The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-09-15

To more chssrvaDt eyes than those of the
Mouffetardians it would have beer apparel.
that Mere Perrault's rough health was break
ing. Her energetic gesticulatious grew Ian
guild. The animation of her wrinkled conn
tenance faded 1t became difficult for her 10
get through her task She had a raclxiug
cough; but ailments she and all her tribe con-
sidered one OF the accessories OF winter: to
strive against them would show fine ieno-
rance of the laws of nature; and SO she went
regularly on with her work. Spring came the
crocuses were beginning to bloom on the
grave, and still she languished. One night,
when the hour arrived for their setting forth.
Pere Perrault strapped on his hottie. He had
acquired the punctuality OF man whose life
with the eXacttude of a pendulum still
Mere Perrault remained crouchng over the
fire. "Eh, old woman, one must hurry il Is
hour OF work, remarked Pere Perrault, brisxly.
lido not think. my man, / can doany work
tonight she said
Fere Perrault remained a moment anding
stock still, rigid with amazement. Then he
walked rapidly over to her. at is your side
that is hurting you, eh ~ he asked has. ilv
bending upon her glance of indistinct an
prehenson.
~ think my call has come" she replied
gently.
Pere Perrault looked at her dumbfounded
theu little spasm contracted his features
sit is not true he said, roughly; ''yoa are
bit tired-you want to rest II am strong
/ can do the work of two.n
She raised her withered hand and put IL intD
his. Non ADli, is will occupy the pretty
grave first she said with smile.
BlT Tor the first time the thought of the
tomb brought no answering CLEAN to her hus-
bands countenance. He held her hand, simply
gazing down into her sunken features Ihe
eyes OF the old couple met. Perhaps he recor-
nized In hers the message it requires no learn
ing to read. Pere Perrault's pale face grew a
tinge paler. He let her hand fall, and repeat
ing, IL am strong, | can do the work Of
two, he made his WAY out, aud set oil alone
on his midnight tramp.
The next morning Mere Perrault could not
get up, and after few days il became eviden
that the end was not far of. The stout-hear ed
old woman had not given in until she hsd
walked the last step of the rough path II X
been given her TO tread. Mousieur le Cure,
who had kept up friendly relations with her
and Pere Perrault sine, the day Of the consul
tation concerning the legacy, and who had
made some progress in the estima ion OF the
chifoniers, one day warned the old man the
time had come for the parting. That night
Pere Pc rrault did not go on his rounds Some
of his comrades arranged 10 take an extra
turn 70 supp his plTce. Through her illness
the diving woman yainly tried to revive her
husbands spirits by leading his thoughts 70
cluster round that beautiful grave. She had
flashes of her old merrimeut. She essayed
little jokes. 1t wouli not be like an empty
house now. He would be proud 70 point to
it and say; at is my wife who lies there
But these contemplatioas, once 50 anifnating,
had apparently, at this Supreme crisis, lost
tleiF mower TO comfort .EGTe ferFlliL. IL
seemed rather as il the Joy and pride that had
kindled his life had quiekened there new
pOwerot suffering
Toward midnight Mere Perrault, who had
lain stu long time, suddenly opened her,
eyes and beekOned to him. He stooped over
her. "That will be qettn Every one viii
know a. we're husband aud wife," she said.
with little laugh.
',Well, ana II tell you, ne replied, roughly
breaking The silence in which he had taksa
refuge-"I find that when two people has
worked together aud walked together like
you and me ami had their good and bad lack
together for years and years. tell you as
they should die together"
bah! we'h soon rest tosether,- the old
woman said, cheeriIy. and so quietly passed
away.
