Litchfield enquirer., 1880-06-10

full of steam as kettle-when an unforeseen incident occurred. A telegraph boy suddenly appeared on the stage, and handed Pascal a message. Amid general silence the latter broke the envelope. and cried: "Victory, my friends-victory The Government has yield ed Just listen to this l.: '1He Minister Of the ge1rd as included ie the amnesty of teoo huaa dred conoicts achtch the Presidest of the Re pubic signed to dGy'"
 Bravo! ViUe la .Repu5lique!" Z" shouted most of the audience, Carried away by this un- expected news.
 Il congratulate this meeting upon the mor- al effect Of their demonstration" sang out Pas cal, quite excited. | ''No, no, it is all your deing l" chorused the audience. "Vace LeddaGr! Hurrah for the friend of the down-trodden! Hurrah for the | Commune!"
 Amid extraordinary commotion the meeting broke up and Pascal hurried round to meet l Rosalle as she was coming out of the theatre and to recieve her felcitatious glance from her brimming eyes and squeeze from her l tiny hand rewarded him amply.
 You spoke noby, NJ. Ledoux," said she and now, when will this poor young man be home ?"
 ''Oh, in about six weeks or two months, I suppose, -... ...' l Mot till then ?-not till six weeks? Oh, what cruel time it will be to wait! ''Rut why are you so anxious to see the man? ?" asked Ledoux, rather astonished.
 ''Oh was only thinking of his poor moth- CT v answered Rosalie faltering.
 But she blushed deeply as she said this, and honest Pascal Ledoux could not help thinking her very philanthroplcaI young lady; in | deed, all the more 80 when, on the next day, she timidy slipped hundred-fra note into his hand, and begged him to accept it for the subscription that was being raised to furnish ! the ex-Communist with little purse of money on his way home.
 It has been said that old M Benot, the rab- | bit skin seller, was meek man, but this did not make him insensible to the personal glory. lie was much f1attered by the lauditory terms in which Pascal Ledoux had spoken of his nephew, Marus Bougeard, and bis heart warmed toward the castaway, whom he had never till then befriended in any way. The Notary Grugy, his other heir heard this, and took alarm. He began collecting proofs of Marus's past iniquities- debts he had con- tracted and left unpaid, the many pranks and follies he had committed &c.,, and he proceed ed to send anonymous letters daily to old M. Benot, warning him of what graceless scamp his nephew was Old Benot did not altogether credit these communications, but they ended by making him uncomfortable. He went one morning and sought the Notary l Marsault, whom he found closeted with Pas cal Ledoux, and he laid before them the heap of papers he had received.
 Those are from Grugy!" exclaimed Mar saut at once. 'He has disguised his hand; but know it all the same" -..o.-..
 ''lt is very base of him to traduce Marius iu this way" grumbled old Benot; 'sbut I used to think Grugy such truthful man. Are you sure there is no warranty for these accusations of his?" 1.'
 ''Why, would you believe an envious rogue who is simply afraid that you will disinherit him !! Ii were ten years younger l would go and tweak Grugy by the nose, and force him to retract these unmanly accusations against my protege, or else l would oblige him to come out and fight me-"
 'I will take this course," ejaculated Pascal Ledoux, stoutly. After all I have said in Marius's favor, consider the poor fellow to be In some sense unuer my protection until he comes back to France and can take care of himself. I'll go and see Grugy this minute"
 "Don't be too rash ]" exclaimed M. Mar sault though he was delighted to see Pascal act with such spirit, because he saw what a good effect 1t produced on old Benot's mind Pascal Ledoux was about thirty years old l and the Notary Grugy was forty, so that there was no such disproportion between their ages as made it impossible they should meet in duel. Grugy, though no lion, was the first to | propose mortal combat, for he was exas- perated to think that old Benot's fortune was | slipping out of his reach, and he accused Le- l doux of being chief author of his troubles. Ledoux, on paying his visit, had expected an encounter timid, conscience -stricked person, | whom he could browbeat; he found defiant churi, who snarled like bulldog ''Yes, 1 did send those anonymous letters, parked he; ''what ot it? If you feel offended, send me your two seconds, and we'll fight till one of us fall"
 "All right" said Ledoux; ''I'll take you at your word. You and others must be taught | that the man who insults Marius Bougeard puts deadly affront on me"
 If that's the case, you had better pay your friends debts; that will be first step toward Whltewashng his reputation Good morning now. and send me your seconds as soon as you like"
 It was arranged by and by that the two champions should meet at eight o'clock the next morning, with pistols. In the meantime Ledoux retectet that Marius Bougeard's debts ought certainly to be paid, and he managed to get list of them from the exile's mother. That old lady, who kept lace-shop professed herself to be unable to pay j; but. as the bills scarcely amounted to three thousand francs in all, the good natured Pascal devoted this after noon to going about the town and settling them. "Marius can repay me by and by, when he comes into Benot's fortune," unused he; the main point for the present is that his name shall be freed from stain
 In accOrdaiice with this object, Pascal met the Notary Grugy at the appointed hour next day, and the two exchanged shots Pascaps bullet lodged in the notarys collar-bo and smashed 1t; but Grugy's bullet, wbisking past Pascal s face, which was half turned, carried away partof his nose ii The gallant lawyer was dlsfgured-not igremedlably, but in such wise at least that the full beautyof his nasal organ could never more be restored. He had prescience of this as he left the battle field but he consoled himself by reflecting that the fair sex never look unkindly on the sears ob- taincd in doughty combat. Rosalie had. often told him, with sigh, that she wished the days of sword wearing would come back, and that gallants would fight ottener for their lady, lOves
 Nevertheless. Pascal Ledoux went home to he'd. and did not think it prudent to leave his 1 house until his nose should have been healed, so far as was feasible, in order to be in a pre- sentable condition Before this consumma- tlon w;'s attained, twenty days had elapsec and the hero for whomaPascal had bfed-Ma- rius Bougeard- had at last returded to Viue- Aubry. Etl tt.s "- s1V. aHl5--.. ii rE
 Pascal was the first to hear of his sudden arrival. He was seated at his. bedroom win dow, in the twilight of an Autumn evening, ruefully examining his deformed nose in mirror, and wondering whether the missing quarter-inclr oft could be artfully supplied, when his servant abruptly threw open the l announced in hoto IsNT Marius Bougeard ''- A1 ? A nasty looking little man-unwashed, -un- shaved, unkempt and smelling of spirits shambled into the room. His clothes were greasy and almost in rags; his linen was foul | and had never been starched; the fellow look | ed so utterly mean and hdsous altogether, that Pascal, who had imagined the Commun- l