The National tribune., 1881-08-27

And after having spent all his money, was it
not enough to set against the whole human
race to everything going to the deuce, all
through the stupidity of an old mad woman or
of Zacharias Piper!
Well, people are always the same, and fools
will ever have the best of it.
At last Shrove Tuesday arrived the sky
heavy with snow. One looked right and left
up and down; comet was to be seen. The
girls all seemed bewildered. Off ran the young
fellows to the houses Of their cousins, aunts and
godmOthers, saying, "YOu see now that old
Mother Finck is mad, and that there's no sense
whatever in her notions about the comet. Do
comets ever come in the winter? Do they not
always choose the vintage time? Well, WELL
YOU must now decide; there's still time, etc, etc
The soldiers on their side went into the
Kitchens and talked to the maid-servants, eX
hOrting them and loading them with reproaches
Many people began to pluck up courage. The
old men and women went arm i'll arm to see the
decorations of the great hall of the mayOralty;
the stars made of sabres, and the little tricOored
flags between the windows. excited universal ad-
miration. Then peoples minds began to change;
they remembered that it was Shrove Tuesday.
Suddenly all the young ladies made haste to get
their smart petticoats out of their cupboards, and
to WAX their shoes.
By ten o'clock the great hall of the mayoralty
was full Of people; we had carried the day; there
was not single girl in HunebOurg who did not
answer to the call. The clarOnets, the trOmbOneS,
the biz drums, responded; the lights sparkled in
the windows, the country dances went merrly, the
walters whirled round madly; the young men
IL, inn Sfltn of, anIn he
old grandmothers seated against the walls were
laughing heartily. At the retreShment counters
people were showing each other about; the drinks
could not be served quick enough, and father
Zimmerman. who had a contract for the supply,
might boast of eathering his nest well that ght.
Those who had taken rather too much began
to stumble down the staircase. The snow kept
constantly falling Uncle Tobias had given me
the house-key, SO that | might go home when |
liked. Till two o'clock | did not miss a single
waltz, but by that time | had had enough; the
refreshments We're getting into my head | went
out. Directly | was in the street | felt better,
and 50 began to deliberate whether | should 90
back again or 90 home and 90 to bed. ! should
have liked TO 90 on dancing, but, on the other
hand, was sleepy.
At last ! decided to 90 home, and started on
my way for the street Saint Sylvester, cropping
along the wall, and reasoning with myself as |
went. l had walked on in this way toT about ten
minutes, and was just going to turn the corner
by the fountain, when, happening by chance to
look up saw behind the trees moon as red as
a hot coal, coming right at me through the skies.
1t was still millions of miles away, but it was
moving so fast that it would be over us in
quarter of an hour This sight almost knocked
me down: / felt my hair already shrivelng up
and | said to myself" 1t is the comet. Zacha-
rias Piper was right" And, without knowing
what | was doing, ran to the mayoralty climbed
up the stairs upsetting those who coming
down, and cried out, i'll terrified voice" The
comet! the comet"
The dance was at its merriest the big drum
laundering; the young fellows stamp
ing their feet: the girls looked as red pOppies
but when my voice was heard in the room crying
"The comet! the comet" there was profound
silence, and every one turned pale.
Sergeant Duchene, darting to the door, seized
hold of me, put his hand over my mouth and
said: Are you mad? Hold your tongue, will
yOu?"
But l, staggering backwards, kept repeating
III d loHt ol tlcSpdiI LIE COHltI. tHt
Immediately laundering of footsteps was to
be heard down the staircase: every one rushed
out, the women grOanng; indeed uproar was
fearful. In few minutes the room was quite
empty. Duchene left me, and being exhausted,
| leant on a windowsill and watched the people
running up the street; then | went off too mad
with despair.
As l passed the refreshment counter | saw the
sutler, Catherine Lagoutte, and Corporal Bouquet
emptying bowl ofpunch. ."Short life and merry
ending!" they were saying.
On the steps outside a number of people were
seated, and were confessng to each other One
said, Il have been uSurer!" another. Il have
used false weights" another, " | have cheated at
cards." They were all talking together and from
time to time they interrupted themselves to cry
out for mercy. Among them | recognized the old
baker, Fevre, and mother Lauritz: they were
striking their breasts, and looking perfectly mis-
erable
But | did not pay much attention to all these
things, for / had sins enough of my own to think
Of
| soon caught up with those who were running
to the fountain There it was terrible indeed to
hear the groanings. Every one saw Immediately
that it was really comet; and as for me, |
thought that it had already doubled in size. 1t
seemed to be darting out lightning and the pro-
found blackness of the night made it appear as