The Portland daily press., 1879-03-22

with the deprecatir remark, I'D, monsieur
Emile, | fear am robbing you >,
Gayly conversing, they entered the PUN,
iers' dwelling, where poor Emile endeaVofea
to stifle the cry of his conscience by assld-
uous contemplation of the nascent cnarmS Oh
his vis-a-vis, the fair Mile Laurie.
"Really, he is a very nice young man,
though be does stare at one so rudely" SAID
she, when he had taken his cap and his de-
parture; and opening the slken bag, with
which he had presented her, she felt paper
in it which she withdrew and read, her
face blusing celestial rosy red as she read,
"Pardon, dear angel, the method" etc.
In delighted confusion, she read this, the
first declaration she had ever received, twice
over; she was luckily alone, and could enjoy
as she did champagne, the ardent prose she
attributed to the innocent Emile.
sob, the cheek of him." she said, but
without any wrath whatever, as she sat me
chemically folding the note whose contents
she knew by heart.
VII.
"Laure, we want you TO help in the kitch-
en- a minute-come quick" said her mother,
putting her head in at the door, and Laure.
reddening ferociously, had barely time to
drop the note into the package of bonbons
and hide the precious depository behind
vase on the piano.
Ere she returned to the rarlor quarter OF
an hour later, several friends OF the family
had assembled there, the austere Nine de
ChampatreuX, the jovial NJ Robert COUSIN
Casimir, harmless and useful old bachelor
relative, and so on. nm
1t was dusk and everybody was little
tired with the social fatigues OF the day. and
conversation Jagged as it will, the Jovlal
M Robert, espying the package OF confec-
tionery on the piano seized 1t and the happy
occasion OF saying something neat, and ten
dered it to Nine. de Cbamplatreux with the
original compliment, "Sweets to the sweet"
Knowing that she was not sweet, and sus-
pecting that NJ. Robert was speaking sarcas-
tically, she declined them, but the good
hearted man was not to be Tepulsed and
emptied handful into her lap saying, ''Take
them nobody sees YOU"
The kind-bearted NJ. Robert turned to
offer some to Cousin Casimir when Mime. de
Cnamplatraux espied the folded paper in her
lap among the CONNECTIONS, and her curiosity
being piqued opened it, and casting sus'
picous eye upon it read by the freight
'Pardon dear angel, the method" etc.
sSirrrr' said she to the good-hearted M
Robert, rising Indignantly and casting spray
OF sweetmeats from her, "You are hoary
headed vllain," and wrapping her shawl
tightly around her she elevated her nose anC
sailed from the room, slammiDg the door in
dignantly behind her.
VIII.
The genial M. Robert was SO stupefed al
this unexpected attack that he could only
open his mouth and eyes to their widest ex
tent and drop his bag OF bonbons. Wher
the equally astonished assistants at the scene
had recovered their senses they got down or
all tours and began gathering up the scat
tered sweetmeats, joyous crunch now ano
then announcing that one had beeu stepped
on. WheL the process was completed many
of the bonbons were found to be ornamenteC
with threads and fluff from the carpet; 9th
ers had been smashed out OF all semblance Il
the sweetmeat shape.
"Throw 'em into the ash barrel" said NJ
Plumber.
'No, don't throw 'em away-l'll find use
for them" said Cousin Casimir. II know
somebody can give 'em to-
"Well," said M. Plumber, stake this fancy
box here-it had some of Siraudin's best il
it. and it'll make the present look little
better"
No sooner said than done, and Cyprien'i
much battered two-franc bonbons wee place.
in the natty receptacle, with among them
them that fatal note, picked up unnotlced In
handful of sweetneats.
w Qeu u l6W uOuleUlS ldUcr Mlles LduIc
having accomplished her labors in the kitch
en- returned to the parlor, she missed The
bonbons from their hiding place on the piano
and trembling with dread, asked her father
what had become of them.
sob, they got spilled and spoiled" said
her father, land Cousin Casimir has taken
them away with him."
ooh, horror; the note-the ncter' gaspeG
the unhappy girl TO herself.
81 know somebody l can give 'em to, ("
Cousin Casimir had said. The old fellow
had recollected that he had not tipped Mere
Trublet, the coDcerge,a worthy old soul who
took no end of pains to oblige him and make
him comfortable.
"There, Nine. Trubet," he said that night
when she let him in and gave him his can.
d!estick; 'you can't say I've forgotten you"
Long after he had gone upstairs the old
woman remained deeply affected by this IN
expected and unusual courtesy.
She opened the box. "Bonbons-from
Siraudin's too; he never car have purchased
these tor me-" And fumbling with her long,
bony forefinger in the box, she came upon
scrap of paper
"What eau this be-" she said, and don.
ming her spectacles, she spelled out its con.
tents, "Pardon, dear angel, the method
etc.
With half st'fed cry of horror the old
lady cast the note into the fire, as fit had
been viper, and fell back In her chair.
"Merclful heavens" she said to herself in an
awe-struck tone, "what an aUyss has been
yawning at my feet these two years unbe-
knownst to me, Oh, those sleek, polite old
men-they are the worst of ali!'
At that moment the bell rang and she
ho hat a lafa
That must be M. Cyprien," she said
she's nice little fellow. and owe it to him
that didn't get wigging from the land
lord tor leaving the door open the othel
night. Poor little felow-he hasn't soul
in town be knows and Pm afraid he didn',
dave very happy New Year. S'pose give
him these-he has teeth, which l haven't
and may enjoy them"
Ten minutes later Cyperien entered his
bedroom with the box,
Sunny idea OF the old woman's giving me
box of sweetmeats," he said TO himself
putting couple in his mouth.
'Not bad ones either" he said, and in.
spected the box. mo wonder said they
weren't bad ones-they're Slraudin's. All,
il had been able to afford something really
tip-top like these for Cesaripe! Dear heart
sue uuSG nave Iedu my uOte Dy LUIS Lltue
wonder what she will say" And placing
the box on the table beside bis bed he de.
voured bonbon after bonbon during the
sleepless watches of the night, calculating in
rapture from time to time.
when it comes to fancy confectionery,
Siraudiu knocks 'em every time"
Heaven be praised, of all this nothing fatal
resulted.
Only-
l. Cyprien does not comprehend why
Mile Cesarine, who seemed favorably inclined
toward him, never paid any attention TO his
note.
2. The baron will be spificated if he can
see what there is funny in Nine de Saint
Exupere's frequent and significant illusions
to bonbons fins.
3. M Galoubet is at loss to know why bis
friend Beaufourre looks at him as If he would
like TO wash his (Beaufourre's) hands in his
(Galoubet's) life-blood.
4. M. Beaufourre cannot understand why
his nephew, Emile, manifests uneasiDess
when any mention is made of M. Galoubet.
5. Master Emile wonders why Mile. Lau-
re squeezes his hand when no one is looking
and calls him an imprdent dear.
The good-hearted M Robert cannot