The Osceola times., 1885-03-07

icPicu hnnete. you utn are Ill
for money and nothing else."
So Suzette broached the subject to her
guardian, and after good deal Of
grumbling and consultation with his
cat, he allowed her to take the situa-
ton IN Daddy Publice's bake shop
Suzette went gayly to her new sphere,
and soon became a proficient in the
mysteries Of that little trade. The
young students of the neighborhood
were observed by inquisitive people to
linger over the counter chatting with
the new clerk much longer than was
necessary, and the same busybodies no
ticed vast Improvement in the dress
of young Henri. To tell the truth, Su-
zette had not been in the shop three
weeks before the heir apparent to the
bakery was completely fascinated with
her charms, and half the student custom
ers had sworn terrible oaths that they
loved the pretty girl to distraction.
The nice little compliments they be-
slowed upon her. and the before un-
heard-of liberality with which they
bought sweet-cakes and refused to re-
ceive their change, greatly pleased An
nette and the Daddy. and drove poor
Henri nearly wild with jealousy. He
watched her through the little glass
door that separated the oute~ shop
/, from the ovens, and, as she J red
with and waited on the gay y ,ng ell
lows, the wicked boy actually wis ID
they were all to the bad! yes, h, act al
ly felt so bad as to swear about il. But
swearing did not help the matter; who
ever found that it didP and he had to
vent his fury on the innocent pies and
| cakes, the most of which he burned to
a cinder In consequence, the Daddy
called down maledictions on his head,
and he in turn raved about Suze.te,
who, quite unconscious of the row she
was causing in the rear, was chatting
in front with one of her new-made
| friends, certain Louis Franciscano,
wlo kept little book store on the next
corner. This Louis was dashing
young fellow, did thriving business.
and sported beautiful inustache."
"Attraction enough for any poor girl" :"
| thought our heroine, and she accord.
ingly accepted his invitation to spend
an evening at the theater.
Suzette, had she dared. would have
treated poor Henri with scorn, but the
fear of displeasing her employers, and
thus losing her place, caused her
to look upon him in a respect
full manner, and to accept his little
compliments with becoming grace. But
an evening at the theater with hand
some Louis was much better sport than
walking with dull Henri, and little
bonne-bouche from the former was re-
ceiyed with the sweetest of smiles AMI
profuson of merces, while trifies
from the latter were taken with hypo-
critical grin, and quietly thrown out of
sight.
To sum up the case, Henri was in
| love with Suzette, Suzette ditto with
Louis, and Louis ditto with old Gregory!
That's strange!" remarks the unso-
phisticated reader. Not at all, my dear
sir for bear in mind that our Young
bookseller was very shrewd person
age, and had his suspicious about hid
den wealth as well as Daddy Publice.
SO he used TO climb up to the old rag
picker's garret. and drive bargains with
him for the product of his toll, at the
same time keeping an eye out for hints
or suggestions regarding 'the root Of
all evil"
Old Gregory was also shrewd, and
more than half suspecting the young
mans design, and thinking he would
be pretty good catch for his niece,
used to jingle the silver that Louis paid
him with satisfied chuckle, and nod
his grizzly head in mysterious way,
thus confirming his patron in the be-
lief that he slowed away all such treas
ures.
One afternoon Louis entered the gar
ret very quietly and caught the old
man on his knees before the fireplace,
where he was depositing small bag in
a hole caused by the removal Of .
brick. Perfectly satisfied now he silent
ly slipped out again, made a loud
shuffling with his feet, and knocked at
the door. On entering, the old gent
was picking over his rags as usual, the
brick was in its place, and Misere, the
cat, was curled upon the hearth.
Il have come" said Louis, ito ask
the hand of your niece. l I'm a lonely
young fellow and want wife"
"Parbleu! a wife! How many louis
can you show to support one onp'
Enough of them, good Monsieur
Gregory; besides, has she not some Of
her ownp"
"How should ! knowp Does she not
spend all her earnings on fine dresses
and feathers?'
But mean, will she not como into
Q property one of these days?'
"A properly! Sacre! know Of no
body who has anything for her!"
"Ah, you old misery
And Louis went away and engaged
himself to Suzette that very night,
with the understanding that the affair
was to be kept secret for the present.
Time wore on. and very
strange event came to pass-Mi-
sere, the beloved tom-cat, died!
You never heard Of q eat dying
before? Remember this was a French
cat, and not one of our proverbially
ine-live-independcnt Yankee cats! The
poor old fellow was found stiff and cold
one morning by his disconsolate master,
who mourned over the remains a whole
day, and then took them to q bird
fancier's and had the skin stuffed. The
first time Louis visited the garret there
stood Msere in the corner, perched
upon high pedestal, and seemingly as
watchful as ever; but he looked out of
glass eyes now, and was otherwise in
capactated from active duty.
A short time after this old Gregory
himself fell dangerously sick. and Su-
zette devotedly gave up her clerkship
(much to the disgust OF Annette, Dad