Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-22

ing that will make you truly happier But
will this9 Are you sure, my husbandl Last
night, you say, you found lnm He may be
the worst of humbugs."
81 think not" replied the doctor. "But do
not suppose me so unwary as to adopt him
out of hand | am, | flatter myself fin
ished man of the world; have had all pos
sibilitics in view; my plan is contrived to
meet them all l take the lad as stable boy.
If he pilfcr, if he grumble, if he desire to
change, | shall see / was mistaken; | shall
recognize him for no son of mine, and send
him tramping."
"You will never do so when the time
COMES" said his wife; II know your good
heart
She reached ont her hand to him, with a
sigh; the doctor smiled us he took It and car.
ried it to his lips; he had gained his point
with greater ease than he had dared to hope:
for perhaps the twentieth time he had proved
the efficacy of his trusty argument, his Ex-
calibur, the hint of a return to Paris. Six
months in the capital, for a man of the doc
tors antecedents and relations, implied no
less a calamity than total ruin Anastasie
had saved the remainder of his fortune by
keeping him strictly in the country. The
very name of Paris put her in blue fear;
keep menagerie in the back garden, let
alone adopting stable boy rather than per
nit the question of return to be discussed
About of the afternoon the mountebank
rendered up his ghost; he had never been
conscious since his seizure. Dr. Desprez was
present at his last passage, and declared the
farce over. Then he took Jean Marie by the
shoulder, and led him out into the inn gar
den, where there was a convenient bench
beside the river Here he sat him down and
made the boy place himself on his left
"Jean- Marie, he said very gravely "this
world is exceedingly vast, and even France,
which is only small corner of it, is a great
place for little lad like you. Unfortunately
it is full of eager, shouldcring people moving
on, and there are very few bakers shops for
so many eaters Your master is dead; you
are not fit to gain "A living by yourself; you
do not wish to steali No. Your situation,
then, is undesirable; it is, for the moment,
critical On the other hand, you behold in
me man not old, though elderly, still en-
joying tn" youth of the heart and the intel
ligence; a man of instruction; easily situated
in this worlds affairs; keeping a good table:
a man, neither as friend nor host to he de
spiSed. | offer you your food and Clothes
and to teach you lessons in the evening which
will he infinitely more to the purpose for
lad of your stamp than those of all the priests
in Europe. propose no wages but if ever
you take thought to leave me the door
shall be open, and will give you 100 francs
to start the world upon, In return, have
al old horse and chaise, which you would
very speedily learn to clean and keep in or
der Do not hurry yourself to answer, and
take it or leave it as you Judge Alright. Only
remember this, that | am no sentimentalist
or charitable person, but man who lives
vigorously to himself; and that if | make the
proposal it is for my own ends-it is because
l perceive clearly an advantage to myself
And now reflect"
Il shall be very glad. l do not see what
else | can do. | thank you, sir, most kindly,
and | will try to be useful" said the boy
Thank YOU" said the doctor, warmly, ris-
ing at the same time and wlping his brow
for be had suffered agonies while the thing
hung in the wind A refusal, after the scene
at noon, would have placed him in a ridicu-
lous light before AnaStasie GLOW hot and
heavy is the evening, to be sure! | have
awars had a fancy to be FISH in summer
Jean Marie, hsre in the LONG beside Gretz.
should lie under water lily and listen to
the bells, which must sound most delicately
not think so, too!n
Eyes" said Jean Marie.
"Thank God, you have imagination!' cried
the doctor, embracing the boy with his usual
ELUSIVE warmth, though it was proceeding
that seemed to disconcert the sufferer almost
, as much as if he had been an English school
boy of the same age. "And now he added,
/ 81 will take you to my wife"
! Nine. Desprez sat in the dining room in a
cool wrapper. All the blinds We're down, and
the tile floor had been recently sprinkled with
| water; her eyes were half shut, but she
' affected to be reading a novel as they Ell
, tered Though she was a busting woman
She enjoyed repose between whites and had q
remarkable appetite for sleep
! I he doctor went through a solemn form OF
introduction, adding, for the benefit of both
| parties, "You must try to like each other fol
my sake"
"He is very pretty" said Anastasie, evil
you kiss me- my pretty little fellow"