Litchfield enquirer., 1880-06-10

speech of welcome" i- 1-i '|' -''<t' A
 q should like some refreshment before speaking" faltered Bougeard, s'for have scarcely eaten since yesterday. The Govern ment has behaved vilely to me-
 The poor fellow looked, in truth, as if he were half famished. Pascal, whose pity for him increased every moment, rang the bell and ordered that some dinner should be fetched him from the restaurant. Meanwhile bottle | of wine was brought up, and the communist, having tossed off few glasses, felt revived, and was enabled to give an account of him. self. He explained that he had been bundled on board convict ship without knowing whether he had been pardoHed or not = and that on his arrival at Toulon he had been con- signed to the Police, who informed him that he was amnestied, but that he must beware of creating any disturbance. A small town of
 Provence was assinged him for his residence, and he was ordered to report himself at the Police office once week, being warned that in case of noncompliance he would be packed oil to New Caledonia again without ceremony By the time Marius Bougeard had got to this point in his recital, dinner was brought in, and his mouth became closed for time. But
 Pascal was indignant at all that he had just heard, and paced the room in agitation.
 'Police-reporting-paeked off to New Cal edonla again never heard of such thing! he cried, with that snuffle which had become his habitual intonation since the accident to his nose. ''Why, the Police have been imposing
 upon you. You are amnestied, and cannot be required to report yourself"
 ''So thought, Sir" grumbled Marius hum- ply, with his mouth full.
 "Ah, but we'll see you righted !" dontinued Pascal, raising his voice. 'Well rouse publc opinion in your favor. You musnt be baked of your public reception. Why, a banquet was going to be given in your honor, with the
 Mayor presiding"
 "A banquet to ns8 ?" ejaculated the ex-con- Vict, looking as if he thought his interlocutor mad
 Yes; banquet with speeches, and regu- lar Republican demonstration. And you shall nave it.I promise Meanwhile you had better sleep here tonight. Shall I send and tell your mother that you have arrived?" .-' ..... "No-o; l think had rather wait till to- morrow" replied Marius, with some alacrity. 'Yes perhaps you had better. Tomorrow morning, when you have sufficiently rested, we'll send you the tailor. hoser, barber; and you'll look a different man. There, take an- other glass of wine, and then you'll have some coffee and cigar, won't you, before going to bed ?''
 Pascal Ledoux did the honors of his abode as if he were entertaining Prince. He gave Alarius so much wine that this patriot became fuddled, and tottered to bed somewhat un- steadily. While undressing he hiccoughed the 'Marseillaise, and as soon as he was be- tween the sheets called for a glass of grog bv way of nightcap. This potent beverage, how ever, did not send him at once to sleep; and the ex-Communist lay on his back for at least an hour marveling by what turn of fortune it was'that he was going to be welcomed back as a mi ho 1o nd xub ho hol l.:., en forth as an Outcast. .
 Il wonder who that chap Ledoux is?" he unused, hazily. 'I don't remember knowing him when was boy; yet they tell me he had the chief hand i n getting my pardon. An ugly fellow anyhow, with that broken uose of his. l wonder whether I shall be able to screw few hundred francs out of him for pocket money tomorrow. He looks fool enough for anything"
 And with this grateful reflection toward his benefactor, the returned Communist fell asleep.
 No faculty is SO common in man as that of being able to accommodate ones self without difficulty to good fortune. Marius Bougeard had been living for six years the life of com mon-law convict: for he had been sentenced as murderer and incendiary, not as a mere rebel, and this had entailed his wearing the prison dress and cap, and having a chain fas- tened to his ankle. His diet had been beans, hls occupatson hard labor, and he had once been hogged with ropes end for trying to escape. All this had not fattened him nor i'm proved his appearance generally. He returned to France lean as a scarecrow, and with all the spirit apparently crushed out of him, for he felt like criminal, and looked so
 Even after he had been shaved, trimmed and re-clothed, thanks to PascaPs good:: d::ofices he did not at once appear at his ease, though conscious that he had recovered some of his good looks He stared at himself awkwardly in the glass; he glanced nervously toward the door every time he heard footstep, as if fear tul that the Police were coming to fetch him. His nervousness was such that Pascal Ledoux could not help noticing it, aad slapped him on the back, bidding him be of good cheer, and remember that he must hold his head nigh, as martyr to great cause. A glass or two Of white wine served the purpose of ex- hllaratien better than these exhortations, and sent Marlus into the street with the bold front which beseems an innocent, ill-used man. But 1t was not until he had been actually ac- claimed in the open air and embraced by the public authorities, that he plucked up heart and began to comprehend his two destinies.
 Pascal Ledoux, walking arm-in-arm with N"SAA Ville-Aubry which the barristers and merchants frequented. A report of their in- tended arrival had got bruited, and the place was crowded; so was the street outside A loud cheer was set up as the pair clove their way through the throng, and on entering the cafe they were received with storm of ap- pianse, stamping of feet, banging of hats, and cries of ''Vjoe M C0mnau1ae :" Let it be noted that aniong the gentlemen who thus ac . ,od 4l.a who had felt for the commune, at the time when it was raging, only the sincerest loath l ing. But Frenchmen are swift to forget; and things that seemed hideous in 1871 had, through the glamour of political illusion, al tered their complexion considerably some years later Marils Bougeard was hailed as the representative of an idea that "vexed Govern tnent,-as an ''Oppositienst'' and member of the coming phalanx" of politicians and this would have been enough to insure him a | hearty reception in any circle of ambitious 1 Republicans Now, in this cafe there were l bref1ess barfisers, feeless doctors, advent l urers, journalists all the men, in short, who l form the fringe of the Radical Party every | where Marlus Bougeard had at least this | point of superiority over them all--that he | had already made himself a 'name," thing 1 which they were in vain trying to do in their l respective walks. '' .si- f-'s '" |
 So champagne was uncorked in his honor, and when the leaning glasses had gone round | loud cry was raised for the Communist to | climb on table and makea speech. Elated by the.w wine he had drunk, Marius complied, and shrieked: ''Citizens, this is the proudest day of my life. I thank you for having done justice to my Republican sentiments, and for l having understood that persecution could not | quench them. am as warm a supporter of | the Red flag now as ever was and 1 trust | that the day moy not be far distant when we ! Communists shall have our re0dnche for all we | suffered in New Caledonia ?" ..srF l
 He went on rambling for quarter of an l hour longer in the above style-this man who | a few weeks previously had dragged himself | at the feet of the Governor of New Caledonia | screaming that if mercy were shown him he l would thenceforth live 8 loyal, law abiding l life He said such wild things that Pascal