Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-01-11

commenced. "What prompted you. to
write me such wordsr | am, monsieur.
sincerely attached to my husband. and
ensider my duty to him paramount to
all else. For him, and for him alone, are
my thoughts and caresses."
L" Her husband always her hus =
basd!"I l exclaimed. MAY the devil
take the fellow" AS said these words
my eyes wandered mechanically around
the room, and finally rested on the hands
of the clock. | saw they pointed to
twelve. Almost Involuntary l wished
Durand, valiant and Desgranges dead.
"By Jove!" l exclaimed, II am be.
coming as silly and supersttious as Du-
Barry" Laughing at my folly, quick
ly betsok myself to bed, and soon slept
soundly.
The next day was the frat OF January.
l was awakened by one OF the employees
OF the office in which had clerkship.
"Monsieur Felicien, the director, dc
sires to see ysu," he said, lat two o'clock
precisely; but no one will he receive with
out white cravat and dress coat"
A white cravat was attainable, in fact a
piece st white paper could be- nade to
do, but, alas a black coat was not so
very easy of construction. l had some
thought of pinnng up my dress coat, but
feared the attempt.
We'll" l said, in answer to my
thoughts, "I will go to Mons eur Vail
liant, and obtain the two hundred francs,
don my coat, and pay my respects to my
employer. 1t will, perhaps, id me in
obtaining favor in the eyes OF the pitiless
Madam Desgranges. New clothes some
times awaken sentiments by producing
fresh impressions"
At last arrived at my brokers.
"Is Monsieur valiant in 2" l inquiI-
ed.
Eyes, monsieur" responded the porter,
and | was at once admitted.
"At last you come, he continued catch
ing mo by the arm; "for two mortal hours
| have been expecting you"
Expecting meH" / responded.
"Yes, went myself three times to the
Adm nistration."
"Why, never 60 there ON Sunday, "
| replied.
Then you are wrong"
"Why so?'
Simply because people die on that
day as we'll as any other. We have no
power to postpone important business,
however much we may be tempted so to
do"
II do not understand you'll replied
gazing at him in unfeigned sstonishment.
was then informed that the porter
had been sent in search Of an undertaken
several times, and consequently mistook
me for the ndi ividual in question.
"Then there is some one dead in the
house," said quickly.
"Yes; Monsieur Valiant. He was
seized with spoplexy, and died very sud
denly"
Monsieur valiant dead Why,
when lid he die?" l inquired, much
surprised at the tidings.
Last night"
SAT what hour?"
"Twelve o'clock"
Al these words | felt a i'll pass
through me. With hurried steps l as
cended the stairs, and entered Vaiiant's
aparsmont. The room was filed with
men dressed in black; some were writing,
others placing the official seal upon the
drawers Ct the tarnitu"s
Monsieur" l said, addressing the
individual who appeared to be directing
tho others, 81, yesterday, placed in
Monsieur Vaillant's hands notes amount
ing to five hundred francs, he having
promised 70 discount them 10 day. Will
you be kind enough to do SO 2"
1t is impossible monsieur. All the
papers OF the deceased arc raw under
seal, placed thus by the orders Of his
nephew, Monsieur Ernest"
From tho office Of the dead broker /
almost ran to the Rue Vivienne, whore
my tailor resided. When l opened the
1oor | was absolutely startled by tho
sounds Of lamentations, proceeding from
lhe lungs of four small children.
Tho clerks and wsrkmen were going
in and out like lunatics. The tailor's
wife was weeping violently, and the noise
made by one and all was far from agree
able.
" What the devil Is the matter ?" in
4uired one OF the clerks.
" Such a m isfoItune, monsieur poor
fellow"
" What poor fellow, and what hs,
70 h i'm ?"
Well, monsieur, he was seen as usu
Al this morning, and supposing he had
gone out, we sat down to breakfast with
,ut him. 1t was only ten minutes ago
hat Madam Durand entered his room.
in looking towards the bed she thought
Ter husband asleep, and took his hand
within her own. 1t felt like ice. She
hen bent over and looked at him intent
y and saw that he was dead. The doc
or has just gene he assures US that
Monsieur Durand died of ossification of
he heart, and frsm the appearance Of the
body thinks he has been dead some hours
in fact, must have died about mid
hight"
My very hair seemed to stand on end
with horror.
+" And my coat ?" | ssammered.
Madam will tell you about that,
monsieur" replied the clerk.