Chabussal, promptly
and politely.
"Why," spoke up an old woman, who
was purchasing some rolls, shave you
1 n n n