The record-union., 1891-01-10


individuals who could testify to the COS.
tune, the horns and the furious race
across fields, meadows brooks and rivers,
the Devil and his steed stopping neither
for sticks nor stones, for tocSin nor wild
hallooS.
CHAPTER XI.
The day after Mons. Tringle carried out
his unfortunate notion of dressing as a
devil, there was considerable excitement
In the town of Ilettes.
Therese arose, early in the morning to
relate to her master the frightful vision OF
the preceding night After rapping dis
creetly and receiving. no reply, the old
housekeeper opened the door and ran
away atfrighted upon perceiving that the
bed had not been disturbed. In terror she
| haStened to recount the adventure to the
servants OF Iire-Lire street, who in turn
circulated the remarkable story in Chat-
Bossu street. The news spread rapidly
through Belles-Femmes square, from
which it was carried to Petit Credo street
In this way the tale was repeated through
out the town, and everyone was talking
of Tringle's ill-tinaed visit to the Brou
family, as well as his subsequent disap-
pearanee.
What could have become of Mons.
| Ir1ngle? Such was the universal query,
while all this time the poor bachelor,
clinging in desperation to his dreadful
foe, was spreading terror among the
country people. Some pessimistic indi-
vidualS were of the opinion that, cha
grined at his ridiculous blunder, Tringle
had perhaps done himself some bodily
harm; but his whole life decried any such
probability.
However, so much damage had been
done throughout the town the previous
night that the authorities assembled at the
| sub-Prefect'S to open an investigation.
The. inhabitants, terrified by Therese's
stories, buried their silverware in their
| cellars, Tor 1t seemed certain that ma.
levolent spirit had taken possession oil
Iringle and had left in his wake innumer-
able traces of his diabolical character. Q
The committee, composed of the Police
Judge, the Justice of the Peace, the Mayor
beating OF drum, that all citizens should
lock their doors at nightfall, pending
.l conyocation of the National Guard on the
morrow.
As for Chabre, the perruquier, he grieved
far more over the loss of his cherished cos
tune than over the mysterious disappear
ance of Mons. Tringle. Mournfully seated
in his shop and gazing ruefully at the
vials of Macassar and antique oil which
the rays of a smoky lamp tlecked with
sparks of light, he grew indignant over
the mlrth of the gamins who had assem-
bled before the wonderful show-window
where were displayed pasteboard masks Of
grotesque shapes.
The neighbors, gathering around him,
endeavored to console the sorrowing wig
maker, who, in quayering voice, was
lamenting his loss.
zone should always be on his guard In
business. Mons. Tringle has not even
left me deposit! Who will pay for my
costume?" he was saying deiectedly,
when the panes of the show-window flew
into q thousand pieces and q sort of cy-
clone rushed into the shop overturning
! dyes, while without a hundred voices
We're shouting:
| stop him! Stop hin!,
Then a crowd of peasants rushed into
theS shop in pursuitSof the bull, which,
crazed by blows of their pitchforks, had
to his own neighborhood the bruised and
bleeding Tringle, upon whom there re-
manned hardly yestige of the famous
costume dc1liG6le.
The crowd kept on increasing without
comprehending what had taken place.
Some thought the shop had been over
turned by an earthquake; others, hearing
the drum-beating of the fremen, sup
| posed that contfagration was threaten
ing the destruction of the town. Soon
bright light appeared at the end of the
street. The firemen were coming, carry
ing torches, and followed by crowds of
| frightened people. Then the neighbors
| opened their windows and groaned SYM
pathizingly:
"Alas! Chabre's shop is demolishedp'A
| The gaminS, wild with delight, ran
through the streets screaming: Fire!
| Efre!' and the town of Ilettes, ordinarily
so quiet, seemed a prey to fire and pillage.
1t required the interference ofthe authori-
ties to isolate the wig-naker's shop and
restore order.
Then, by the light of the torches they
discovered, hidden under the counter.
| Nj; 1orla rhn ,1o,l
human being. His face black with SCOT,
his costume in tatters, one horn hanging
! dejectedly- was q picture of distress as
he cried, Mercy! mercyp' But the bull,
recognizing the voice of his obstinate
rider, replied with prolonged below. as
if 70 say: "No quarterw
At that moment the Justice of the Peace
came in, and Tringle-whom the peasants
could not believe to be human-escaped
from them, crying:
| iSave me, monsieur! l am not the
| devil; / am Tringler'
The authorities, although still some-
what suspicious, ordered him to be
| brought before Therese. who, after con-
siderable hesitation, identified her master.
But even after his identity was proved and
he was allowed to return to his home, his
| troubles were not ended, for with great
remorse did he behold pass before him,
one by one, the landlords shopkeepers
| and public officers, whose property he
had damaged in his mad frolic of the pre-
ceding night.
Tringle received his just chastisement.
| When he had sufficiently recovered to re-
sumo his former tranquil existence, he
was obliged to indemnify the owner Of
the bull for having foundered it, while
claim after claim poured in from the peas
ants whose property had been injured in
] that eventful ride.
| Finally Chabre sent in his bill for re-
| placing the costume de didbIg the nav
ment Of which enabled him to furnish his
shop anew, while it nearly crazed poor
| Tringle, who saw in the accursed costume
| the cause of all his misfortunes, not the
| least of which was. the loss of Mile Brou
and her coveted income of six thousand
francs.
An Exclusive Virginian.
| A lady called at one of our banks and
presented a check which she wished
| cashed. As she was a perfect stranger to
the paying teller, he said very politely: