The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-21
Nv.

Nv.
Pascal was the first to hear of his sud-
den arrival. He was seated at his bed
room window, in the twilight OF an au-
tumn evening, ruefully examining his
deformed nose in a mirror, and wonder
ing whether the missing gu rter inch Of
it could be arti6cially supplied, when
his servant abruptly threw open the door
and announced in bated breath:
IN. Marius Bougeard."
A nasty-looking little eman-unwashed,
unshaved, 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 looked So utterly
mean and hideous altogether, that Pas
cal, who had imagined the ex-Commun-
ist to be an Adonis, remained staring at
him with his mouth wide open, unable
to articulate.
"What! are you Marius Bougeardf' he
inquired at last.
tYes, sir; Pm the man." whined the
returned convict.
"Are YOU sure that you are the one we
were expecting? Perhaps there were
two Bougeards in new Caledoniaw
"No, sir; Pm the only one-the ma
tive Of ville-Aubry; the patriot whose
release was obtained by your kindly in
tercession." .......-
"Ah, we'll, come to my arms, then"
cried the good-hearted Ledoux, who be-
gan to feel compassion for the sorry
plight of the exile. "Allow me to en-
brace you fraternally. Therel My poor
fellow, how much you must have suf-
fered! Sit down and tell me all about
it; and first, how comes it that you ar
rive in this sudden way? We had in
tended to give you a grand reception. l
was going to make you speech of well
come" .. @ .
II should like some refreshment be-
fore speaking" faltered Bougeard, "for
I have scarcely eaten since yesterday.
The Government has behaved yilely to
me-"
The poor fellow looked, indeed, as if
he we're half famished. Pascal, whose
pitv for MIN increased every moment,
rang the bell and ordered that some din
ner should be fetched him from the res
tauraft. Meanwhile bottle of wine was
brought up, and the ex-Communist, hav-
ing tossed off few glasses, felt revived,
and was able to give an account of HIM
self. He explained that he had been
bundled on board convict ship, with
out knowing whether he had been par
doned or not; and that on his arrival at
Toulon he had been consigned 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 assigned him, for his
residence, and he was ordered to report
himself at the Police Office once week,
being warned that in case Of non-com-
pliance he would be packed off to New
Caledonia again without ceremony. By
the time Marius Bougeard had got to
this point of 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- packed off toNew
Caledonia again! never heard of such
thingp he cried, with that sniffie which
had become his habitual intonation since
the accident to his nose. "Why, the
Police have been imposing upon you.
| You are amnestied and can not be re-
quired to report yourself.
$50 thought, sir" grumb!ed Marius,
humbly. with his mouth full
"Ah, but we'll see you righted" con-
tinued Pascal, raising his voice. "We'll
rouse public opinion in your favor. You
| mustn't be baked of your public recep-
tion. Why, a banquet was going to be
given in your honor, with the Mayor
presiding"
"a banquet to meT calculated the ex-
convict, looking as if he thought his in.
terlocutor mad.
eyes; a banquet with speeches, and a
regular Republican demonstration. And
YOU shall have it, / promise. Meanwhile
you had better stop here tonight. Shall
| + send and tell your mother that you
have arriyedp
"N-o; / think ! had rather wait till
Tomorrow replied Marius, with some
alacrity.
eyes, perhaps you had better. To
morrow morning, when you have suffic
iently rested, we Il send you to the tail
Tor, halter, barber; and you'll look like
| different man. There, take another glas
Of wine, and then you'll have some cofie'
and cigar, won't you, before going h
bedw - =.
, Pascal Ledoux did the honors Of hi