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

| Pere Perrauit remained without finding a
word to say, looking drowsiis az the speaker.
| ranlt catebine her breath. ''Who ever bear,l
/ the lfke-three Thousand francsiH
at is a pretty sum. II is not often have
to read such news to my customers, p" said the
Ecriyain.
SttlI Pere Perrault remained silent, looking
/ stupidity at the learned man with the round
spectacles and the flowing beard Presently
he muttered: "Eh, say that again. Three
| thousand francs-three thousand francs but
| the words did not seem 10 bring any meanine .
| to his mind Eyes there Il is, quite in form,
| never read better written letter, and have
experience" said the Ecrivan
"But yes-yes, il is clear as the day. shouted
Mere PerrauIt In her husbands ear, tappin .
the palm of her left hand Win her closed right
fist your brother the miser, who would not
lend you few miserable francs whenyou were
without sou, is dead-yes, dead, aud has left
you three thousand francs, you understand
three thousand francs and TO emphasize this
information Mere Perrault bit her left palm
with succession OF little knocks from her
right.
The energetic clearness Of his wife did not
communicate itself to Pere Perrault Yes
yes, three thousand franes,n he repeated in
TIE same mechanical fashion without q re-
sponsiye. CLEAN in his eyes lie remained
Standing where he was asking no question
making no movement; but atox-lii1e keenness
had suddenly developed itself in Mere Per-
rault. The money must not be sent to the
house; she had grown fearful of thieves, she
had become suspicious, refusing the services
OF the Ecriyain public to take charge of the
sum and place Ii in the Caisse d Dargne. She
all at once recognized the virtue OF spiritual
authority, and Selling her husband by the tail
OF his blouse, announced her intention of
going to see Monsieur lie Cure. A feyerish
movement on the par of Pere Perrauit re
yealed that through his dullei senses an ap-
probation OF his COOL fortune had entered.
The Ecrivain public, on returning the letter,
let the string that boun the registered n
yelope fall on the door With trembling haste
the chiitonier dueked under the table, and
with shaking fingers eiatched il, rs if 1t, too
were precious.
Mere Perrault did not PAUSE % tel Me news
to the eager lOiterers outside, bat With hrm
hold OF her husband made her Yay 70 the ores
byters. Monsieur he Cure was at the door,
Just going out, but he turned bac< and
listened with interest 10 the oil womaa's
story. His ciorts u minister TO the spiritual
needs of the MOutfetardians were not ap lreei-
ated by this Bohemian section OF his flock, but
lie was man OF iudulgent turn OF mind,
guteiessly, eager TO do cool without claim ~
any tribute OF gratitude He now felt sure
that for the speedy and more secure payment
OF the legacy there would be certain fOrmali
ties. 10 be gon. through hy this w,de-twahSe
WOMAN aud stupid 10 king man which il was
probable they would blunder over alone. He
therefore once more put on his shovel hat and
babe them come with him TO the MaToralty OF
the Arrondtssement- The eounsels the priest
during the walk gave 10 the old people as to
the placing otthelT money were addressed TO
the wife, for thehasbaud seemed too dazstl 70
understand as he stalked alOn.r dumbly clutch
ing the letter against his chest Al the Marie
: he authorities soon confined their questions
to Mere Perrault, apparently Judging the old
man.fo be altsle removed from an IDIOT, who
could do nothing but feehlv reiterate the
questions put to him. Still, that the chiffonier
was not ignorant OF the chan c that had come
in his Tor une was again manifested b. his
obstinate refusal to give mp into the Keeping
OF the civil authorities, in return for formal
receipt thereof, the lie ter he had received that
II required, 10 induce him 10 part
with the precious document, the fluent and
vivid representations OF his wife shat il was
guarded by the Church in TIA perscn OF M0a-
sier lie Cure, by the law in that Of tie officials
surrounded by books aud rolls OF paper, AMI
by the army in the sentineis posted at the door
OF the Marie.
The news of the legacy told to some of the
loiterers oy the Eer.vaiit public had preceded
the old couple on their return to the Rue
Moulfetard. The quarter was on the tiptoe OF
e Scitement- A sudden regard for Pere Per
rault had developed itself in the community.
