The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-27
selected Story.
TWO MERRY DEBTORS.
BY CHARLES MoNsELET.

toward the restaurant Disuon' Vi th0 Na"aieI
dor.
ColiAeur's wife was an amiabe and good
tempered creature, whose youth supplied the
place of beauty. Under what circumstances
had Colifeur first known her? That is anoth
or story with which we have nothing to do.
Suffice it that ColAeur and his wife were an
attached couple, and nothing more serious
disturbed their felicity than the little storms
caused by the loss OF a button, or the dscov-
cry of wasp in the salad. In word, they
would not have had single cafe but Tor lit
tie bill which fell due on the 18th of Sep
temper.
An! that bill! 1t was for $50 francs-an
enormous sum, terrible for musician Fol
upward of month they had thought of moth
ing else. They counted the days 10 when il
would arrive at maturity. 1t was not bill to
be renewed by giving something on account
No, u was most impoi tant bill. Not to pay
il would be ruin. At the last moment, Coli,
feur made incredible efforts. In vain did he
offer charming romanzas to all the music. put.
llshers OF Paris. Nothing brought him 4oO
francs. On her part, Mme Colifeur got to-
gether all her lace, brushed up her Jewels, ana
furtively visited the Mont de Pete. But this
did not bring $50 francs.
Just before the dreaded 18th, they had only
scraped together half the sum, and they de-
SPARED OF the rest.
A friend dropped in upon them, an artist, a
sort OF painter. Marching up 10 the chimney
piece, he plunged his hand into the tobacco
Jar, rolled a cigarette, and then made the toul
of the room.
"You have some charming engravipgs," he
remarked.
Colitieur paid no attention.
"Where the deuce did you get them"
"Pve no recollection" replied Coliaeur sui
lenly.
"Well-they are worth a. hundred franc
EACH"
Colifeur regarded him with Supplied air
and murmured.
"Who? what? what DO you say? what i:
worth hundred Irancs?"
"These two engravings."
"You are certain OF itT
"Qute certain"
Cofer bounded toward the wall, tore
down the engravings, rushed out of the house
and ran to the Quai Voltaire, where be en-.
tered three or four picture-dealers' shops. He
must have $50 francs not lard less. The
engravinos were supelb, inestimable, taken
The dealer was shaken, The bargain was
concluded
Nevertheless Coliheur was not 10 have his
money till the following evening. No matter
He was sure of it. He would ask the person
who presented the bill to give his address, as
surfing him that the amount should lie paid OF
the 10th, before noon.
These twenty-tour hours seemed very slow
but when Colfleur and his wife found them
selves actually in possession of $50 francs
their hearts beat with joy.
"Dear Lucile?'
"Dear Colifleur?'
Quarter Of an hour passed in this way
One must talk sense at last.
"Let us see," cried Colifeur. 'What's tn,
name of the fellow who Endorsed cur bill, an,
where does he iive?"
"My love, his name is Tournemne, and h,
lives at No. Place de la BastiIe. He ha
been requested to be at home little befor
noon"
"Tournemine, eh! {, droll name. I'll go Il
him at nine"
IF you like, my DEAR" we'll go together.
observed Lucille.
"Why? you distrllst me-that's too bad"
81 shall feel more easy, my love.'
"Well, be it SO. Well go together" replied
Colifeur, embracing her.
Delightful deans visited them that night
Wings OF various colors attached themselves
to their TRANSPORTED bodies and TRANSPORTED
habhants had silver voices and golden smiles
1t was the paradise of honest debtors, and on
their proudly raised brows could be rea thu
flaming inscription:
PAID IN FULL.
II.
Next day, arm-n-arm, Colifeur and Mad
anne quilted the Rue de Suresnes, and shaped
their co lrse toward the boulevards. Tn,
weather was delicious, and the flower mar
KIT of the Madeleine added its perfumes t.
the enchantment OF the morn.
Nevertheless, Lucille said to her spouse:
MY love, let us take the omnibus"
"What! with sun like this? Are Vol
mad?"
But consider! the Bastie is long way
off" she remarked 10 slpplicatng tone.
VERY true. But the bus is intolerablc.
stops eighteen times. One is stifled, and be
sides, we shall get our feet crushed. If vol
are afraid of being tired, let us take an open
carriage"
sob, no. that is too dear. We will walk"
"Come along thenp cried Colifeur.
Behold them on the broad road to honesty
that road which has no ending, where the
omnibuses are so slow, and the calashes cost
so much. Heaven protect them as it has
protected so many Others, who had not, per-
haps, equally good intentions.
They had put the tour hundred and fifty
francs into a bag-the traditional bag-and
each was proud to carry it. Stopping occa
sionally, Collfenr called out:
"My dear, you have had the bag a long time
Give it to me-"
NO. love, it will tire YOU
but 1t will tire you ten times mere my
angel"
The passers-by look at them and laugh
but they are too much occupied with the bag
to heed the grinning passers-by.
However. Trey wore stopped at last by two
long outstretched arms, and man with an
expansive visage addressed them:
How are you, my two mliionaires ?"
LII was a reIafiVe of Vuciln Opa nf fhosa ,,on-
pie who are good for nothing but amusement.
AT whatever hour, day or night, you stumble
on such person, he is sure to exclaim:
'Let US go and take something"
So it beiel on the present occasion.
with pleasurew assented COlileur.
Lucille squeezed his arm.
ut is SO internally hot,' said Cofleur, with
the supplicatng accents or weakness. at will
refresh u.s."
"Come along, we must have something,'
repeated the relation, dragging them toward a
cafe.
This something was Madeira; indeed, two
glasses each of Madeira, for Colifeur would
pot be behind his wile's relation in politeness
The Madeira disposed Of they find their ap-
petites extraordinarily sharpened.
well, what say you to breakfast ?" rem k
ed the relation.
Breakfast, by all MEANS" reoned Coli
fleur, jouially.
But Lucille arose precipitately.
You know it is impossible" she cried,
firmly.
"Recollect, chere annie, that you only took
your chocolate before coming out" said Coli
feur.
''But the bilr'
"True," repledsiCoifleur, with sigh, and
getting up as he spoke.
But the relative did not stir.
"lrOin0 tO nav a hill ba sold
"Yes,' replied Lucille, quickly.
"Plenty of time. It's not get ten O'clock
"Oh, you're quite wrong; it's twenty min
utes past said Nine. Colifeur, pointing to
the penduie of the establishment.
That's too fast. Besides, you have till
noon"
Lucille.
stop, stop! 1 invite you," said the relation,
VINO spoke little, but spoke to the purpose.
Lucille shook her head, but Colifeur re-
herself.
Eggs au JUS" cried Coifeur.
"a sole au gratin," cried the relation.
Unlucklly, the relation had FORGOTTEN b;s
purse. lie only made the discovery when the
garcon presented the addition. AS he had or
dered a lot OF things besides the sole an ora.
tin, the total amounted to considerable fio
ure. The poor man was in great confusion
and talked of running nome, but he lived in
the Rue de la Comete, at eros GALLON. The
shortest plan was for. Colifeur to paw. Our
friends slowly united the bag, took out fifty
francs, aud left, vexed at having accepted
something.
Lucille sparedlher husband theihabitual 81
told you sop But Colifeur, ashamed OF his
folly, thought it best to offer such consultations