The rude and uncouth attempts of the Mouf-
fetardiaus TO console their mate after the fash
ion of~Mere Perrault failed TO lift the dssolate-
ness his face and manner. Where two
had lived together two should die together"
he repeated truculently, addressing nobody in
particular, but as il the assertion OF a distinct
sentiment was relief TO him in his contnsesl
misery. The arrangements for the funeral had
been SO fully settled beforehand that il needed
no supervision for the details to be carried out
There was a mourning coach Tor MOnsieuf lie
Cure. Pere Perrault had always contemplated
walking, should it fall 10 his lot TO be chief
mOurner As he found himself clad in black,
following barehealei Just behiad the sable
car, with 1 ; silver ornaments, drawn By two
plumed horses, and preceded by officials carry
ing silver sticks, wait OF the OLD comfort and
OF the old pride stole into his heart. The douf-
fetardians filed behind. To those trudgers Oh
foot il was triumphal procession. An extra
sum had been paid to secure a long march
round by the Boulevards. 1t was a stinshiny
afternoon, all the world was out of doors, and
men and women turned to look at the strange
sight OF that fine hearse, and the long file OF
pat ched aud tattered folk. With the gentle
respect paid to the dead in Catholic lands, men
barred their heads and women crossed them
selves Ar all these tokens of regard Bpre
Perraults heart swelled within him; mis- bent
frame diated. 'tAh, she is iuclSg-the Old
woman-she is lucky he kept saying to him
self.
An unlooked-for incident brought to a eli
max the triumph of the rag ed pedestrians.
The EmperOr's carriage, with four hirses
mounted by positions met the cortege and
fell aside to let t. pass. The Emperor removed
his hat, the little Prince did he same, tue
Empress crossed herself Then the glory OF
the situation almost overcome Pere Pesrapit.
He ielr suifocated. Something seemed TO
clutch him by the throat lie could have
sobbed, but he would not FOR the world hive
wept at this the grand redeeming mo.nent of
his lie. TO relieve the Struggling that chokcd
him he repeated for the huudredth time in au
uuresonant aud iabored at erance. All, sheis
lucSy-the old wOmanZshe Is lucky" When
the magnificent dream was over, and Mere
Perrault was laid in the earth, the grave re-
flied and he flowers replanted that jealous
hands had removed the day before, Pere Per
rault ani his friends supped n Pere hichefs.
IL was frugal feast, but the talk was glowing.
The company enumerated one by one the
glories of that day Every incident of the
pageant was dwelt upon. Pere Perrault alone
was silent. Still, he was seeing wildly there
before him, printed on the dark, each detail of
that cyentful journey TO the Genet erS; the
beautiful car In front of him drawn by horses
covered WI h black drapery, the silver fringe
of which nearly swept the ground, the tributes
of respec- paid, the surprise of the crowd, the
imperial carriage drawn aside, the sovereign
doing homage; then the procession to the
cemetery, the priests and the e,tfB,ts De chOar.
i'm their white robes, when TO the tingling OF
he bells the voices swelled in prayer: aud the
coffin with the two e owns OF ioipiorte teS lad
upon it, Seeing all this SO plain, Pere Perfauit
could not join in the talk. but still, he woall
mutter with lit lie trembling of the lips,
" She is lucky-the old woman-sheis lucky
A year elapsed, and Mere Perraults head
stone stood alone amid the flowers tended by
her hu band and his mates. The appe france
of that brilliantly boss0Hiue esray., delic 4tcl
to the memory of chiffonier attracted tue
at ention of visitors to Pere Ia Chaise, and
Pere Perrault, who haunted the spot as a b rd
haunts it's nest, would hear the comments OF
the strangers. Returning, he would relate
them with animation 10 his friends OF the Rue
Mouffetard- They were walking about like
that-not seeing any that interested them
when, dpristit at sight of the old woman's
grave they stopped Ujte chifotierer they
said; 'impossibel ',D,e cbif3aieren and then
they remained staring with their mouths wide
by initiating the astounded attitude and ex-
preston of the visitors The story was re-
peated, and its closing pose gone through,
until all the quarter knew it aud had chuckled
over tin sympathetic pride. There could be
no question about it. The Moutfe ardians
felt they had gone up in the world
rs -
Perhaps, as time went on, the thought OF
the dead so continually present in his life be-
gan to affect Pere Perraults mind. He had
dreamy fancies, when he would apparently for
get his wife was not active and about. He
would NUT er and talk to himself Once or
twice, as he strapped ON his ho'te, he hal been
heard 10 call, Hurry, old woman! Hurryli
time for work" Owing to his confused state
of brain, one morning Pere Perrault, after
having sorted and disposed of his pickings.
went into Pere Michel's gargotte, and instead
OF drinking his soup the premises as had
now become his habit, carried home two DOR
.tions in covered Jug, in his old DAYS. II
was not until he had poured out the SOUP into
two cracked bowls that he suddenly Recognized
his mistake He sat down for a few blank
moments, then, without touching his meal