The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-03-17

AH63 ~ t'tt' NNH''f ~uH
sweet, calm girl who should be
dresedIin mourning likethe widow
and resemble her very much.
Absorbed by Ihs contemplation
Of d hirspeso sympathetic, and by
the pleasure Of imagining that
humble poem, remained standing
some steps from Ihe open window,
sure Of not bsine noticed 10 the
dusky street rhen j saw a door
open and there appeared-ohl bow
far he was from my lhougbts al
that moment-nx friend iieurtriei
himself, tBeiorm liable hetcoftilt.
on the river and Iraysin unknown
places.
A sudden doubt crossed me. ]
felt that Iaas on d point Of discoy.
Heling q myslerv
It was he indeed. His terrible
hairy bahdhelda tiny silver coffee.
pot, and be was followed by a poo.
die which greatly embarrassed bis
sleps-a valiant aud classic poodle,
the poodle Of blind clarionet. play.
ers, poor beggar's poodle, a poodle
clipped like a lion, with hairy ruff
fles on his four paws, and white
mustache like a general of the
gymnase.
Mamma" said the giant in a
tone of ineFablo tenderness, "here's
your coffee, | am sure that you will
find it nice to might. The water
wus boiling well, and I poured it
on drop by DROP
"Thank you," said the old lady,
rolling her easy chair to the table
with an air. thank you, my little
Achille. Your dear father said
many a time that there was no!
my equal at making coffee-hs was
so kind and indnlgent, the dear
good man-but l begin to believe
that you are even better than me"
AT that moment, and while
Meurtrier was ponring out the cof.
fee with all the dolicacy of a young
girl, the poodle, excited no doubt
by the uncovered sugar, placed his
fOrepaws on the lap of his mistress.
"Down, Medorl" she cried, with
a benevolent indignation. "Did
anyone ever see such a troublesome
animal2 Look here, sirI you know
very well that your master never
fails to give you the last Of his cup.
By the way, said the widow, ad.
dressing her son; you have taken
the poor fellow vpt have you no,2'
Certainly, mamma" he replied,
in tone that twas almost infantile.
II have just been to the creamery
for your morning milk, and l put
the leash and collar on Medor and
took him with me-"
Reassnred on this point, impor.
tant TO canine hygiene, the good
dame drank her coffee, between her
son and her dog, who each regarded
her with an inexpressible tender.
ness.
1t was assuredly unnecessary to
see or hear more. l had already
OWNED what a peaceful family
life, upright, pure and devoted, my
friend Meurtrier had under his
chimerical gssconades. But the
spectacle with which chance had
favored me vas at once so droll and
SO touching that l could not resist
the temptation to watch for some
moments longer that indiscrelion
sutliced to show me the whole
truth.
"Yes, this type of roisterers, this
athlete, this despot Of bar.rooms
and public houses, performed, sim
ply and cOurageously, in these low
ly rooms in the suburbs, the sub
lime duties Of a sister of charity.
This intrepid Oarsman had never
made a longer voyage than to con-
duct his mother to church every
Sunday, This trainer of bulldogs
was the submissive slave Of poo
die.
I'll.
Next morning on arriving at the
Office asked Meartrier how he had
employed the previous evening,
and he instantly improvised, with.
out the least hesitation, Gty account
Of a sharp encounter on the boule.
yard, where he had knocked down
with a single blow of his fist, hav
ing passed his thumb through the
ring of his keys, a terrible street
rough.
listened, smiling ironically, and
thinking to oonfound HIM but re.
membering how respectable vir.
tue is which is hidden even under
an absnrdity, / struck him on the