The Columbus journal., 1889-02-20


And they vFapt my fancy In tie spel
woveonly By the sea- -An0.
AN ACCUSING VOICE.
It was indeed beauty. with its boz Of
carved wood, it's broad face with enam-
eled horn figures, its heavy pendulum of
polished brass, shiny as gold, that went
to and fro behind q round disk Of glass.
Every one who saw it through Pierree
the clockmaker's window stopped in
amaxement, and there was constantly
crowd of admirers before thu door.
Pierret, the cloclmaker, was still .
young man-about thirty. perhaps-
he was always sad and taciturn, for he
had had a great SORROW In his life.
Seven years before, while he was in the
army, his father had been murdered in
that very shop which now he occupied.
He had heard of the horrible catastrophe
at his regiments quarters, and returned
at once.
Who was the murderer? Upon whom
could he avenge the poor old man who
had never done harm to any one, and
and had always treated him with 50
much love and gentleness? The legal In
Quest had been fruitless also, although
the murderer had robbed as well and
stolen the 10000 francs that the father
lad pot aside, sou by SOU, for his son.
All researches, however, had been in
vain. Pierret had finished his time in
the army; then, free from the service,
had come back to settle in the murdered
mans house, having to all appearances
conquered his feelings and chased away
worry by hard work.
It was evident, though, that sorrow
was still gnawing him, for you could
see him after dark roaming about
the village as If hunting for some one,
and this some ore, of course, was the
murderer, too well hidden to be discov-
ered-as yet.
And thus time passed-weeks, months
and years. No one thought Of it any
more except the orphan and that other,
the still unknown, who naturally enough,
would be unable to forget.
Very recently Pierret, who was agreat
newspaper reader, had gone to Paris and
stayed there for several days, ''on busi-
ness" he said, and he had brought with
him the Comtoise, that gem of art in his
window, before which the village stood
in envy and admiration.
Country people are fond Of heavy,
solid and rich furniture, and, in fact, the
case of the clock was Of more than COM
mon size and beauty.
'.And how much could that marvel
have cosf2
''Come in, gentlemen" said PiezTet,
politely, to the people who crowded in
front of his shop; "come in and I'll tell
you"
And then there were ordinations and
praises without end.
'.But its costY' Dame, rather deary'
'But the figureT "a hundred ecus. I"
At this there was . cry Of disappoint-
ment, though truly the Comtoise was
worth it, being not only beautiful but, q
Pierret declared. unique and rare. ''Still
. hundred ecus, and for clockl Did il
striker ''Srike! Undoubtedly; listen!'
and the clockmaker touched tho bell,
that sounded with . clear, sonorous and
silveEy ring.
Nevertheless, nobody viii buy it
here" said Pierret regretfully; I'm
much afraid I've made a blunder."
Nobody! Well, that depends, Pierret.
We arc not rich enough, it's true, but
somebody is here who is, If it suits him
to do it."
'.Reallyi WhoT "Jocard, Of course
tho handsome Jocard-who is about to
bemarried and doesn't care for expense.
IF you would be kind enough to tell
him q word about IT,
Willingly, and he'll buy it If wetouct
his pride"
Thanks, truly-youu render me q
great service"
Jacques Jocard, despite his title Of the
handsome Jocard," was but little liked
in the village, and for several reasons.
First, he had made his fortune too
rapidly. There had fallen to him from
heaven and through the agency of . no.
tary from somewhere on the other side
card said, that had Immediately put him
at his ease, and he had increased it BY
speculation, in wnich there was always
some one cheated-though never the in
Gtigator.
He had had luck, 50 to say, and was
too proud of It. He looked down On
small people, showed of his wealth, and
though lavish with it when personally
in question. was equally stingy with il
in his dealings with others. Still, though
Jocard talked loud, gave himself airs in
the street and was q hard drinler, he
had his ccmtiers. and when they wanted
to unite the strings Of his purse for q
bowl of punch or bottle of champagne
they knew how to maLage him.
Never was one Ike him! He W..
king Of the country" they said. He
nodded his head, well pleased with these
sulogies, and allowed himself to he taken
IN. Why, then, should they not once
more make use of his vanity to extract
from him a good deed? PieTret was q
worthy man. though Jocard would nevez
have given him even his watch to mend
he did not deign to look at his shop. He
despised him, in fact, because fortunes
wheel had turned, and he. formerly
as poor as . church mouse. was nov
rich. whilst Pierret, dispossessed d
everything bv . crime, was reduced te
work for his living. The thing VA
settled at the Cafe do Il Grand Place q,
The hour Of ahsinthe.
Il Was not 90 easy ~ they had though
at first. When PierTet's name was ut
tsred before Jocard he made IN ugiy
gesture; he liked him not, that Vas clear
PAzbleu! one is free to like or dislike, q
e suits him.
'Pierret was q drone, said JocaTd.
'sNo. decidedly he was unjust; and
besides. what mat3erpd It when thSmar
vel Of marvels was IN question. . thinl
that had no equal. In the village at q
events; neither at tho Haires, the q,
Collectors nor at tho chatean itself
Why not look at 1T Looking costs noth
ing"