The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-12-27

the pulse. He was little the worse fol
the LIQUOR he had drank, but he was stil
able TO assume a solemn air, and &C
through the ordinary rontine.
She is very cold" he said very cold
I'm much afraid it is too late,
There, she heayed a sigh said Cou
riol,
There is no pulse" the doctor said
briefly.
%, my God ? exclaimed the gentleman
in voice of agonized grief, she is deaC
i feel that she is dead"
See, her jaw has fallen,' said Cauriol
and at the same moment heremoved The
coverlet, which was sgathered up over hel
bosom and close TO her chin.
1t seemed to be as he said, for the law
fell, and the doctor said, in low thick
voice:
She is gonep
The gentleman sat down with his head
buried in his bands. Courol tapped the
doctor on the arm and said:
Here are five hundred francs for you
1t is not your fault that you could do nc
good. You have lost much time and your
resl beside.'
The doctor on whom the liquor had
told somewhat, held the bills in his
hand, with doubtful expression on his
face.
This is too muc'l, at length he said
i couldn't take such a fee az this
Take it, my friend, said the gentleman
suddenly rising and pullinv bis hand on
the doctors shoulder; take it. may
want you services further. 1t tdct,' he
continued, 4 must depart for Pars at
nce,and l will request you to take charge
of the body, and to send an undertaken
the first thing in the morning, that he
may make all needful preparations
That alters the question, said the doc.
tor, L will readily do all you desire,
with the assistance, of course, of the land
lady,
1t was 30 arranged, and, after giving
the landlady handsome sum of money
to use as she might see fit, the gentleman
and Couriol started for Paris, promising
to return the next afternoon, or evening,
at the latest.
The next afternoon at above o'clock
the carriage again drove up the inn, and
the gentleman and Couriol alighted.
They were met by the landlady, who was
flushed and nervous. She begged the
gentleman not TO be angry, and explain.
ed that at the doctors suggestion they
had removed the corpse to his residence,
as he considered it more fitting, and felt
that after he had accepted the trust inn
posed on him, he ought to do all in his
power to accomplish the task with deco
rum and respect
The gentleman expressed very great
qualification at what Dr. Poissy had done,
and proceeded at once to his residence.
The Doctor was very grave and some
what constrained in his manner, but this
was attributed to his desire to invest the
occasion with becoming solemnity. Mon
sier, said the doctor, II judged il right to
do as | have done. l found that the
corpse would not keep, and therefore
had it properly disposed of, and the lid
ofthe coffin screwed down."
The gentleman said he had done right,
and that next day the body should be
inferred.
81 presume you will give me certif-
cate as to the cause Of death, &c." said
the gentleman.
"Oh, certainly, in fact had prepared it.
Consumption, think you said it was, so
l filled in the certificate" said the doctor.
The gentleman again expressed his sat
isfaCtion, and invited the doctor to the
inn, but he declined on the ground of
having two or three patients to attend.
Next day the funeral was duly solemn
lied, and Monsieur Lavoniere, for thus
the gentleman gave his name, departed
with Couriol. First, however, he insist
ed on the doctors taking another fee,
and amply rewarded the landlady for
her trouble.
AS soon as the two men were gone,
Madame LEROY, the lsndlady, went to
DR.. Poissys house, and, indeed, for sew
eral days afterwards spenta great deal of
her time there.
In the meantime, Lavoniere and Cour-
iol made their way towards Rheims, near
which wac the abode of the former. A
beautiful chateau on the banks of the
Maine. On reaching the dwelling, the
fact of Madame Lavoniere's death was
duly announced, and for over week the
place wore an air of repose and gloom.
At the end of that time, masons and car
penters appeared at the chateau, and
were made to moderate the
ediice. New stables were to be erected,
and the oldest part of the dwelling, over
looking the magnificent terrace and gar
1ens, where Madame had had rooms from
infancy, was to be worn.
Monsieur Lavoniere, as the cousin of
his wife and next of kin, in fact the only
relative, had come into possession of the
dead woman's vast estate, and he was
going to alter and arrange things to suit
his own taste. The master builder and !
the architect were on the spot, and Cour-
iol no more menial, but the equal, as
sociate and adviser of Lavoniere, was an
active, and in fact the chief participator
in the discussions as to the various chang.
es and additions.
AS they were standing on the terrace
in front of the main entrance, the sound !
Of wheels was heard, and two carriages
were seen emerging from the shaded |
pathway from the right. The carriages
drew near and stopped at the entrance.
From the first alighted DR.. Poissy and
lady in deep mourning. From the sec
ond, four sturdy and well knit fellows
Lavoniere and Couriol advanced to-
ward the visitors. On recognizing DR.,
Poissy, Lavoniere started and grew pale.
why, Doctor, who would have expect
ed to see you?' he said.
We happened to be driving this way,
and thought We would call at the chat
eau said the doctor.
We'll, you have taken us by surprise,
said lavoniere.
Couriol said nothing, but turned to-
ward the house. Very much to Lavon-
ier's surprise two of the four men who
had alighted from the second carriage
quietly followed Couriol, and intercepted
him in the act of entering the door. At
the same moment Dr. Poissy said:
Monsieur Lavoniere, let me have the
honor of introducing you to a friend.
The coincidence is striking, for her name
is the same as yours, Lavoniere.'