Mere PerrauIt noted how the oil man WAS
treated with arespect h9 ia lrese besn tire 1t
ed with before. The garg0;ie of Pere Michael
was the resort OF chiffoalers on holiday occl-
sions. Thither Pere Perrault went at the in
vitatiOn of his friends t. talk over the big
question how TO spend 5000 francs. 1t was
felt due to the community TO consider the
question as one o. pablo Interest, 70 be prop
erly discussed only before table on which
stood brandy and pstit vim bleu. The HoufTe-
tardians are sllelt race for one OF Galiic ORR
gin, but they can come out volubly on occl
tions with speech literally ssrewn witt
Sdpristls and other cxpietiycs, to which the
rumble Of RS gives distant sem5lance to
the mutter of artillery.
The health of Pere Perrault was drunk with
accl mltion. Pere Pcrrault acknowledging
the honor by drinking to il himself IL was
with emphasis that the chiffonier was
an honor to the community. He deserved his
luck And il was remembered how on two
occasi ,ns-once when he found silver tea
spoon in a dus.heap. and al Their time a silver
fork-he had with the proceeds of their sale
treated his friends. II was hopsd that on this
occasion of his good fortune he would not b.
found tagging behind; for, said Pere Blot, tn.
orator OF the quarter - The word fraternity
is falschood when the COOL luck OF on.
of its members IS not the good luck OF
all - Mere ferrault, whose late lynx eyel
had now assumed the form of eau
ton, gave but taciturn encouragement u
the company's hope OF treat Good money
must not be wasted in liquor" she remarked
Pere Perrault, however in the surroundinS
atmosphere OF cOrdiality, showing sym,
condition; he nodded and gave Ills word tina
when he touched his legacy he would spend 4
whole louis dor in reating his mates.
Al er this assurance the company took ~
tardians are not politicians Il is difficult
to kfndle the Imagination OF men who have No
experience of LIES chances bur those pre-
sented by rubbish heaps. Changes In tn
forms OF socety's government do not affect
those who do not understand the first meanin ?
OF aspiration, AMI are unable to fancy what
enlarged life means.
Still. there were in the quarter some spirits
stepped IN the direst eOlors OF r.publicansm,
aud one of them vowed with many mutterc,i
calculations that had he !, 1000 francs he woul |
devote everg sou of them toward Kidding the
country of despotism. z-F
The Moudetar1ians are reckless lawiess
Bohemian set, bu they arehOt of sppil-sport
disposition, and the suggestion was feycely
overruled and silenced asoae likely to mar the
genielity OF the meeting To the majority
present the prospect of doing nothing more
but smoking and imbibing any amount of eau
de vie appeared the only rational way of en-
Toying existence and spending 3 00)- francs.
,Pere Blot, who had larger views spoke up.
and demonstrated that achfffonier who would
deserve we'll OF the compunity should do
something Tor his fellows; he held. there ore,
that Pere PeTrault ought to set up as a maftre
chiffonier, buying up from his old mates an !
giving be ter prices for their picEings A
round Of applause greeted this proposition.
Pere fPerrault listened TO the Knocking OF
glasses about him. feverish brightness
CLEANED in his eyes, but he remained vaguely
RsThat would be good; he did
not say no." AZ chiTonier OF feebler metal
llIdtt HIS 4cisONSs VINO u1U been known TO
wander 10 the Notifications aud bring home
limp nosegays of Wild howers, admitted that
had he !, 900 francs he would have no more to do
with the concern; he would buy little house
outside the barriere, with a strip of garden to
1t, in which he would plant cabbages and
beans. Ola sunday Pere Perrault might ask
his friends TO come in aud set Ia the shade and
breathe the airs ~ 800
Pere Perraulr pulled away at his pipe. and
gave that mysterious, soft chueklethat neither
agreed nor disagreed; but Mere Perrault, who
rather liked the last suggestion, noticed hat
the glow deepened In his pale cheek as he
hearkened to it, vet he seemed thinking of
something else. There was queer look in his
eyes, asif he were seeing there before him
what no one else saw. The idea struck her
that her old man had anotion of his.own he
was holding close
That evening the old couple sat over the
stove with Medor, their dog, between them.
Many rude and uni ,vely details Uttered the
room, for Pere Perrault did not, as did the
more indolent of his tribe, dispose of his pick
ings from the rubbish heaps en- bloc, but carry
ing these home, sorted and disposed of them
in detail. Compared to some OF his mates,
Perrault was a pattern of respectability. He
was one of the few Mouffetarlians whose union
with one of the other seX was not n dubiOus