Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-06
CHAPTER VIII.
THE WAGES OF PHILOSOPHY.

THE WAGES OF PHILOSOPHY
On the morning of the next day the dor
| tor mere specter of himself was brought
back in the custody of Casimlr. They to'!nd
Anast,lsic and the boy sitting together 10y thu
fire; and Desprez who had exchanged his
toilet for a ready made rig out Of poor mate
rials, waved his hand as he entered and sunk
speechless Oh the nearest chair. Madame
| turned direct to Casimir.
What u wrongr she cried.
| "Well,n replied Casinlir, "whst have tcl,
! you all alongl 1t has come. 1t is a clean
shave this time; so you may as well bear ul
and make the best OF ID. House down, too
ehi Bad luck, upon my SOUL
"Are we--are we-runed" she gaSped
The doctor stretched out his arms to her
"kuined," he replied "you are ruined by
your sinister husband"
| Casimr observed the consequent embrace
through his eyeglass; then he turned TO Jean
Marie. "You hearf he said. They are
ruined; no more piclings, no more house, no
more fat outlets. 1t strikes me, my friend,
that you had best be packing; the present
speculation is about worked out And he
nodded to him meaningly.
"Never!n cried Desprez, sprnging up.
Jean Marie, if you prefer to leave me, now
that am poor, you can so; you shall receive
| your hundred francs, if 50 much remains to
me But if you will consent to stayn-the
doctor wept-"Casmir offers me a place--as
clerk he resumed. "Thc emoluments are
slender, but they will be enough for three
1t is too much already to have lost my for
tune; must | lose my SON.
Jean-Marie sobbed bitterly, but without a
word.
II don't like boys who cry" observed Cast
mir This one is always crying Here, YOU
clear out of this for little; have business
with your master and mistress, and these
domestic feelings may he settled after | am
gone March and he held the door open.
.Jean-Marie skunk out. like n detected thief
BY T. they were all at the table but Jean
Marie
"Heyr said Casmir. Gone, you see
Took the hint at once
Il do not, confess" said Desprez, II DO
not seek to excuse his absence. 1t speak, of
want Of heart that disappoints mo sorely"
Want of Manners corrected Casimir
"Heart, he never had. Why, Desprez, for a
clever fellow, you are the most gulible mortal
in creation. Your ignorance OF human ma
ture and human business is beyond belief You
are swindel 10y heather Turks, svndled 10y
vagabond children swinGled right and Left,
W stairs and down stairs | think it must
be your imagination | shank my stars
ha ge none.n
Pardon me-" replied Desprez. still hum
bly,, but with a return Of spirit at sight Of
a distinction to be drawn; "racdOn me- Cast
mir. gu possess, even to an eminent de
gree, The commercial imagination 1t was
the lack of that in me-lt appears It Is my
weak point-that has led to these repeated
shocks. BY the commercial imagination the
financier forecasts the destiny Ut his invest
nu'nts, marks the falling house.
"Egad," Interrupted Ca>nir; our friend
the stable boy appears to have his share
of it,"
The doctor was silenced; and ihe meal was
continued and finished principally to the tune
of the brpther-in-law's not very cOnsolatOry
conversation He entirely ignored the two
young English painters, turning a blind eye
glass to their salutations, and continuing bis
remarks u if he. We're alone in the bosom of
his family. and with every second word he
ripped another stitch out OF the air balloon OF
Dcsprez' vanity BY the time coffee was
over the popc doctor was as limp Us a napkin
Let us goand see the ruins said Casimr.
They strOlled forth into the street The
fall of the DGuse,, like the loss of a front tooth
had quite transformed the village. Through
the gap the eye commanded great stretch
, of open snowy country, and the place shrunk
in comparison. 1t was like a room with an
open door. The sentinel stood By the green
gate, looking very red and cold, but he had a
, pleasant word for the doctor and his wealthy
kinsman.
Casimir looked at the mound Of ruins he
> tried the quality OF the taIpaluln him,
he said, Il hope the cellar arch has stood. If
, it has, my good brother Will give you a
good price Cor the wines"
, We shall start digging o-morrow," said
4 the sentry. There is no more fear Of snow,
MY friend" returned Casimir senten
A tously, you had better wait till you gel
, paid"
. The Doctor WINGED and began dragging
. his offensive brother-in-aw toward Tentail
a | Ions In the house there would be fewel
q auditors, and these already in the secret o
:. his fall.
}. ''Halloo," cried Casimir, there goes tn,
@ stable boy with his luggage; no, egad, he i
q taking 1t into the inn
v And sure enough, Jean Marie was seen t.
r. cross the snowy street and enter Temtaillon's
4 staggering under a large hamper
"a The doctor stopped with sudden, vii
a hope.
What can he have" he said. Let us 8
N and see.' And he hurried On.
l. His luggage, TO he sure, answere
" CaSimir He is ON the move-thanks to tn
commercial imagination"
r Il have not seen that hamper for-for eve
y 50 long, remarked the doctor
nj Nor will you see il mach longer chucklc
Y CaSimir. unless, indeed, we interfere. AnC
by the way, insist on an examination"
"You VIII not require said Desprez po
p itively, with a sob; and, casting moist tr
n umphant glance at Casimir. he began to run
# What the devil is up with him, | wol
he derl" Casmir reflected and then, curioSit
al taking the upper hand, he followed the do
to:'s example and took to his heels.
70 The hamper was so heavy and large, an
a Jean Marie himself So lil:le and 50 wear,
that it had taken him great while to bund
Is it up stairs to the Desprez private room
ia and he had just set ii down on the floor
I'll front of Aua,ta-lc when the Doctor arrived
~ and was closely followed ny the man of bus
wv ness. Boy and hamper were both IN "A mo
nv sorry plight, for the one hsa passed fol
,te months underground In a ccreain cave on Il
,,-,,, 70 A .ha,as and tina nt har had RIM ahOI