Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-11-20
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tofne III Is getting tolh. Ihc'Hi' my VI"
house-heeper, shall give us some supper.
We will drink n bottle of rare wine and
have good chat together"
The Colonel made no objection, and the
two friends sat together till late hour in
the Professors snug drawng-room, tell
ing each other the simple stories of their
lives. They met again next day, and the
Colonel dined at the professors. On tax
ing leave. he invited his old friend to be
his guest the next day at the table d hote
where he was in the habit of taking his
meals.
Il have never kept house" the Colonel
said, land | am too old to begin now.
Wherever have been stationed the tdtfe
d hote has been my table. l hope you
will dine there with me tomorrow.
But NJ. Tisson objected. I'VE dine to-
gether because we like one another's COM
pany, not because we want to do polite
thing I have no fancy for restaurants
and hotels. There are always strangers
there, and one cannot talk comfortably and
freely. Besides. to tell the truth. Pascal
has spoiled me. am accustomed to her
cooking. and hotel fare does not agree
with me. Please withdraw your invita-
ton. We do not stand on ceremony.
Dine here with me tomorrow and the day
after-every day; you cannot do me a
greater favor
The Colonel consented to dine with his
friend the next day.
Two weeks went by. The friends spent
several hours together every day, and the
bachelor had dined, maybe, dozen times
at the widower's house, when one day al
ter dinner-old Pascal having lett the
room after serving conee-Coste lit his
pipe, cleared his throat, and made the fol-
lowing speech. for which he had been pre-
pairing himself for the last week
This is all very fine, Isdore, but things
cannot 60 on in this way"
''What do you meanP'
Il have never lived better in nv life
than do with you now, yet do not like
my beard"
why not ?'
"When / was Lieutenant | used TO
pay sixty francs a month tor my dinner;
when / became Captain, it cost me eighty
francs since l have been Major, have
always reserved hundred and fifty francs
for that purpose. must stick to these
old habits to be comfortable; and if you
cannot think of some way in which | can
spend my money and have your company.
/ must give up dining with you
Excuse me, Coste. but really you are
not speaking like sensible man.
''But have been thinking that would
be very sorry not to see your familiar face
opposite me at dinner; and, somehow, |
fancy that you too would miss me-
"You can take your oath Of that"
''And therefore l want to make ra-
tional proposal to you.''
There was long pause. The Colonel
cleared his throat again.
''Well, go on" said the Professor, gent
ly. II see what you are driving at in that
clever way but let me tell you consider
your proposal childish"
"Childish or not. ! stick to it. And if
You care as much for me as do for you,
If you are not afraid of having too much
of me, you will accept it,
The Professor resisted for some time.
He tried hard to persuade the Colonel to
continue to be his guest but the old sol
der would not yield, so the Professor had
to give it up.
'You were ever obstinate and self-will-
ed" he said, whereas was ALWAYS the
good-natured and sensible one of us two.
Let it be as You wish: henceforward YOU
shall pay for your board"
But this did not settle the question
Coste proposed to pay too much-Tisson
asked for too little. At last they agreed
that Pascal, who for thirty years had been
the Professors housekeeper should act as
arbitrator. She was what is called in
France amaitresse-femme, and had a clear
sensible answer ready for any question
that might be put to her; so, after short
conference with her it was settled that NJ
Tisson would not be the loser if the
Colonel contributed 120 francs month
Thus this long discussion came at last to
an end.
From that day new and brighter life
began for the two lonely old men, which
made them forget their age, and which
continued without interruption for many
years. The Professor had little to do;
the Colonel nothing at all. They spent
many hours together every day; they
walked arm in arm up and down the "Pe-
rou" and the "'Esplande"- two prin-
cipal promenades of Montpelier they sat
together in the Professors library or
they went out together on the Links"
being passionately interested in an inter-
minable game of"golf," pastime which
is almost as much in honor at Montpelier,
and at Montpelier alone of all French
towns, as at St. Andrews in Scotland
Their evenings were spent at the club,
where they found their regular whist-club
They became daily more and more de-
pendent on each other-as happens with
old-people from whom the rest of the
worlds gradually Withdrawing, who love
few people, and are loved by few, and
whose interest centres in narrow circle
Very soon they became indispensable to
each other. Tisson became uneasy if
Coste was five minutes late for dinner,
and the Colonel had every morning a con-
fdential talk with Pascaline to inquire if
the ''master" had passed good nj ght, if
his cough had been troublesome, and if he
had enjoyed his breakfast. He was reg
ular attendant at the Professors lectures
His venerable head. his attentive,
earnest, mild countenance soon became
known to the whole university. The
young students took a liking to the quiet
old gentleman, and made room for him
respectfully when he entered the lecture
room. And he greeted them kindly !:
Good morning, gentlemen"
Continued Tomorrow