, 1872-11-03
EUGENE GRANDET;
oR,
Scenes Of Provincial Life.
Translated from tn French Of DcBazzoe fer tic cz:-
cngo Tribune.
VI,

"0@- 9Aa-eo. a40s uafluS "tPeu tdEAA; o3Sei
worked with trembling hands. But this young
man is good for nothing; ho thinks more Of
the dead than Of money"
Eugenie shuddered as she heard her father
expressing himself thus on the holiest Of sor-
rows. From that moment, she began to judge
her father. Though snothered, the sobs of
Charles resounded in this sonorous house, and
his deeE moaning, which seemed to come from
under ground, ceased but toward evening, at ter
having gradually grown fainter.
"Poo: young mani" SAID Madame Grandet.
Fatal exclamation! Father Gr2ndet looked at
bis wife, Eugenie, and the sugar-dish heremem-
bered the extraordinary breakfast prepared for
the unhappy relative, and took position in the
middle OF the sitting
'See here! I hope," said he, with his ordl-
nary eomposure "that you are not going to con-
tinue your extrayagances, Madame Grandct. I
10 not give you my money to I'LL this young
'eliow with sugar.
NY mother has nothing to do with it" said
ISIS it because you are Of age." replied
irandet, ' that you want to cross me J.? Think,
Eugenie-"
"My father, your brothers. son, when in your
house, should not lack
sta! ia! ia! tai" said the cooper, on four
chromatic tones. .'A1y brothers son this, and
my nephew that. Charles is nothing to us; he
has not farthing his father has failed; and,
when this dandy has wept his fill he will quit
here I do not want him to revo1utionize nv
house."
*'What does it mean to fail, my father ?'' said
Eugene.
the most dishonorable action Of all those which
can dishonor man."
THAT must be very great sin" !" said Madame
Grandet, and our brother will be damned"
Now here comes your can't" said he to his
wife, Struggling his shoulders. ga failure,
Eugenie, is q kind of robbery which the law un-
fortunately takes under it's protection. People
have given their wares to William Grandet, on
the strength Of his reputation for honor and
honesty; then he took everything, and left them
preferable to the bankrupt; he attacks you, aud
you can defend yourself he risks his head, but
the other - in word, Charles is dishonored."
These words rung in the heart OF the poor
girl, and bore upon It with all their weight. As
unspotted flower bonn in the depths Of a
forest, she knew neither the ma1ins OF
the world, nor its fallacious arguments,
not it's sophlsms;, she therefore accepted
father designedly gave her, without acquainting
her with the distinction between an involuntary
and q premeditated one.
''Well, father, we're you unable to prevent this
ulE1QTLQu6t
MY btother did not consult me. Besides, he
owes four Millions"
t:But what is q million, father?" asked she,
With the simplicity Of child who believes it can
quietly find what it wants.
1.-TWO millions2" said Grandet; 'they are two |
million twenty-sou pieces; and it takes five !
twenty-sou pieces to make five francs." I
s'Good Heavens" exclaimed Eugenie. ':How
did my uncle have four millions? Is there any
other person in France who has as many :"
Father Grandet stroked his chin, smiled and his
wen seemed to swell. "But what Will become Of |
my cousin Charles?"
He will 60 to the East Indies, where, &C.
cording to bis fathers wishes, he will ny to
q Bu: has he money to 20 there?"
to NanIes.''
Eugenie hugged him.
s'Ah, my father, how good you aret'
She risscd him, SO that Grandet, stung q
ht;ls by his conscience, became almost
Docs it take much time to make million p
naked she.
:<Lo7d!" said the cooper, "you know what 3 |
napoleon is Well, it takes fifty Thousand Of
thom to make million"
- Mamma, We will pray nine days for him.
II was thinking Of that, replied the mother.
't o.. yes, always spending money!" e1clain-
cs the father. See here, do you believe that
t.e.e a-c oceans Of money here ?"
Just then, muf1led wall, more lugubrious
than all tie others, echoed in the garret, and
fr3Ze Eugcnie and her mother.
9: Nanon, 20 up there and see il he is not kill
ing himself" said Grandet. =" And mind" said !
rs, turning 10 his wife and daughter, whom his /
remark Lad made pale, "no foolshnesE, you
t1 leave an gong T. loof adte5 9nr
to see CrucLot, and talk with him about all |
this
Es left. When Grandet had ehut the door,
IuGe1le and her mother breathed freely. Be
tt,a{r, 4l
constraint in her 1ather's presence; but, during
8 few hours, her feelings and her ideas had been
Mamma, how many louis is 3 cask of vine
worth: :'
''Your father sells his for from hundred to
. hundred and fifty francs s,-sometimes two hun
dred, have heard it said.".
''A,ad w;,cn lie makes fourteen hundred casks
of vios:"
On my word, my child do not know what
that amounts to; your father never tells me
about his business ?"
t:Bat then papa must be rich ?"
Perhaps. But Mr. Cruehot told me he |
bought Froidfond two years ago. That must |
have hsmpered him"
Eugenie. unable to form anidea Of her fathers |
fortune, stopped in her calculations.
:" He did not even see me, the darling" said
Nanon when she came back. He is stretched |
out like calf on his bed, and weeps like
Magdalen. 60 that it is blessing to see him.
What troubles this fine poor young man ?"
LET us go quickly, and console him, mamma,
and, if anyone knocks, We will come down"
Madame Grandet was helpless against the
melodies Of her daughters voice. Eugenie Was
sublime she woman. Both, with pal
pitating hearts, went up to Charles room. The
doo7 was open. The young man cav and heard
nothing. Buried in misery, he uttered inartic-
ulate cries:
ssHow he loves his father!" said Eugenie, in
low voice.
t was Impossible to mistake, in the accents
of these words tht. hopes of a heart enamored
unknown tb itelf. \ So Madame Grandet gave
her daughter 3 ltok stamped with motherhood,
and then said softly III her ear, s'Take care;
you will love himr'
Glove him!' replied Eugenie ssah, if you
knew what my father has said"
Charles looked around, and saw his aunt and
cousin. |
Il have lost my father, my poor father! II
he had trusted me with the secret Of his mis-
fortune ne would have both of us worked to re-
pair it. Ny God! my good father! I was SO
pertain should see him again that l believe I
bad him goodbye coldly-"
Eobs stopped his utterance. |