The Osceola times., 1881-08-27
A JEALOUS HUSBAND.

II was the day before the shootin
season began. Hunters were poatinr
out of Paris in all directions. Two might
have been seen leisurely proceeding to
ward the Sceaux station, but coming
from different directions. Both wer'
accoutered elegantly, from jaunty ca
TO leathern gaiters each carried fine
gun and handsome game-bag; both re
marked with satisfaction the effect thel-
costumes produced upon the femal'
heart, in short, both were Parisians and
hunters. But one was old and the her
was young. Full sixty years must have
been needed to grizzle the locks Of the
one; but twentyethree had uassed over
the others head.
The elder reacned the station few
moments before the other. lie entered
an empty department., but scarcely had
he done so when the door opened and
the younger hunter entered. They stared
at each other moment, but it Was the
elder who spoke first.
"My dear Boisgibert, ! am delighted
to see you" he said, pressing the other,
hand with simulated warmth.
4,
the young man. "am enchanted. villa,
is it Thingummy says nowP Thrice
blessed is it"
perhaps you mean Thrice BILE ssed is
to meet friendly face" replied the
other.
"Yes, that's It. Who is the fellow
tina, said it nowf 1t was--it was"
"Lamarine" asked the other, dryly.
|
Strange couldn't think oft"
VERY" replied the other "but nov
hat | think of it, De Musset was the
mthor of The line"
Yes, so he was" replied the other
thors, you know"
Ouiwardly the old gentleman replied
with a grunt. lnwardly he said: "The
same as ever. What an ass the fellow
lsW
On the other hand, Boisgibert bit his
lip, and muttered: "Confound the old
fool as pedantic as ever"
These two gentlemen were just about
to make reasonably long journey to-
gether.
After lengthy silence, Prethibaut
began:
i Stt you dTc Ill
| ask where you are bound?"
"Yes; Pm going to Verrieres. Fine
shooting at that chateau"
"What! Has Vaugiron invited -"
Prethibaut interrupted, but suddenly
stopped.
down to Nerrieres and open the shooting
season with him. And you-where are
you going, Prethibaut?'
"To Verrieies."
"What-you also2 ?" Boispibert's tone
expressed astonishment,, but certainly
not pleasure.
'Oh, yes. For ten years I have open
ed the season there. 1t wouldn't do for
me to miss one"
GLOW fortunate we chance to meet y
said Boisgibert, in tone as destitute OF
emotion as is the creak of a door.
1T was indeed happy chance" re.
piled the other, with the infection of
man who bids his creditors TO come to.
morrow.
And while their lips distilled honeyed
words they were full of bitterness with
in. Pre,hibaut's reflections were some
thing like this:
How IN the fiend's name could Vau-
giron be o. idiotlc as to invite this be.
curled popinjav TO his house did not
think him SO stupid-so husband-like,
so to speak-as that. When man OF
SO marries girl of 10 he should not in
vite handsome young 1andies to spend
weeks at his house More particularly
should he not invite dandy who was
her slave all last winter, who was ALWAYS
waltzing with her, who always turned
her music for her when she played, who
always had an orchestra seat when she
WAS in her box. And yet Naugiron
stupid yet hospitable Vaugren-he
invites this fellow beneath his roof.
Wei. well !"
On the other hand, Boisgibert's brain
was no less busy. His reflections ran
something like this:
II wonder why that old blockhead
follows me so persistentlyP For the
past year he SCENE to have exercised a
sort of espionage on me. He seems to
have OWNED my secret, too. And vet
lac is not relative of Madame Naugifon.
Confound the old idiot! Some one told
me he was in Switzerland, and here
find him on the way TO Nerrieres."
The two men scowled ut each other,
and then smoothed their faces into ex-
pressionlessness, The train rolled on.
Boisgibert drew an immense cigar from
his case and lighted it. Then, as if he
lad but just thought of it:
"Oh, excuse me. believe tobacco is
disagreeable TO you"
mo, sir; by no means, sir; you are
dreaming, sir;' retorted Prethibaut; 81
smoke like chimney, sir" and lighting
larger cigar, he pulled deGantly.
At the expiration of ten minutes the
two gentlemen were 80 shrouded in
smoke that they could not see across the
compartment.
But all things have an end. The train
at last reached the expected station, and
there. was Vaugiron's carriage awaiting
them. A brisk drive of few minutes
across the country, and they were at Yer.
rieres.
As they descended in the courtyard,
Vaueiron advanced. He pressed Preth-
ibut warmly by the hand, greeted Bois-
gilbert with less warmth, and babe the
servant show the latter gentlemen TO his
room.
"As for you, my old friend" said he
to Prethibaut, ,"come into the garden,a and
let us seat ourselves over there in the
summer house. l have something !