St. Landry democrat., 1879-08-30

hesitated moment; then | made
an appointment with him at my resi-
dence at nine the next morning.
Pierre Boursot was prompt; and as
he had told me, his get-up would not
have disclosed to any one the nature OF
his calling.
"Ah, sir" he said, on entering, "give
me some news of my father and mother.
Are they still living 9' And, on my
answering af6rmatively, he added, "Ah,
poor people, how I would like to en-
brace theml |"
"Why do you deny yourself that
pleasure p
Because of the past and also of the
present." he replied, hanging his head;
"but what could I do ? After my crime
it was impossible for me to return to the
village. I wished to work-to resume
my trade; whenever I applied for em>
ployment they asked ME who I wss and
where I was from. Then in place of
answering, ran of. I feared that by
question after question they would lead
me to avow my crime. One day when
everybody had refused me aims. Dying
of hunger, encountered at the gate of
Limoges family of mountebanks in the
act of preparing their evening meal
The chief was in a dreadful passion.
The assistant had fed, carrying of
their caah-box. What would you have,
sir? The hope of getting some supper,
the idea of earning living, fri hit at
the existence which I had been leading
for two months-overcame in my mind
the disgust which I might have had for
such a calling, and I offered myself in
place of the unfaithful assistant
"You know nothing of the trade -
said the illustrious Pharamond, the ter
ror of the south, as the placards styled
him "but you are well.made strip
ling, and one could make something of
you."
"And upon the spot clothed myself
with the frock of my predecessor. Bonn
bochou is dead Long live Bombochou
"I will now recount to you the doings
of the two following years. I learned to
sturt about, then to dance on q rope,
then to juggle with heavy weights.
That was no fun; but could eat every
day. One morning, after five years OF
this life, Pbaramond said to me Bonn
bocheu, I'm growing old; rheumatism
seizes me; and, although I call myself
the Terror of the South, I was yesterday
thrown by rascal only sixteehHyears
old. 1t is time for me to retire. 1have
a little money laid by. I am going to
sell out my outfit and settle down for
life. One thing snnoys me-my daugh-
ter Dorothee. Don't you want to
relieve me of her7 As she has the dis
advantage of being hump backed I will
give her a dowry of 800 francs. You
know, besides, with what skill she per-
forms. It.is, in short, good thing that
I offer you."
81 accepted-yes, sir, I accepted and
I who had killed a man for love of a
woman ideally beautiful, married that
monster, whom I loved, and who loved
me ..also. We made happy family.
Sheshas borne me three children, whom
we adore, and who already aid us. Mat
ters 60 on rather untowardly, but there
is not SO very much to complain of, and
if health continues, We shall have in
three years fine booth of our own, and
we will not perform any longer in the
open air."
Sand shall carry your news to your
parents 7" I asked him. Q
sob, no, sir. They believe me long
since dead, and ought to be ccnsoled.
What would they gay if they knew their
son was mountebank7 I do not wish
to give them this vexation. Would
you zee me returning to the village with
Dorothee %
Thereupon Bombochou left me. I
respected his wish, and never spoke OF
him to his father, whom I often saw.
Last Sunday I went to the ginger.
bread fair. The grand duchess loved the
I love the mountebanks. Not
because of their feats Of strength, but
because, In our society, measured off by
a cord they form a world apart, with
usages, customs, lawsswhich constitute
q group very curious to study. Some
say when M. Zola may conclude to
carry his eye.glass and his scalpell
through this unknown region he will
make fine book.
It was early. No part of the show
had yet commenced. I suddenly stopped
before modest looking booth, on which
read: "Theater of the Bombochou fam
Iiy." At once raising with my cane one
corner of the canvass / entered the
booth. There / found Dorothee, sur
rounded by five children, to whom she
was about giving their food.
"What do you want here" she des
handed, in harsh voice.
Il wish to speak to Pierre"
At these words the poor woman broke |
INTO sobs. 9 You do not know, then"
he said, "that he is dead these three |
'earss But who are you, then, that |
'ou should be interested in him !? lam |