The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-09-07

or cafes, where he shook hands with garrison
officers and mixed an absinthe with the
nicely Of old experience; in and out of shops,
from which he returned laden with costly
fruits, real turtle, a magnificent piece Of
silk for bis wife, a preposterous cane for him.
self, and kept Of the newest fashion for the
boy; in and out of the telegraph Office,
whence he dispatched his telegram, and
where, three hours later, he received an an
swer, promising visit on the morrow; and
generally pervading Fontainebleau with the
first fine aroma of his divine good humor.
The sun was very low when they set forth
again; the shadows of the forest trees ex-
tended across the broad white road that led
them home; the penetrating odor of the
evening wood had already arisen, like O
cloud of incense, from that broad field Of
tree tops; and even In the streets of the town,
where the air had been baked all day be-
tween white walls, 1t came in whifRs and
pulses, like distant music. Half way home
the last gold flicker vanished from great
oak upon the left; and when they came forth
beyond the borders Of the wood, the plain
was already sunken in pearly grayness, and
great, pale moon came swinging skyward
through the filmy poplars.
The doctor sung, the doctor whistled, the
doctor talked. He spoke of the woods, and
the wars, and the deposition of dew; he
frightened and babbled of Paris; he scared
into cloudy bombast on the glories of the
political arena. All was to be changed; as
the day departed it took with it the vestiges
of an outworn existence, and to-morrow's
sun was to inaugurate the new. Enough"
he cried, ''of this life of maceration!" His
wife still beautiful, or he was sadly PARTIAL
was to be no longer buried; she should now
shine before society. jean Marie would find
the world at his feet; the roads open to sue
cess, wealth, honor and posthumous renown.
"And oh, by the way" said he, ''for Gods
sake keep your tongue quiet You are, of
course, very silent fellow; it is quality
gladly recognize in you-silence, golden
silence! But this is matter of gravity. No
word must get abroad; none but the good
Casimir is to be trusted we shall probably
dispose of the vessels in England"
"But are they not even CURSE" the boy said,
almost with sob-it was the only time he
had spoken.
"Ours in this sense, that they are nobody
else's," replied the doctor. "But the state
would have some claim. If they were stolen,
for instance, we should be unable to demand
their restitution; we should have no title;
we should be unable even to communicate
with the police Such is the monstrous con-
dition of the law. 1t is a mere instance of
what remains to be done, of the injustices
that may yet be righted by an ardent, active
and philosophical deputy"
Jean-Mare put his faith in Mme Desprez;
and as they drove forward down the road
from Bourron, between the rustling poplars,
be prayed in his teeth, and whipped up the
horse to an unusual speed. Surely, as soon
as they arrived, madame would assert her
character, and bring this waking nightmare
to an end.
Their entrance into Gretz was heralded and
by most furious barking; all
treasure in the noddy. But there was no one
in the street, save three lounging landscape
painters at Tentaillon's door. Jean-M
opened the green gate and led in the horse
and carriage; and almost at the same mo-
ment Nine. Desprez came to the kitchen
with a lighted lantern; for the
moon was not yet high enough to clear the
garden walls.
"Close the gates, ean-Marie!" cried the
doctor, somewhat unsteadily alighting San
astasie, where is Alinel'
"She has gone to Montereau to see her
parents" said madame.
GAIL is for the best!" exclaimed the doctor,
fervently Here, quick, come near to me;
I do not wish to speak too loud" he con-
tinued. Darling, we are wealthy"
wealthy" repeated the wife.
81 have found the treasure of Franchard,"
replied her husband "See, here are the first
fruits; a pineapple, dress for my ever
will suit her-trust husbands,
trust a lovers taste! Embrace me, darling!
This grimy episode is over; the butterfly un
folds its painted wings. Tomorrow Casimir
will come; in a week we may be in Paris
happy at last! You shall have diamonds.
Jean-Marie take it out of the boot with re-
ligious care and bring it piece by piece into
the dining room. Weshall have plate at table!
Darling, hasten and prepare this turtle; it
will be whet-it be will an addition to our
meager ordinary. myself will proceed to
the cellar. We shall have a bottle of that
little Beaujolais you like, and finish with the
Hermitage; there are still three bottles left.
Worthy wine for a worthy occasion"
"But, my husband; you put me in
whirl," she cried. ~ do not comprehend"
''The turtle, my adored, the turtle!' cried
the doctor; and he pushed her toward the
kitchen, lantern and ALL
Jean-Marie stood dumfounded. He had
pictured to himself different scene-a more
immediate protest, and his hope began to
dwindle on the spot.
The doctor was everywhere, a little doubt
full on his legs, perhaps, and now and then
taking the wall with his shoulder; for it was
long since he had tasted absinthe, and he was
sven then rejecting that the absinthe had
been misconception. Not that he regretted
excess on such glorious day, but he made
mental memorandum to beware; he must
not, a second time, become the victim of a
1eleterious habit. He had his wine out of
;he cellar in twinkling; he arranged the
'acrificial vessels, some on the white table
,loth, some on the sideboard, still crusted
with historic earth. He was in and out of
;he kitchen, plying Anastasie with vermouth,
leating her with glimpses of the future,
their new wealth at ever larger
igures; and before they sat down to supper,
he lady's virtue had melted in the fire of his
her timidity had disappeared;
he, too, had began to speak disparagingly OF
he life at Gretz; and as she took her place
md helped the soup, her eyes shone with the
glitter of prospective diamonds.
All through the meal, she and the doctor
made and unmade fairy plans. They bobbed
md bowed and pledged each other Their |
aces ran over with smiles; their eyes scat
cred sparkles as they projected the doctors |