News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-06-26

wanted to.
"For four years more she poured into
his hands all the money she could get,
that he pocketed conscientiously in ex.
change for willing kisses. 1t was one
time thirty sous, once or twice two
francs, once twelve sous only (she wept
with pain and humiliation on account of
the smallness of the sum, but the year
had been bad), and the last time five
francs. a huge coin that made him laugh
contentedly.
"She had no thought but of him. He
awaited her return with a certain impa-
tience and ran to meet her as soon as he
saw her, which made the young girls
heart leap.
ssThen he disappeared. He lad been
sent to college. She found this out by
shrewd questioning. The9)ahe used in
finite diplomacy to chaassfso ti>e>r4.4.se osf
her parents SO that sbo could pass
through here at holiday tirle. She sue
ceeded, but only after q year spent in
stratagems she had thus been two
years without seeing him, and she
hardly recognized him, SO greatly had
he changed-he was so tall, so much i'm
proved, and so imposing in his jacket
with gilt buttons. He feigne5 not to see
her, and passed proudly by her. This
made her weep for two days, and FROM
that time she suffered constantly.
"Every year she returned, passed be-
fore him without daring to speak to
him, and he did not even deign to turn
his ewes toward her. She loved him
desperately. She said to me: He is
the only man have seen on this earth
1 know not if any others exist T
"Her parents died. She continued
their trade but she took two dogs IN
stead of one-two terrible dogs that no
one would have dared to brave.
zone day, on entering this village, in
which her heart had remained, she saw
young woman come ont of the Chou
quet shop on the arm of the man she
adored. She was his wife. He was
married.
''That very evening she threw herself
into the pond near the Mayors house.
A belated drunkard fished her out and
carried her to the apothecary shop.
The younger Chouquet came down in
a robe de chambre to care for her, and
restored her to consciousness without
appearing to recognize her. Then he
said to her in harsh voice /: you are
mad You must not be so stupid 7
"This suficed to cure her. He had
spoken to her. She was happy for
long while.
"He would receive nothing for his
care of her, though she stoutly insisted
upon paying him.
"And all her life passed thus. Asshe
mended chairs she thoughtof Chouquet.
Every year she saw him through the
window of the shop. She acquired the
habit of purchasing of him supplies OF
trifing medicines. In Slat way she
saw him c'ose heaiae4s.s--g st him.
| and gave him money.
Gas I told you when [ began, she
died this spring. After having related
all her sad history, she begged me to
take to the man whom she had loved SO
patiently all the savings of her lifetime,
for she had toiled only to put aside and
be sure that he would think of her, at
least once, after she was dead.
"She gave me 1927 francs. 1 left
with NJ. the cure the twenty-seven
francs for the burial, and carried away
the rest when she had uttered her last
sigh.
"The next day went to the house of
the Chouquets. They were just finish
ing their breakfast. They made me sit
down, and 1 began my speech in an un-
steady voice, satisfied that they would
weep.
Gas soon as he comprehended that he
had been beloved by that vagabond,
that chair. mender, Chouquet leaped to
his feet with indignation. His wife Was
equally exasperated.
"Chouquet strobe about the room.
exclaiming, This is simply horrible
Oh, if l had known it when she was
alive, I would have had her arrested by
the gendarmes and put in prison
81 was stupefied at the result of my
pious undertaking, but had my mission
to complete, and resumed:
"'She charged me to give you her
savings, amounting to over 1000 francs.
AS what I have told you seems to be
very disagreeable to you, it would, per-
haps, be better to give the money to the
poor 7
"The man aud woman stared at me,
dumb with amazement.
81 took the money from my pocket.
Then I demanded, what is your de-
cision?'
"Madame Chouquet was the first to
speak. Since it was the woman's last
wish,' she said, it seems to me that we
cannot well refuse to take the money 7
The husband, slightly confused, re-
sumed, I'VE can at least buy something
with it for our children =
81 said, with an air of disgust, AS
; you please. Then I handed him the
money, bowed and took my departure.
"That was the only pretended love l
ever met with in my life. the love of the
poor chair -mender for so unworthy a
man." said the doctor in conclusion.
Then the marquise, who had tears in
her eyes, sighed:
Decidedly, only women know how to
love ~