The Morning herald., 1876-06-12


Certainly, my lamb. You have ex-
cellent principles" and again the old wo-
man compared one son with the other, as
she had done hundreds of times every day
since their birth.
But poor Pierre locked up piteously at
his brother, and said:
"When l give you an account OF my
earnings you pocket al"
"Well, what if do?" was Jacques
brutal answer.
"It's unjust" said Pierre. cts SO
like"
"That's enough" interrupted Jacques.
+" l want your money, but none OF your
fine speeches. How much have you got?'
And he made gesture as though to
strike his brother, should his demand not
be complied with quickly enough.
Pierre saw that it was useless to resist,
and drawing out handful OF small coin
he proceeded to count them.
twenty-five livres, seven sous, and SIX
deniers," he answered, as soon as he ascer-
tanned the amount.
Jacques took the money from Pierres
hand with motion which caused the Grip
pie to vince with pain, and as he put
them in his capacious pocket, he said, with
the tone of a man who has been defraude1
of his just dues:
"And all this fuss about that. Why,
what have you been doing for whole week
with those spindle legs and arms"
81 have walked the streets from morn
ing until night, with my wheel upon my
back answered Pierre, as if eager to con-
vince his brother that he had not been idle.
81 have lived upon bread and water. ]
could do no more"
"Well, your trade don't pay" was JAG
qnes' rough answer. 81 must find you
something better"
"Some,hing better? Yon? No-no"
exclaimed Pierre, as he moved away ,trem-
bling in every limb at the very thought OF
being obliged to work after his brothers
fashion.
Jacques did not fancy Pierre's rejoinder,
and would have heaped some fresh insult
upon the cripple, had not La Frochard
come forward, anxious to show her favor
ite how well she had done.
81 have saved three ivres and eight
SOUS. Put them with Pierre's and that
makes"
"Oh, never mind how much it makes"
said Jacques, impatiently, as he took the
money from his mothers unwilling grasp"
"but PIl take it on principle"
Then turning to his brother, he said, in
a voice which was intended TO convey his
good feelings
"Come, cripple, let's drink" and at the
same time he moved towards the cabaret
"No," answered Pierre, sadly; "drink
always affects my head"
Jacques gave utterance to a coarse laugh,
as he said:
"Why, who would think that we are
brothers. You have the blood of a sheep
ia your veins. YOU'RE disgrace to the
family, while | boast the blood of a Fro
chard, and the Frochards have been out
laws for hundred and fifty years"
This burst ofboasting was again too much
for Mother lrochard.
She was obliged to give vent to her feel
ings by raising her hands to Heaven and
exclaiming:
"Ah, what man! love him-so like
his father"
"Come along, then, if you love me, said
Jacques, who had heard his mothers fer
vent exclamation, "for ana thirsty
As they opened the door of the cabare;
he turned again to Pierre, who w;is again
bending over his wheel, and asked:
care you coming with ns?''
"No-no," answered the cripple, and as
he heard the sound of wheels, he added,
but not until his brother and mother had
disappeared within the shop where they
weuld spend his hard earnings for drink:
"There'sthe Normandy coaca just ARRIVING
| will run and see if there's not a chance
to make few SOUS"
And Pierre hastened towards the coach
as fast as his cripple limbs would admit of,
little thinking what the diligence would
bring that day, and how closely his lie
would be connected with one of the occll-
pants, at least.
CHAPTER III.