Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-06-12
The Treasure Of Franchard.
ny ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
tcoSTrSuKp I
CHAPTER III.


tian name Of Anastasie, presented an agree.
able type OF her sex; exceedingly wholesome
to look upon, a stout bruno, with cool smooth
cheeks steady, dark eyes and hands that
neither art nor nature could improve. She
was the sort Of person over whom adversely
passes like a summer cloud; she might, in
the worst Of conjunctions, knit her brows
into one vertical furrow for moment, but
the next 1t would be gone She had much Of
the placidity of q contented nun; with little
Of her piety, however; for Anastasie was Of
very mundane nature, fond Of oysters and
old wine and somewhat bold pleasantries.
and devoted to her husband for her own sake
rather than for his She was imperturbably
COOK natured, but had no idea of self sacri-
fee To live in that pleasant old house, with
green garden behind and bright flowers
about the window, TO eat and drink of the
best, to gossip with neighbor for quarter
of an hour, never to wear stays or a dress
except when she went to Fontainebleau shop
ping, to be kept in a continual supply of racy
novels, and to be married to DR.. Desprez and
have no ground of jealousy, filed the cup of
her nature to the brim. Those who had
known the doctor in bachelor days, when he
had aired quite as many theories, but of a
different order, attributed his present philos-
ophy to the study of Anastasie. It was her
brute enjoyment that he rationalized and
perhaps vainly initiated.
Nine. Desprez was an artist In the kitchen.
and made coffee to nicety. She had knack
Of tidiness, with which she had infected the
doctor; everything was in its place; eyery
thing capable of polish shone gloriously; and
dust was thing banished from her empire.
Aline, their single servant, had no other busi.
ness in the world but to scour and burnish.
30 Dr. Desprez lived in his house like fatted
calf, warmed and cosseted to his hearts con-
tent.
The midday meal was excellent. There
was ripe melon, fish from the river in q
memorable Bearnaise sauce, a fat fowl in a
fricassee, and a dish Of asparagus, followed
by some fruit. The doctor drank half a bot
tie plus one glass, the wife half bottle minus
the same quantity, which was a marital privi-
lege, Of an excellent Cote Rotie, seven years
old. Then the coffee was brought, and a
flask Of Chartreuse for madame, for the doc
tor despised and distrusted such decoctions:
and then Aline left the welded pair to the
pleasures OF memory and digestion.
ut is very fortunate circumstance, my
cherished one" observed the doctor-.tbis
coffee is adorable-a very fortunate circum-
stance on the whole--Anastasie, 1 beseech
you, 60 without that poison for today. only
one day, and you will feel the benefit, /
pledge my reputation"
''What is this fortunate circumstance. nv
friendr inquired Anastasie, not needing his
protest, which was Of daily recurrence.
THAT we have no children, my beautiful.n
replied the doctor. ~ think of it more as
the years go on, and with more and more
gratitude toward the power that dispenses
such Affections. Your health, my darling,
90, - Hal -
cies, how they would all have suffered, how
they would all have been sacrificed And
for whati Children are the last word of
human imperfection. Health fees before
their face. They cry, my dear; they put
vexstious questions; they demand to be fed,
to be washed to be educated, to have their
noses blown; and then, when the time comes,
they break our hearts, as l break this piece
of sugar. A pair Of professed egotists, like
you and me, should avoid offspring like an
infidelity.n
'Indeed!" said she, and she laughed
Snow, that is like you--to take credit for
the thing you could not help"
"My DEAR returned the doctor, solemnly,
1--WE might have adopted"
"Never!" cried madame "Never, doctor,
with my consent. If the child were my own
flesh and blood, would not say no. But to
take another persons indiscretion on my
shoulders, my dear friend, have TOO much
sense.n
freclsely'" replied the doctor we poth
had. And am all the better pleased with
'our"isaoih, oecause-pecause - ne iooAeo
al her Sharply.
because what" she asked, with faint
premonition of danger.
because have found the right person."
said the doctor, firmly, land shall adopt him
this afternoon"
Anastasie looked at him out OF mist.
You have lost your reason" she said; and
there was clang in her voice that seemed to
threaten trouble
mot so, my dear" he replied; II retain
its complete exercise. To the proof: instead
OF attempting to cloak my Inconsistency
have, by way of preparing you, thrown it
into strong rellet. You VIII there, think'
recognize the philosopher VINO mas the &C.
stasy 10 can you "iie. me iact Is, nave
been reckoning all TINS while without an ac-
cident. never thought 10 ma son OF my
own. NOW, last night FOUND one. 10 not
unnecessarily alarm yourseit, my dear; ne Is
not drop OF blood 10 me that know. IL is
MS mlnd, earring, MS mihu that calls me
Iather'
his mlnd!" she repeated, with litter
between scorn ana Mysteries his NINA,
indeed! Henri, Is TINS an idiotic pleasantry,
or are you madf his mind! Ana what OF
my mindP
"Truly," replied the doctor, with shrug,
''you have your finger on the hitch. He will
be strikingly antipathetic to my beautiful
Anastasie. She will never understand lin
he will never understand her. You married
the animal side of my nature, dear; and it is
on the spiritual side that find my affinity
for Jean Marie. So much so, that, to be per-
fectly frank, stand in some awe Of him my
self. You Will easily perceive that am
announcing calamity Tor you DO not, he
broke out IN tones OF real sohcltude, do not
give way TO tears atter meal Anastasie'
You Will certainly give yourself talSe d.
gestion."