The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-28
widow it would be as penencenr oev.

| the way to the Rue de Ia Sante, and by the
time he reached his destination that lonely
| neighborhood was wrapped in gloom. By
| the light of q gas lamp near the Capuchln
convent he saw Number IL" over half
open door in rough stone wall, and, on
entering, found himself in large market
| garden. He could just distinguish in the
| darkness square plots of vegetables, some
| groups Of rose bushes, and here and there
the silhouettes of fruit trees. At the other
end of the garden two or three dim lights
showed the front of plain, square build
ing, and to this the deputy governor made
| his way, and had the good luck to run
against the gardener who directed him TO
the widow Blouet's lodgings upstairs.
| After twice stumbling on the muddy
| steps NJ. Boi1ville knocked at door I'M
| der which line of light was to be seen,
| and great was his surprise when, the door
being opened, he saw before him girl Of
about twenty years holding up lighted
| lamp and looking at him with astonished
| eyes. She was dressed in black and had
| fair, fresh face, and the lamp light was
| shining on her wavy chestnut hair, round
| dimpled cheeks, smiling mouth and linn
| pid blue eyes.
| SIS this where Madame Blouet Hvess"
| asked NJ. Boinville after a moment heslta-
ton, and the girl replied: Eyes, sir. Be
kind enough to walk in. Grandmother.
| here is gentleman who wants to see you"
lam coming" cried a thin, piping voice
| from the next room, and the next minute
the old lady came srotting out, with her
false front all awry under her black cap,
and trying to unite the strings Of blue
apron which she wore.
''Holy mother!'' she cried in amazement
on recognizing the deputy governor, lis it
possible, sirp Excuse my appearance, l
was not expecting the honor of visit from
you. Claudette, give NJ Boinville chair.
This is my grandchild, sir. She is all /
have in the world"
The gentleman seated himself in an an
tique armchair covered with Utrecht vel
vet, and cast rapid glance round the
room, which evidently served as both par
lor and dining room. 1t contained very
little furniture; small stove Of white
delft ware next to which stood an old
fashioned oaken clothes press, a round
table covered with oilcloth and some rush
bottom chairs, while on the wall hung two
old colored Autographs. Everything was
very neat and the place had an old time
explained the object of his visit in a few
words and the widow exclaimed:
"Oh, thank you, SRI How good you are!
1t is qeite true that pleasant surprises
never come singly. My grandchild has
passed an examination in telegraphy, and
while she is waiting for a position she is
doing little painting for one and another.
Only today she has been paid for large
order, and so we made up our minds" said
the grandmother ''to celebrate the event
by having only old home dishes for dinner.
The gardener down stairs gave us cab
bage, some turnips and potatoes to make
potee. We bought Lorraine sausage,
and when you came in had just made
tot-fait."
"Oh, a tot-faitp' cried Boinville. "That
is sort of cake made of eggs, milk and
farina. 1t is twenty years since heard its
name and more than that since tasted it."
His face became strangely animated, and
the young girl, who was watching him
curiously, saw a look of actual greediness
in his brown eyes While he was lost in
-everie of the tot-fait Claudette and her
grandmother turned away and began dis
cussing, and at last the girl whispered:
II am afraid it would not do"
L
think it would please him" And then,
seeing that he was looking at them won
deringly, she went toward him, saying:
IN Boinville, you have already been SO
kind to us that l am going to ask of you
another favor. 1t is late, and you have a
long way to COVE should be SO glad if
you would stay here and taste our tot-fait
should we not, Claudette?"
I'LL ho ~ ri Shy1t ~
vile will have plain dinner, and, besides,
he is, no doubt, expected at home"
mo one is waiting for me-" answered
the gentleman, thinking of his usual dali,
solitary meals in the restaurant. 81 have
no engagement, butt he hesitated, looked
at Claudette's smiling eyes, and suddenly
exclaimed:
II accept, with pleasure"
'"rhat is rightI' said the old lady brisk
". "What did l tell you, Claudette?
Quick, my pet, set the table and run for
the wine, while l go back to my tot-fait."
The girl had already opened the press
and taken out a striped tablecloth and
three napkins, and in the twinkling of an
eye the table was ready. Then she lighted |
candle and went down stairs to fetch the |
wine, while the old dame sat down with |
her lap full of chestnuts, which she pro-
ceeded to crack and place upon the stove.
SIS not that a bright, lively girl?" she |
said. 'She is my consolation; she cheers me |
like linnet on an old roof"
Here the speaker ratified the chestnuts |
on the stove, and then Claudette reap |
peared. a little flushed and out of breath, |
and the old woman went and brought in |
the potee, and set it, steaming and fragrant, |
on the table
Seated between the CHEEKY octogenarian
and the artless, smiling girl, and in the |
midst of half rural surroundings which |
constantly recalled the memory of his |
youth, Hubert Boinville, the deputy gov
ernor, did honor to the potee. His grave,
cold manner thawed out rapidly, and he
conversed Familiarity with his new friends,
the gay sallies of Claudette, and
shouting with merriment at the sound of
the patois words and phrases which the old |
lady used.
From time to time the widow would rise
and go TO attend to her cookery, and at last
she returned triumphant, bringing in an
iron baking dish in which rose the gently
swelling golden brown tot fait, smelling OF
orange flower water.
Then came the roasted chestnuts in their
ulOHli NAAcPCA slAcIAs, auQ tue O4ti |
brought from her press bottle Of fgno-
lette, liquor made of brandy and sweet
wine.
When Claudette had cleared the table
the grandmother took up her knitting me-
and sat near the stove, chatting
gayly at first, but she now yielded to the
combined effects of the warmth and the
fgHolette and fell asleep Claudette put
the lamp On the table, and she and the Wis
itor were left 30 entertain each other. The
yirl sprightlv and light hearted did nearly