The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-06-17

ram when the mist had now become
MY patience was quito gone when N
old servant finally appeared. Seeing
stranger standing AZ the door. 81.
stopped short, and demanded what
wanted
: mime. Felicia" answered. SILVER
ing.
/" You should say mademoiselle. N RI
piled the old woman. sharply; ~ ain
she; what does Monsieur wishp'
First. that you open this door
cried !; then that you furnish me thu
means 81 drying myself and To fore.
stall any objection. gave my name.
! supposed that on hearing NV name
the woman would make many excuses.
put. 70 my great establishment. she re-
garded me with q sort Of defiant hostil-
ity.
"Ah!it is Monsieur. the hcir.r said
She slowly; "then am going for the
notary"
POUNDS" interrupted I. Impatient
~. "let as first get under shelter: open
the door, Dame Felicia
Excuse me. ! have been given the
care OF the house. " replied she, firmly.
land must be assured Of my duty. Re-
main here, Monsieur; Master Boisseau
shall himself decide what l must 90. N
And without waiting for my answer
she turned and disappeared by mar
row lane. ! resumed my walk before
my house. At the end Of half an hour
Felicia rcappeared with 4 little man in
spectacles. who made himself known
as Master Boisseau. and 70 whom I re-
turned the letterhc had written ME and
gave the proofs Of my identity.
After examining these by the light or
lantern. he professcd himself satisfied
'hat was the person IN question and
ordered me To be admitted.
During all these formalities had not
ceased 70 strike my foot against the
threshold 81 the door, and under nv
breath TO inveigh against village no
tarics.
When. finally. the door was opened
! announced brisqneIy 70 Master l,ois-
seau that J would cal upon him the
following day and settle everything.
then turned abruptly into the dark hall
without inviting him to follow me.
The old servant soon appeared with
her lantern and conducted me to an Old
saloon furnished with four rusI,-bottom-
ed chairs. 4 fautcuil. covered with
coarse cotton goods. and having no
ornaments but two plaster casts OF Paul
and Virginia placed on the mantel-piece
between four green apples.
The difficulty | had had in making
myself known, added to the fatigue 81
the journey and the exposure to the /
rain, had made me ill-humored: did |
not try to concealmy feeling; brusque-
~ ordered the servant TO make fire |
anu prepare supper for me while OK
plored the rest Of the house.
Then. taxing an old silver candle I
stick which was fitted with small 4
ornamcnted candle in a paper socket. | I
proceeded 10 examine the habtasion Of \
nv deceased cousin. Everything core.
sponded 70 the saloon in which | had \
been received. The faded hangings
were patched here and there with new \
cr pieces. which gave them dilapi-
dated appearance The furniture. Of /
antique form and coarse workmanship.
adorned but little the Unfinished apart
ments; care. elegance. convenience. cv-
erything was wanting in this old house.
l found there an eloquent witness of
the ignorance Of our fathers. and a new
proof that good sense and good taste
really began with our generation.
The bedroom. above all, was curious.
The bed. in the form d colin. was in
closed by four green serge curtains full
Of holes. Upon table TO which the
drawer was wanting. were placed
broken water pitcher and bowl or dif-
lerent color; finally. along the wall
hung some old family portraits. that
would have caused nervous outcries 10
4 connoisseur. Painted ut different
periods they represented pcrsonsges or
different professions; among them re-
marked an ecclesiastic. merchant, an !
,licer. and finally large man. halt cit J
zen. half rustic. whom Dame Felicia
declared 70 be her late master.
The honest housekeeper had come TO
announce that supper was on the table.
followed her 10 the saloon. The ap-
continents OF the table struck me IN
pleasantly. The linen taken from the
,ress % do me honor was streaked with !
elbow lines; the earshen plates were ,
Idorned with greasy arabics; the glass
3. without bottoms. rcSembled the
lower cups Of our youth; lastly. two /.
'roken boxes afforded the guest. for s,
eas0ning. salt and pepper.
Dame Felicia served me with thin
CUP in which butter b "a been forgot !.
en-. and tile remains OF an old fowl %
rhich her maternal solicitude had left :
My the skin and bones. She declared I
hat this was the usual fare OF her late !
Master; but, for hospitality's sake. she !.
dded for me three potatoes that were :