Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-09-22

| IOnB past bn6 1Our Wnen MS laSt SpectJtWe
was surrendered to devouring hands, and
an occasional dropper-in with his tea
biscuit or HANDFUL of cakes.
Chabussal wins . large man, dressed
| completely in white, with his head sur
mounted with huge cook cap, the top of
which he affectedly wore inclined to the
right, which gave him something the ap-
pearance of q thrice bleached Highlander
He had a smooth, full, round face, with
small, brown eyes and red lips. His dress
and skin had houry appearance, as well
| as his eyelaskes and hands, but, as this
was in consonance with his business, no
one objected: His wife stood by him,
putting various packages into large
basket, which being arranged to her
satisfaction she pushed over to a thin,
sickly looking, hollow-eyed boy, who
seized it brsvely, as ifin hurry to be gone.
"Well, young spider-legsl" cried Cha
bussal, grufny, what have you gotf"
Everything, sir" replied the boy,
hesitatingly, moving slowly away.
Have you got Perrin's rolls, Jarbold's
creamcakes, and Purdy's macaronies, eh ?"
The lad received surreptitious nod
from ChabussaPs wife, and he replied in
stantly that he had, and followed it up by
asking timidly if he might be gone ten
minutes over his time. He had never
asked such a question before, and was led
to do SO now by q fancied humor and
good-nature in his masters rare indul-
gence in calling him by any other name
than idiot.
As soon as Chabussal could recover from
his surprise and indignation, he leaned
over the counter and shook his fist at him.
"No, sirI If you are not here on your
time, I'll cut your head off
"An right, sir, rejoined- the boy, meek
| ly, but with q touch of deep disappoint-
ment. =
"a Do you mean that it will be all right
for me to cut your head of, or that you
will be back ?"
az shall certainly be back"
Chabussal then nodded significantly,
and the boy shut the door behind him and
went away. There being nothing par
ticular to do, Chabussal fell to musing,
and they both gazed at the door through
which the lad had passed, 1t being the last
thing which attracted their attention.
Chabussal originally might have been
q very delicate and refined child in his
feelings and spirit, but, as he quilted that
stage of his growth and became boy, he
also Quilted his innocence; while the in
nocence and the proportional fneness of
his character at that age were duly ex-
changed for coarser grades as his bulk
and stature increased; and, therefore,
when he finally lost the poetry of his
form, and became the giant that he was
at present, he also exchanged all the
poetry of his soul for manner common
among swine and brutes. -.
= UAnnette," growled he, presently, "What
q mess we made of bringing that young
rubbish from France %
aPerhaps if we had given him the fine
clothes and horses, and chambers we
promised, he would not look 50 longingly
back at those which he left, !" replied she,
sturdily.
iqBut the speculation looked fair, did it
notP True, he-was no, great favorite, but
public opinion ought to have made them
offer decent reward but, just think of
it-onlY five thousand francs for their
own flesh and bloodi the inhunan brutes !"
His wife gave him sidelong glance,
while q smile crossed her face but he,
was perfectly honest.
aHe is q weak one," observed Chabus-
dyes; but he is growing, and win soon
be strong. And, mind you, love him, if
you do not; only he ought to have been
a girl, and not be Obliged to become
great monster like yourself"
"You are complimentary" returned
the other, with a grunt like pig. He
then looked vacantly before him for some
noticed that he asked me q favor to-
nightf"
She nodded.
"That has given me hint that the boy
is growing, as you say. Now, what do
YOU think of sending him back to France,
If they will pay, us for the trouble of find
ing hilmI For, you see, if we do not, he
will be starting off on his own account,
one of these fine days, and SO prevent US
from turning an honest penny.
The idea was new one to both, and
they looked at one another, a little startled.
Before either could again speak, a man en-
tered the shop, and, approaching the coun-
ter, made purchase of some jelly. He
was as stout and as heavy as Chabussal
himself, but appeared to be gentleman.
He was fiorid and wore glasses, and had
an extremely gentle voice, which induced
madame to look at him twice, whereupon
she went and hastily concealed herself
behind the screen of her desk, trembling
like a leaf He turned to depart, but re-
turned to Ohabussal, with smile
EXCUSE me-" said he, "but / should
like to ask you three questions, which
invariably ask all Frenchmen- Did you
ever hear of a person whose true name
Wss Jean Vernet," (Chabussal nearly
sank upon the fioor), IA woman named
Annette Noir, or a young boy named
Ernest Nardin ?"
Chabussel stealthily glanced towards
the desk, shaking his head thoughtfully.
No, he never had.
"Pardon me for asking" said the
stranger; @but have an excellent rea-
son. am at this moment engaged in
searching for the boy, who was abducted
or seduced from home by the other two,
and who has become extremely rich by
the death of his father by over eating, or,
more politely, by apoplexy, and the de-
cease of the remaining children by indi-
gestion, induced by the habit of trying
impossible dishes invented by the parent.
1 am about despairing, for the wretches
have hidden him. 1t would be fortune
for his restorer"
Chabussal moistened his dry lips with
his tongue, and when he could trust him
self to speak, asked, with the least posi-
Bile interest in the world, how much that
might be.
SAlmost anything" replied the other,
| opening the door "snything the lucky
! fellow would mind asking. Adieu
will come tomorrow"
"Annettel Annette 70 roared Chabussal,
s'who the devil was that ?"
Pale as q ghost she came from behind
her hiding place, wringing her hands.
"Oh, that is our masters bosom-frlend,
M. Viol, and he is coming again to-mor-
row."