Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1871-03-23
About twenty minutes monsieur ~

| side with Toinette against your own wife /!
| Perhaps you would like to kiss her also p"
"Oh, certainlyt' cried Mchaud, gal
lantly saluting the cheek which Toinctte
| Offered him.
This was the way these two generally
| took madame's temper
"Well, really" said madame, Il do be
| lieve I'm very ill-tempered tonight; but |
am SO tired, Jules"
T" Poor thingr' said he.
"Im getting so fat, complained Madame
| Michaud
"How distressing" said Jules.
Yes, and my face gets so red after any
exertion."
you must walk less" said the ieweler.
81 feel such an inclination to sleep" she
| continued.
All, ah h!--you must cat less" said her
husband.
Il could close my eyes at once" said
madame.
Il have something that will make you
| open them," said the ieweler
Madame Michaud pricked up her ears,
and Toinette left her stew pan, and came
close to her master.
Michaud took from his pocket round
case of green shagreen, aud opened it.
There, Madame Michaud," said he,
"what do you think of those.'
Good heavens!n she cried.
IAo tos, what diamonds." exclaimed
! Toinette.
Il said you would open your eyes," re-
turned the jeweler Yes, they are mag
niticent"
=" should think so, indeed" said ma,
dame. "The dead might look at them"
$50 that even you don't feel inclined to
60 to sleep while doing so"
"Oh dear nor she replied
Good - said the jewclcr.
But, Jules, whom do they belong to ?"
asked his wife.
Lady Satorsine," he replied al have
been to Kensington to fetch them. You
know her ladyship prefers employing ui
working jewelers., dearest, without ap
plying to any large firm"
Well" said madame.
"Well," continued Michand, "she wants
these reset for the Birthday Drawing
Room next week"
"Can you manage IT," she asked
Yes, by hard work, he replied.
"Oh Jules, what trust !" she exclaimed.
i flatter myself am an honest man"
cried Jules, drawing himself up proudly.
Certainly" said Toinette
Who doubts it ?" asked Madame Mi
chaud. But it is a tremendous response
bility."
Naturally" said Jules
Gou must not let them be out of your
sight, Jules
"Oh, as to that said he, II cannot
be expected to see them when | am
asleep"
{" Then you must not go to sleep" said
madame.
Not go TO sleepy he repeated.
decidedly not" said his wife
What, NOT for ten daysS" he cried.
"Oh, that is different" returned Madame
Michaud
1t wants ten days to the birth day"
said Jules.
Cant you trust any one to help youf"
she asked.
Impossible, said the ieweler; {" l dare
not. Besides, | passed my word to her
ladyship. These jewels are worth fifteen
thousand pounds"
Madame Michaud turned as pale as her
rubicund complexion would admit of.
"W hat a sum- she cried
Why it you'd buy halfa dozen French
farms ~ said Tonette
Don't lie uneasy, ma ME" said Mi
chaud, turning to his wife "Ill put
thtm in rly patent safe in our bed room
they will be all right there
"One Of us must keep watch whilst the
other sleeps" cried Madame Michaud
"Oh now, my dear, you are alarming
yourself needlessly, said Jules
All this while Toinette had not neglected
her cookery She had now spread a clean
cloth on the table, drawn Jug of spark
ling ale, and turned out the contents of
her stew pan.
Supper is ready, monsieur AMI mad
ame,' she cried. Then the three sat down
together, and enjoyed their savory meal
After the old Frenchman had smoked
his evening pipe, and the two women had
cleared away and retired TO rest, he set to
work upon the important task contided to
his care The diamonds were really splen-
did, and it showed no small confidence on
the part of Lady Sartorsine to intrust
them to comparatively obscure man,
such as Jules Michaud, AS for poor Mad
anne Michaud, she could not sleep while
her husband was at work Every tick of
the great clock made the heart beat she
fancied she saw the forms OF thieves by
the black oak press which stood In a cor
ner OF her bedroom and at every creak of
the stairs (Which creaked occasionally in
that mysterious fashion peculiar to old
stairs) she thought she heard footsteps,
and felt inclined to call aloud for help.
As for Tuinette, she never bothered her
head about the matter.
At last the jeweler thought he had
done enough for one night, and the dia.
monds were securely locked up in the safe,
the key of which he placed beneath his
pillow Then poor Madame Michaud fell
into troubled sleep.
Matters went on thus until the day be-
tore the jewels were 10 be taken home
The resetting had been completed, and
the diamonds were locked up in the safe.
Feeling that all was done at last, Madame
Mchaud, worn out by eight or nine
restless nights, had fallen into deep and
quiet sleep. The ieweler, on his part,
whilst listening to his wifes heavy breath.
ing, resolved that for himself he would not
sleep wink till the jewels we're out of his
custody. But when we will 60 to sleep,
sleep flies from US; and when we deter
mine we will keep awake, the inclination
10 sleep becomes irresistible The tired
man was soon as fast asleep as his wife.
In the morning, after breakfast, Mon.
sieur Michaud dressed himself in his best
suit, and happy to think that at last his
responsibility would cease, went whistlng
to his safe, which he opened with his little
patent key. Alas, the diamonds were not
there
"Oh, mon Dieu, mon Djeui' screamed
the unfortunate man; Il am ruined,
prlt t11 u L. IA