San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-06-02

lently observing, Une words Qled from DIS
lips. Desprez was once more the color Of
ashes; his lip worked and trembled; a sort of
bestial greed possessed him.
"This is childish" he said. "We lose
precious time. Back to the inn, harness the
trap and bring it to yon bank. Run for your
life, and remember--not one whisper. stay
here to watch"
Jean Marie did as he was bid, though not
without surprise The noddy was brought
round to the spot indicated, and the two
gradually transported the treasure from its
place of concealment to the boot below the
driving seat. Once it was all slowed the
doctor recovered his gayety.
81 pay my grateful duties to the genius Of
this dell" he said. "Oh, for live coal,
heifer and jar Of country wine! I am in
the vein for sacrifice, for superb libation.
Well, and why not2 We are at Franchard.
English pale ale is to be had-not classical
indeed, but excellent Boy, we shall drink
ale."
"But thought it was so unwholesome,"
said Jean-Marie, land very dear, besides"
"Fiddle-de-dee" exclaimed the doctor,
gayly. "To the innl"
And he stepped into the noddy, tossing his
head with an elastic, youthful air. The
horse was turned, and in few seconds they
drew up beside the palings of the inn garden.
"Here," said Desprez-"here, near the
stable, so that we may keep an eye upon
things"
They tied the horse, and entered the
garden, the doctor singing, now in fantastic
high notes, now producing deep reverbera-
lions from his chest. He took seat, raped
loudly on the table, assailed the waiter with
witticisms; and when the bottle of Bass was
at length produced, far more charged with
gas than the most delirious champagne, he
filled out long glassful of froth and pushed
it over to Jean-Marie. Drink" he said:
"drink deep"
II would rather not" faltered the boy,
true to his training.
"What!n Numbered Desprez.
81 am afraid of it," said jean Marie; smy
stomach"-
"Take it or leave it," interrupted Desprez
fiercely; "but understand it once for all
there is nothing so contemplate as a pre-
cisian."
Here was a new lesson! The boy sat be-
unused, looking at the glass but not tasting
it, while the doctor emptied and refilled his
own, at first with clouded brow, but grad
ually yielding to the sum- the heady, prick
ling beverage and his own predisposition to
be happy.
'Once in a way" he said, at last, by way
of a concession to the boys more rigorous
attitude, "once in a way, and at so critical a
moment, this ale is nectar for the gods.
The habit, indeed, is debasing; wine the
juice of the grape, is the true drink of the
Frenchman, as have often had occasion to
point out, and l do not know that l can
blame you for refusing this outlandish stim-
ulant. You can have some wine and cakes.
Is the bottle emptya Well, we will not be
proud we will have pity on your glass"
The beer being done, the doctor chafed bit
terly while Jean-Marie finished his cakes
81 burn to be gone," he said, looking at his
watch. "Good God, how slow you eatr
And yet to eat slowly was his own particular
prescription, the main secret of longevity!
His martyrdom, however, reached and end
at last; the pair resumed their places in the
buggy, and Desprez, leaning luxuriously
back announced his intention of proceeding
to Fontainebleau.
"To Fontainebleau!" repeated jean Marie
"My words are always measured" said the
doctor. "OnI'
The doctor was driven through the glades of
paradise; the air, the light, the shining leaves,
the very movements of the vehicle, seemed
to fall in tune with his golden meditatiOns;
with his head thrown back he dreamed a
series of funny visions, ale and pleasure
dancing in his veins. At last he spoke.
II shall telegraph for Casimir," he said
"Good Casimir fellow of the lower order
of intelligence, Jean Marie, distinctively not
creative, not poetic; and yet he will repay
your study; his fortune is vast, and it is en-
tirely due to his own exertions. He is the
very fellow to help us to dispose of our
trinkets, find us suitable house in Paris, and
manage the details of our installation Ad-
mirable Casimir, one of my oldest comrades!
1t was on his advice, l may add, that in
vested my little fortune in Turkish bonds;
when we have added these spoils of the me-
di3val church to our stake in the Mohamme-
dan empire, little boy, we shall positively
roll among doubloons, positively roll Beau
tiful forest" he cried, farewell! Though
called to other scenes will not forget thee
Thy name is craven in my heart. Under the
influence of prosperity become dithyram-
bic, Jean Marie. Such is the impulse Of the
natural soul; such was the constitution of
primeval man. And well, l will not re-
fuse the credit have preserved my youth
like virginity; another, who should have
led the same snoozing, countrifed existence
for these years, another had become rusted,
become stereotype; but l, praise my happy
constitution, retain the spring unbroken.
Fresh opulence and new sphere of duties
find me unabated in ardor and only more
mature by knowledge. For this prospective
change, Jean-Marie-it may probably have
shocked you. Tell me now, did it not strike
YOU as an inconsistency COnfess-it is use-