Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-01-03

Still Pere Perrault RENAME silent, looking
stupidity at the learned man with the rounc
spectacles and the flowing beard. Present.,
he muttered: "Eh, say that again. Three
thousand francs-three thousand francs" but
the words did not seem to bring any meaning
to his mind. eyes, there 1t is, quite in form
l never read better written letter, and hay,
experience said the Ecrivain.
"But yes-yes, 10 Is clear as the day. shouted
Mere Perrault In her husbands ear, tapping
the palm of her left hand with her closed right
fist. "Your brother, the miser, who would moi
lend you a few miserable francs when you were
without sou, is dead-yes, dead, and has left
you three thousand francs, you understand
three thousand francs; and to emphasize this
information Mere Perrault hit her left palm
with succession OF little knocks from hei
right.
The energetic clearness OF his wife did not
communicate itself to Pere Perrault. Eyes
yes, three thousand francs" he repeated In
the same mechanical fashion without re-
sponsive CLEAN in his eyes. He remained
standing where he was, asking no question
making no movement; but fox-like 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 Ecrivain public to take charge of the
sum and place 1t In the Caisse d'Epargne. 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 feverish
movement on the part of Pere Perrault re-
vealed that through his dulled senses an APP
probation OF his good fortune had entered.
The Ecrivain public, on returning the letter,
let the string that bound the registered en-
velope fall on the floor. With trembling haste
the chiffonier ducked under the table, aud
with shaking fingers clutched it, as If 1t, toe
were precious.
Mere Perrault did not pause to tell the news
to the eager loiterers outside, but with firm
hold OF her husband made her way to the pres
byters. Monsieur lie Cure was at the door,
just going out, but he turned back and
listened with interest to the old woman's
story. His efforts to minister to the spiritual
needs of the Mouffetardians were not appreci-
ated by this Bohemian section of his flock but
he was a man OF indulgent turn of mind
guilelessly eager to do good without claiming
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 to be gone through by this wde-awake
woman and stupidlooking man which it was
probable they would blunder over alone. He
therefore once more put on his shovel hat and
babe them come with him to the Mayoralty OF
the ACCOMPLISHMENT. The counsels the priest
during the walk gave to the old people as TO
the placing OF their money were addressed to
the wife, for the husband seemed too dazed TO
understand as he stalked along dumbly clutch
ing the letter against his chest. At the Marie
the authorities soon confined their questions
to Mere Perrault, apparently judging the old
man to be little removed from an idiot, who
could do nothing but feebly reiterate the
questions put to him. Still, that the chiflonier
was not ignorant OF the change that had come
In his fortune was again manifested by his
obstinate refusal to give up into the keeping
of the civil authorities, in return for formal
nj ha lat hn han va1 hat
morning. IL required, to induce him to part
with the precious document, the fluent and
vivid representations of his wife that it was
guarded by the Church in the person of Mon
sier lie Cure, by the law in that OF the officials
surrounded by books and rolls of paper, and
by the army in the sentines posted at the door
OF the Marie.
The news OF the legacy told to some of the
loiterers by the Ecrivain public had preceded
the old couple on their return to the Rue
Moutfetard. The quarter was on the tiptoc OF
excitement. A sudden regard for Pere Per.
rault had developed itself In the community.
Mere Pcrrault noted how the old man was
treated with arespect he had never been treat
cd with before. The garyotte of Pere Michael
was the resort of chiffoniers on holiday occa-
sions. Thither Pcre Perrault won't at the in
vitation of his friends to talk over the big
question how to spend 1900 francs. 1t was
felt due to the community to consider the
erly discussed only before table on which
stood brandy and petit win bleu. The Mouffe-
tardians are silent race for one OF Gallo orr
gin, but they can come out volubly on occa-
lions with speech literally strewn with
sapristis and other expletives, to which the
rumble OF RS gives distant semblance TO
the mutter Of artillery.
The health OF Pere Perrault was drunk with
reclamation. Pere Perrault acknowled ging
the honor by drinking to it himself. 1t was
repeated with emphasis that the chiffonier was
an honor to the community. lie deserved his
luck. And IL was remembered how on two
occasions-once when he found a silver tea
spoon In dustheap, and another time silver
fork-he had with the proceeds OF their sale
treated his friends 1t was hoped that on this
occasion OF his good fortune he would not he
found tagging behind for, said Pere Blot, the
orator Of the quarter, 1.-The word fraternity
is q falsehood when the good luck of one
Of its members is not the good luck OF
ALL" Mere Perrault, whose late lynx-eyed
vigilance had now assumed the form of eau
ton, gave but a taciturn encouragement TO
the company's hope OF a treat. GOOD money
must not be wasted in liquor she remarked.
Pere Perrault, however, in the surrounding
atmosphere of cordially, was showing symp,
toms OF awaking out of his somnambullstic
condition; he nodded aud gave his word that
when he touched his legacy he would spend a
whole louis dor In treating his mates.
After this assurance the company took up
the question in hand with gusto. The Mouffo-
tardians are not politicians. IL is difficult
to kindle the imagination Of men who have no
experience Of LIES chances but those pre-
scented by rubbish heaps. Changes in the
forms of society's government do not affect
those who do not understand the first meaning
of aspiration, and are unable to fancy what
enlarged life means.
Still, there were In the quarter some spirits
stepped In the direst colors Of republicanism,
and one of them vowed with many muttered
calculations that had he 5000 francs he would
devote every sou Of them toward Kidding the
country of despotism.
The Mouffetardians are a reckless, lawless
Bohemian set, but they are not of a spoil-sport
disposition, and the suggestion was fiercely
overruled and silenccd as one likely to mar the
geniality 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-
joying existence and spending 3 900 francs.
Pere Blot, who had larger views, spoke up,
and demonstrated that chiffonier who would
deserve well Of the community should do
something for his fellows; he held, therefore,
that Pere Perrault ought TO set up as maitre
chiffonier, buying up from his old mates, and
giving better prices for their pickings A
round OF applause greeted this proposition.
Pere Perrault listened to the knocking of
glasses about him. A feverish brightness
CLEANED In his eyes, but he remained vaguely
monosyllabic. "That would be good he did
not say no." A chiffonier of feebler metal
than his fellows, who had been known to
wander TO the Notifications and bring home
limp nosegays Of wild flowers, admitted that
had he 8, 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. or a Sunday Pere Perraut might ask
his friends to come In aud set In the shade and
breathe the air.
Pere Perrault pulled away at his pipe and
gave that mysterious, soft chuckle that neither
agreed nor disagreed; but Mere Perrault, who
rather liked the last suggestion, noticed that
the glow deepened In his pale cheek as he
hearkened to IL, yet he seemed thinking of
something else. There was queer look In his
eyes, as IL he were seeing there before him
what no one else saw. The idea struck her
that her old man had notion 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 unlovely 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 n pattern of rpsnect ability To