The Penn's Grove record., 1886-05-01

One morning Louisette entered Pag-
: anini,s room at the customary hour;
but the greeting was pronounced In the
mist doleful tone. Her eyelld5 were
badly swelIed, her cheeks void of color,
and a very sorrowful expression played
around the l%nely-cut mouth.
"Wbat Is the matter, my poor Louis
etteY" asked Paganini.
WOhi 1 am so unhappy" Then she
hesitated, apparently checked by the
fast falling teas and child-.ike sobs
that came in quick succession.
PaCanini allowed her to weep undis-
turbed for a few moments; then said,
in a most sympathetic tone: TELL me
your troubles. Perhaps l can devise a
way to alleviate them"
"Ohl no, kind sir. No n IN the
whole wore can help me.
"Tut, tut | am inclined to believe
some lover is the cause OF all your
grief"
Louisette colored and dropped her
head.
1.-THE wretch Has he broken his
vows?'' asked Paganini, with a smile.
mol noI' replied LouIsette. my
dear Henri loves me too much to do
anything so cruel as that"
She could not continue, and, throw
ing herself upon a chair, commenced
sobbing as If her heart would break.
Paganini stepped to the window
where she was seated, took her hand in
his, and said, very seriously. Have
you confidence in me, Louisette?"
''Ohi yes, sir" she replied.
Every well, my dear child. Dry
your tears, and we will endeaVor TO
remedy the evil, however serious it
may chance to be-"
"uenri has drawn an unfortunate
number, !" said Louisette, speaking very
rapidly. "He must join the army and
leave for Lille on the morning ex-
press"
"Can he not procure a substitute2"
"a substituted How could we eve
dream of raising such a sunni"
"Would 1t require very much money!
Fifteen hundred francs are de-
manded, on account of the prospects of
war"
"Well, your misfortune is not SO Sc
rious after all. Wipe away those tears
and let me see your merry face once
more. / will exert myself to obtain
this formidable sum. L AN SURF that
my efforts will be crowned with sur
cess"
Louisette warmly thanked the vio-
linist, dried her tears with the corner
of her white apron, and disappeared, |
with a face radiant with joy and hope.
winter advanced, and Christmas,
with its feathery garb of SNOW and
crown of holly, was on the threshold
once more. 1t gently raped at the
door of every dwelling, and at this Sig
nal families assembled around the
cheerful hearth, their hearts warm with
love and good will to man. The little
children filled their shoes with hay and
placed them in the fire place. that Santa
Claus might see them right away when
he jumped down the chimney with all
the presents they hal ordered; and the
little homeless ones came and offered a
prayer at the door while breathing in
their hands which were blue and stiff
with the piercing cold.
at the Villa Lutetiana each one
celebrated Christmas according to his
pleasure. Our four old ladies enjoyed
an animated game of cards; while Pag-
amin, seated in a secluded corner of
the room, absorbed in an interesting
book, was wholly unconscious of the
malicious looks that were given him
from time to time.
Suddenly the door opened, and Louis
cite entered.
4" ir,' said she, ~betraying much ex-
element, "a large box to your address
has arrived. The porter is waiting in
the yestibule.n
"A box?" said Pasanini, much as
tonished. sit must be a mistake. !
do not expect anything"
"But, sir, your address Is on it."
SIT Is true, but that is all tie same.
l cannot conceive Where is the por-
ter?n
Here he is, sir. He SAYS he is in a
hurry"
"Whence m this boxf" asked
Paganini, regarding the man with sus-
picion.
From the Office, sr. l do not know
anything more about it, except that it
was sent from Lyons or Orleans"
"Stranger and stranger" remarked
Paganini. | have not an acquaintance
in either of these cities"
lie paid him, however, thanks to the
interference Of Louisette, who had
taken possession Of the box.
Tie porter had hardly turned his
back when Louisette, glancing at the
box with much curiosity, eagerly said:
II Will assist you to take 1t up to your
room, sir"
mo Louisette," replied Paganni,
trying to refrain from smiling, Leave
it there in the corner. Tomorrow will
be time enough to attend to it."
"And YOU are not gong to open it?"
asked Louisette. much disappointed.
Eyes, indeed, 1 will, since you are
so anxious to see its contents. Come,
aid me, and we will have it open in a
few moments"
They removed two layers of hay,
several bundles Of brown paper, cut a
number OF strings, and found at the
very bottom OF the box an old sabot.
well, l am not much surprised"
said Paganini, sit is a very Hice inyen-
ton. They have sent me this sabot as
an allusion to my avarlce, and wish it
to say to me that | am like children,
who rather receive than give; but they
are very much deceived if they think
they can wound my feelings by this I'M
kind act.
II will say In the presence of all the
inmates of this house that before the
expiration of two weeks this sabot shall
be worth its weight in gold"
Thereupon he retreated, with the
wooden shoe, leaving the spectators in
an amazement easy to comprehend.
The old ladies seemed quite embar-
raised.
1t was they who had sent it, and
Paganini was well aware of the fact,
and secretly rejoiced that it had not af-
forded them all the pleasure they had
promised themselves.
From this day Paganlni was no more
to be seen in the salon OF the Villa
Lutetiana. I e faithful Louisette was
the only person admitted to his pres
ence. The four old ladies tried their
~utterinost to persuade her to explain
his mysterious disappearance, but she
placed her fingers on her lips and quite