The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-12

would least expect TO find it, Who
would think of going into a second class
French restaurant for cup of coffee
and roll, and coming out with better
idea of the revolution of 1913 than he
ever got from books, with q romantic
Renaissance of the coup d'etat at
Plassans thrown in by way of dessert?
Yet that was my good fortune the other
day.
As l entered the restaurant its one
waiter rose reluctantly from the book he
was reading and awaited my order.
CHANGING at the volume which still lay
on the table saw that it was a novel
by lola, of which the strategic maneu-
yer at Plassans is the mainspring.
"Ah," said, land so you are lover
of Zola?"
NO" said the waiter scornfully, 81
am not lover of lola; am lover of
Alphonse Daudet"
But you were just reading lola"
"True; but because l read one of his
books is no sign that l love them all.
This book contains something that inter
ests me, that is all-but wait till 1 get
your coffee"
The waiter brought my coffee and sat
down at the opposite side of the table.
"You have read the book" he asked
Eyes"
"And remember the account of the
coup d'etat at Plassans"
Surely"
Every well" said the waiter. becoming
very impressive, my grandfather was
the chief actor in that drama. But for
him there would have been no Second
Empirep l expressed proper astonish-
ment, and begged the waiter to explain.
But, dear me-" he said, shaking his
head, my grandfather had no idea of
what he was doing for Napoleon. He
was as good Republican as any OF
them"
Then how did he perform such signal
service for NapoleonT' l inquired.
''Ah, that is it; because he was an
ass, replied the waiter, who evidently
would have been something of Repub-
hcan himself if he had lived in those
times. My grandfather was an igno-
rant, foolish old man and fanatic. He
was an under gardener in the service Of
NJ. Possart, who had always been
stanch Republican, but was now acting
secretly against both the Republicans
and the Legitimists. My grandfather
did not know this, so he made a very
convenient tool.
The grounds Of NJ. Possart's house at
the rear were separated from those of
NJ. Pegneur by shruobery and low
paling fence. NJ. Pegneur was a lead
ing spirit among the Republicans, and
knew all about their strength and their
plans. NJ. Pegneur employed as gov
erness for his children a pretty little
Parisienne with whom NJ. Possart, be-
ing young and handsome, had firted
desperately over the boundary fence
Her name was Nanette. One day Ma
nette came to the fence and spoke 70
my grandfather, who was at work in
his masters garden. SO, So he said.
going up to the fence, you and my
young master have quarreled. You no
longer meet as you used to-
mo said Nanette, 'we have not
qusrreled. Listen. We are going 20 /
marry, But we can't meet here any
more. Your master is suspected of being |
a traitor
Never said my grandfather; 1T is
false. He is 10 traitor
at is true he is suspected, and we 4
are watched. But you can help Us, said 4
Nanette plaintively. DO you have
good appetite?
Very said my grandfather, which
was true, for l have heard my mother
say be was an old glutton.
And are you fond Of sugar cakesT
Extremely said my grandfather.
licking his lips
. Wen, then. listen said Nanette.
Quite often, maybe every other day,
viii bring you some sugar cakes and hand
them Over the fence; bat you must eat
them at once. for we shall be watched.
But do not eat the little piece Of paper In
the center OF one of the CAKES Conceal
Il N your hand, and after while take X
20 n PossarI.'
The very next DAY Nanette brought
some sugar cakes 20 the fence, and called
Dut 70 my grandfather: Old man, old
man. are you hungry: Here are some
uice sugar cakes for you Ny graudfa-
Their went up 10 the fence az once took
he cakes and ate t1en- In the center
d one was Alifsle bit Of paper which
Your cTauCfaihe- could not read,
No more than = COW, q cCurse not.
rTe took ~ rsss4-- n -lzr--~ - Il pr.=s---