Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-24
DENIS.


who was constantly referred 10, through all
the country round, ~ the very model OF
valst--4uersed:
Monsieur Is happyi Monsieur has re-
ceiyed some good ne~xr
NJ Marambot was not rich. He was
bachelor, and had been village druggist for
many years He now lived quietly on the
small revenue made with great difficulty by
selling Eeiicinss 10 the country people. He
answered.:
"Yea, my boy. Old MAlois docs not want
10 90 into court; and tomorrow / viii get
my money. Five thousand francs will help
an old bachelor along pretty we'll
And N. Marambot rubbed his hands To-
gether lie was a man Of . rather resigned
character, not particularly joviai, incapable
Of anything like sustained effort, and quite
indifferent about his own affairs
He might easily have made . better living
by taking advantage Of the death Of certain
fellow druggists, who had stores well situated
In large centers. To take one Of the vacant
businesses and assure himself Of a lucrative
custom. But the trouble Of moving, and the
thought Of all the other things he would have
70 do. always prevented 1t; and after think
ing over the matter for a day or two, he
would merely say;
"Ahi bah-Dsxt time I'll really think
about 1t. Ono loses nothing by waiting,
anyhow Perhaps III get . still better
chance"
Denis, on the contrary, was always urging
his master to attempt something. Naturally
energetic, he would declare.
"Ohl as for me, IL Just had the capital TO
start with, would have made a fortune.
Only 600 francs, and I'd make my way soon
enough"
went out into his little garden. and walked
up and down with his hands behind him, in
reverie
Denis, all day long. sang ballads and coun-
try songs, as II he were in an uncommonly
good hunor, He even showed unusual
activity; for he cleaned all the windowpanes
in the house, singing at the top of his voice
while he wiped the glass
Astonisbed at his zeal. N. Marambot said
10 him several times, with q smile
"If you keep on working like that, my boy,
you will have nothing To do tomorrow"
Next morning. about O'Clock, the postman
handed Denis four letters for bis master, one
Of which WINS very heavy. M. Marambot at
once locked himself up in his room, and re-
manned there until late in the afternoon. He
then intrusted his servant with four letters
for the post. Ono Of them was addressed to
NJ. Maleis--it was no doubt an acknowledge
ment OF money received.
Denis asked his master no questions; he
seemed tn I've that day as melancholy and sui
len az he had been merry the evening before
Night came. NJ. Marambot went to bed at
his usual hour, and slept.
He was awakened by singular noise. He
sat up at once in his bed and listened But
all at once his bedroom door opened. and
Denis appeared on the scene. holding a candle
in one hand and kitchen knife IN the other,
his eyes wild and fixed; his lips compressed as
il under the influence Of some terrible
emotion, and his face 30 pale that b. looked
like ghost.
NJ. Marambot, at first stricken dumb
with astonishment, concluded that Denis was
walking in his sleep, and he got up TO inter
cept him, when Denis suddenly blew out the
light and male a rush for the bed His mas
ter instinctively put out his hands ,e save
himself from the shock OF tho encounter,
which flung him upon his back, and then he
tried TO seize the hands Of the domestic, who
seemed to have become demented. and who
was striking at him with all his might
The first blow Of the knife struck him in
the shoulder the second blow he received in
his forehead, the third in his chest He
struggled fran,ically, putting out his hands
In the dark, and kicking out with his feet,
shouting;
"Denis! Densl Are you madf DeDisi
VIVA: are you doing, Denisl"
But Denis, painting with his efforts, still
kept striking, became more and more furious;
sometimes kick or a blow would fling him
back, but he always rushed on again, wildly.
NJ Marambot received two more wounds
one in the leg and one in the ab,io-
men. But q sudden thought came to him,
and he screamed OUT
Stop, Denis Stopi have not yet got my
money!"
The man at once stopped striking. NJ
MArambot could hear him painting iu tho
dark.
N. Marambot spoke again:
IL have not yet got cent N. Malois has
gone back on his word; the case Is going b.
fore the courts-that is why you took those
letters to the post You had better read the
letters lying on my desk"
And with supreme effort he managed to
get hold Of the matches on the table and to
strike light
He was covered With blood. Jets Of it had
spafterei the wall. The sheets, the bed cur
was red. Denis. also bloody
from head to foot, was standing in the middle
OF the room.
When he saw all this, n Marambot thought
IL was all over with him and became uncon-
sciouA
He came to himself again at daylight It
took him some little time TO collect his senses
to understandable remember But suddenly
the recollection Of the attempt and the sensa-
ton Of his wounds came to him, and 50 in
tense fear took possession OF him that he
shut his eyes - a. not To see anything At
the end Of few minutes his terror Gained.
and he began to think. He had not died from
the blows; therefore he had some chance Of
living. He felt weak, very weak, but bad
no violent pain, though be felt . soreness at
various points of his body, as Of severe pinch
ing He also felt very chill and wet and COM
pressed, as IL he bad been tightly swathed
with bAndAges He thought the humidity
must be blood, and shudder passed through
him at the thought Of all that red fiuid which
had issued from his own veins In such GUAM
tity as to wet his bed The idea Of having to
ne that awful sight again completely upset
him. and be shut his eyes a. tightly as he
could, as II afraid they might open in spite Of
him
What had become Of Denisi He must have
run away.
But what was be, Marambos, now going to
dot To get up and call for helps Why, If
he were to make the least movement all his
wounds would certainly break open again,
and he would die from los OF blood
All Of sudden he heard his bedroom door
pushed open. His heart almost stopped That
was certainly Denis coming back to finish
him. He tried to hold his breath 50 that the
murderer would think be was really dead
that the job was thoroughly done.
He felt the sheet pulled o6. then felt some
one feeling his abdomen A sharp pain near
his hip made him start Nov he felt some
body washing his wound-very gently-with
Old water. Therefore the crime must have
been discovered, and they were attending to
his wounds-hs was heing nurseL Wild
Joy caz,s on him, bat through lingering
seuse OF prudence be tried not to show that
be was conscious, and be half opened one eve
only one-with ever % many precautions
He recognized Denis standing beside him
LENS hinselfi Good Lordi He shut his ewes
again forthwith.
.snis! what on earth vas be doingi What
did be wanti What frightful prujecs was he
now enieavuring 10 accomplish,
Whas was he duinge WHY, be w.s washing
him simply 10 hSis al tracss Of the c,ime
Ana nov perhaps b would bury him. tan
Esss deep, IN IL garden, - that nobody c.,nid
NJ md him o. - perhaps in Tie cellar.
1ndg ~ paacs whaee ~ boesls. Of 1890.
vias vus kspk
And Il Maz.nbus Asrna 10 tr,ub,. -.