The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1875-11-18

bad temper. Did / not once see her
throw a pot of philocome at the poor
defunct? and besides that, his Reverence
has her under his thumb. Come, old
fellow, take things as they come. Be
steady and industrious, and all will be
right. | do regret, however, that pretty
little place at the Batignelles; a love Of
tiny house, painted blue, with pink
roof, and bells hanging all around the
caves. All it wanted was a thin streak
OF green to relieve the general effect.
should have planted a tree on the
ground; there was ample room for one
tree, and its foliage would have produced
natural contrast. Alas! shall have,
see, to shave many a chin, roll up
many a tress, build up many a wig,
sell untold pots of pomatum and bottles
OF extract before that little house will
be mine!" Narcisse, in melancholy
mood, was rubbing his brushes together
in the barber's-shop, when a certain
Don Miguel entered. Don Miguel was
one OF the most carefully dressed men
in Guanajuato. The gentleman took his
place in one of the two chairs, request
ing that his hair might be refreshed.
Narcisse-who, as became his calling,
was volubility itself n-spoke of the death
of the master, the price of the shop,
what he would like to pay for it, and
his regret at not becoming the pur-
chaser.
"Ah!" said DON Miguel, .'you have
500 pesosp Quite nice little sum.
Now, listen; would you double it?''
"Double it? of course; that is, by
honest means"
Nothing easier. Bet on my black
game-cock. / have wagered no end of
ounces on him. He is sure to win. Don
Ramon's cock will run away before my
Cid"
"Thanks, Signore, for your offer
but cock-fighting is not in my line. See
you, an accidental peck might carry
away the fruits of great deal of Ia
Dor, )" replied Narcisse.
"You have no heart, no courage!"
continued Don Miguel. "Pray, as a
capitalist, do you keep your money at
the bankers? Bankers fail sometimes. ="
"No; do not keep it at any bank
er's."
"You don't carry it about you, do
youp" inquired the gentleman. What
Narcisse might have answered, as he
tapped involuntarily on his breeches
pocket, was never heard, because just
then a slight accident happened. Tex
coco, as he was called, was an Indian
water-carrier, who every day brought
two large earthenware jars of water to
the shop, and poured their contents into
stone reservoir which stood on one
side of the room. Either Texcoco had
drank too much pulque, or his foot Slip
ped, for he upset fully gallon of the
water on DON Miguel's snow-white pam
falcons, so that quite little cataract
poured down on his white silk stockings
and deluged his neatly glazed leather
pumps.
awkward beast! Left-handed scoun-
drel! Stupid lout! Low hound of pc
onei" shouted the man in the chair, as,
in terrible rage, he seized his cane
and struck the water-carrier over the
head. The Indian cringed under the
punishment like cur, and the blow
was about being repeated, when Mar
cisse interfered. "Come, come, Sig
more; this poor devil did not do it on
purpose. He is very sorry for it. 1t
might have been my fault. I ought to
have told you to take the other chair
Pray, now, do not strike him any more.
In fact, can't allow it,
"I would have you know, my barber
FRIEND" said the gentleman with a
sneer, "that I administer punishment
whenever I please, and to whom
please, and no man may say nay to
me-" Now, Narcisse, who was as
peaceful as a lamb, had some peculiar
ideas of his>own. He would have look
ed on indiferently when two men were
fighting it out neatly with swords, but
the idea of striking any one with a stick
was brutality, according to his no
tions. Then, again, there was some
thing about the tone of Don Miguel,
which Narcisse did not relish. Narcisse,
though determined, was very respectful.
+" My dear sir, one blow is sufficient, and
I am quite decided that q second one
will be superfluous. Pray put down
your stick" But Don Miguel, with the
wet trousers and damp stockings, was
remorseless, and whirling his stick in
the air, was about bringing it down a
second time on the water-carrier head
when Narcisse clutched = short brass
rod in which curtain hung, threw the
bit of faded calico before Texcoco, as
if the Texcoco had been bull at the
Corridas de Toros, and by neat turn
of the wrist disarmed Don Miguel,
whose stick flew to the other side of the
room. Narcisse was handy with the
foil, having had many bout with the
soldiers when he worked at Tarbe.
"It takes no more than that,'' said
Narcisse, smiling, as he picked up Don
Al;nrnal,s stick and handed Il hack to