Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-05-05

smile to appear on the wan face as she
aptly initiated the four eccentric old
ladies.
One morning Louisette entered Pag-
anini's room at the customary hour;
but the greeting was pronounced in the
mist doleful tone. Her eyelids were
badly swelled, her cheeks void of color,
and a very sorrowfuI expression played
around the finely-cut mouth.
What is the matter, my poor Louis
etteP" asked Paganini.
''Oh! am so unhappy" Then she
hesita,ed, apparently checked by the
fast falling tears and chlld-like soes
that came in quick succession.
Paganini allowed her to weep undis-
turbed for a few moments; then said,
in most sympathetic tone: "TelI me
your troubles. Perhaps can devise a
way to alleviate them"
"Oh! no, kind Sir. No one in the
whole word can help me-"
Tut, tut! am inclined to believe
some lover is the cause of all your
grief"
Louisette colored and dropped her
head.
''The wretchl Has he broken his
vows?" asked Paganini, with a smile.
mol mol" 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 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?"
''Oh! yes, SIR" she replied.
VERY well, my dear child. Dry
your tears, and we will endeavor 10
remedy the evil, however serious it
may chance to be.'
Henri 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 substitute?"
"a substituted How could we ever
dream of raising such sump'
"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 am sure that
my efforts will be crowned with sue
cess.n
LouiSette warmly thanked the vic
linist, dried her tears with the corner
OF her white apron, and disappeared,
with 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 ali
the presents they had ordered; and the
little homeless ones came and offered
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 Psg-
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
ette entered.
Sir" said she, betraying much ex-
element, "a large box to your address
has arrived. The porter is waiting in
the veStIbule."
"a box?" said Paganini, much as
tonished. sit must be mistake. i
do not expect anything"
But, sir, your address is on it,"
SIT Is true, but that is all tie same.
[ cannot conceive Where is the por-
ter?"
"Here he is, sir. He says he is in
hurry"
Whence comes this boxf" asked
Paganini, regarding the man with sus-
picion.
From the office, sir. do not know
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
Of Louisette, who had
.aken possession of the box.
Tie porter had hardly turned his
back when Louisette, glancing at the
box with much curiosity, eagerly said:
Il will assist you to take It up to your
room, SIR"
NO Louisetie," replied Paganni,
.rying to refrain from smiling, Leave
/ there in the corner. Tomorrow will
DC time enough to attend to it,
"And you are not going to open it!'
lsked Louisette. much disappointed.
"Yes, indeed, L will, since you are
70 anxious to see its contents. Come,
lid me. and we will have it open in a
-ew moments"
They removed two layers Of hay,
several bundles Of brown paper, cut a |
number of strings, and found at the |
7ery bottom OF the box an old sabot.
"Well, am not much surprised"
aid Paganini, cit is a very nice inyen- |
ion. They have sent me this sabot as |
IN allusion to my avarice, and wish 1t |
o say to me that am like children,
who rather receive than give; but they |
ire very much deceived if they think |
hey can wound my feelingsby this un.
lind act.
81 will say In the presence OF all the
inmates of this house that before the
expiration of two weeks this sabot Shall
,e worth its weight in gold"
Thereupon he retreated, with the
wooden shoe, leaving the spectators In
IN amazement easy to comprehend.
The old ladies seemed quite embar-
asSed.
1t was they who had sent 1t, and
'aganini was well aware of the fact,
md secretly rejoiced that it bad not at
orded them all the pleasure they had
themselves.
From this day Paganini was no more