Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-04
CHAPTER. IL

OAA@A Liza LIZ
When / awoke next morning It was to won
der what could be the hour of day. felt as
if had slept sufficiently, and yet the light in
the room seemed strangely dim. 1t might
have been early morning.
L looked across the room To the corner in
which stood Raoul's truckle-bed, opposite my
own. Raoul still slept, and Soundly, to Judge
from his deep, regular breathing. 1 knew
that he must have been late the night before
1had fallen asleep before he returned.
Presently l beard the heavy foot of Pierre,
our landlord and servant in one, mounting
the stair, and then his knock at the door.
us that you, PierreT'
sit is I, with a letter for Monsieur, and one
also for NJ. Girard."
l was about to rise 10 admit him, when I
noticed that the key was not in the lock of
the door. Evidently Raoul had not secured
the door behind him last night, as it was his
habit to do.
Enter, then; the key is on your side, is it
notr'
"Ah, it is true!" Next minute he had en-
tered the room, and coming to my bedside,
handed me the two letters.
'What o'clock is it, Pierre?"
sit is half-past eleven, Monsieur"
"Howl Half-past eleven9 Why, it is a
veritable twilight in this roomI'
"f Monsieur looks at the window be will
see the reason of that"
Hooked at the window in the ceiling Of our
attic room, and Gaw that it was covered with
snow.
"What frightful weather! You will find
two faggots in the closet, Pierre; have the
goodness to light a fire, and hang these clothes
before it. And make as little noise as DOS
sible, il you please. M. Girard still sleeps"
IN. Girard was very late last night re-
marked Pierre; sit was after two when 1 let
him I'M
$50 late as thatT I said, surprised. Raoul
could not then have gone to visit Mime. Du-
maine and Gabrielle; he never stayed there
after II at latest. Where had he been9
While Pierre was making up the fire, l
read the letter he had brought me, It was
from my father, in answer to an appeal for
money-a desperate appeal, and useless, as 1
had expected. Unlike myself, my father was
a man of principle; and one of his principles
tho one | found personally most incon-
venient-was this: Not a SOU till quarter-day.
He made me good allowance, which, in those
days of wild and thoughtless youth, I was
accustomed to spend with rapidity. Raoul
was always poor; l was, at intervals, rich for
afew days; then plunged into frightful pow
ertH, owing to my parents stern resolve
never to antedate supplies. l had also nu-
merous creditors, and had become proficient
in the art Of doubling a cape"-that is, slip
ping round a street corner when one Of these
appeared. 1t was my custom, when the funds
began to sink, to leave my comparatively
luxurious room in the Rue de Medicis,
with their pleasant view over the
Luxembourg gardens, and install myself in
Raoul's garnet, amid the din and squalor
Of the Rue Dauphine. His c~ompanionship
more than made up for the discomfort, the
cold and the occasional pinch of hunger. We
were fast friends, financed in common and
had 10 secrets from each other. Raoul was
very different from me-frugal, Industrious,
indulging in few pleasures, but always frank
and gay, however empty his pockets. We
were both students Of law and our final ex.
animation was now not far off. had never
regretted my i~mprovidence until now. But,
when l saw how a little ready money would
have enabled Raoul and myself to leave
aside all other work and give ourselves to our
law books, l did regret it. And therefore,
some days ago, I had written that letter to
my father, scarcely expecting any more fay.
orable answer than the exceedingly curt and
decided ono I received.
Pierre had by this time kindled the fire, and
was arranging before it, on the backs of the
two chairs our attic boosted, Raoul's damp
clothes and mine. All at once he uttered an
exclamation Of surprise, which startled me
from my study of tho parental letter. Glow
look then at the coat of NJ. Girardl The
sleeve is ripped up right to the shoulder!"
"Whatl the sleeve ripped up, do you sayF'
"Torn completely, Monsieurl But what is
to be done9 Monsieur has but one coat at
present, and until it is repaired"
HE cannot leave this room, of course. It
is very awkward. How can he have done it,
eff Monsieur desires, l will take the coat
downstairs to Nannette, who will sew it sufi-
GENTLY well. Monsieur doubtless remembers
what the little tailor at the corner says-that
he will do absolutely nothing more for Mon.
Eieur until his bill is paidp
"It is true, Pierre; l recollect the words q
the little wretch. BY all means, take tht