The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-06-06

what was the joke. This Frenchman,
by means of abundant pantomime and
few words q. always understands
French when so expressed. quite read
ily). made him understand that there
was a bold, bad woman downstairs,
who was trying to make some man
upstairs pay her fare; she could not get
anyone down there to do it. so had de-
clared that some one upstairs must;
said she had husband upstairs
which of course was only trick OF
hers, only the conductor, who was evil
IDENTIFY young innocent, seemed to be-
lieve her, and was trying to find hus-
band for her. This was the French
mans version of the affair. The con-
ductor made several long speeches on
top, only J. did not exactly catch their
meaning; but, from the way everybody
laughed, he judged the conductor must
have said something very funny, SO
thought it would look smarter if he
laughed, too. At last, Frenchman
with little more politeness than the
others, rose up. and said it was shame
that just for six sous a woman's fare
should not be paid; he would go down
and see her. If she was young and at
all pretty, he would pay it himself; but
if she was fat and ugly, alas! he could
not; and as some of the men cheered
this gallant little speech he followed
the conductor downstairs.
The passengers downstairs, in the
meantime, had been growing restless
at the conductors long absence on top;
they were all wishing, suppose, that
they had the power to be in two places
at once How their faces did brighten
when his legs first appeared in view!
And as they saw the stylishly attired
Young man who was following in his
wake, they looked at me as much as to
say: Now something interesting is
surely going to happen"
Instead of the conductor leading this
man before me, the latter stood in the
open doorway, and raising his glass to
his eye inquired of the conductor.
(which is the lady?"
ssThe little one in the blue dress, with
the red cheeks, monsieur" replied the
conductor: and before / could protest
against this new form of insult, the
young Frenchman had taken off his
hat, and with profound bow said:
1T would afford me the greatest happi-
ness in the world to be allowed the
honor of paying mademoiselle's fare, !"
and turning to the conductor handed
him six sous. With another profound
bow, and broad grin playing over his
face. he was off upstairs, while cries of
ssBraro! 5raso., Tres bieat tres bien!"
went after him.
tried to get the conductor to listen
to me as told him that he must return
the money at once, as the young man
was a stranger and had no business to
pay my fare, and that / could see no
reason why he should refuse to take
my five-franc piece. But he only shook
his head, and said he was fatigue and
was very happy to have at last found a
man who was jaunty enough to pay for
me; he did not care any longer whether
it was the husband CT madame or not;
the fare was paid, and that ended it,
sc'est fnf' and he shrugged his shout
ders.
We had just two more streets to go
before reaching our destination, the
Louvre, and as gathered up my para
sol and hand satchel could see that the
passengers were again on the qm cice.
As soon as l caught the very first
glimpse of J.'s long legs on the TOP
step rushed out to the back platform
and when he had reached the bottom
grasped him firmly by the arm, de-
manding to know what he meant by de
nving l was his wife and refusing Il
pay my car fare.
The most startled expression came
over his face as he stammered out
ssWere you the woman they were hunt
ing for man to pay her fare? O good
Lordy.'' And he commenced to laugh
quite foolishly.
The conductor looked as if he was
going to faint as he feebly walled: .
demanded of every monsieur but this
one, and he was reading. Mos Dieu!
was 6ete."
| s'Joseph Livingstone Il always say
Joseph when 1 am very angry, yo'
paw my fare at once!-it will probably
be for the last time-and take m,
away from this dreadful bus as quick
ly as you can, or shall die" BY thi
time l could hear peals of laughtel
both from the inside and on top, a
many of the passengers from above ha'
crowded to the stairs to see what wa
going on below.
4 j., as if in a dream, slowly pulled the
six sous out of his pocket and CAV
them to the conductor, who was look
ing very crestfallen. As we jumped of
the bus, followed by the gaze of ever,
passenger. 1 know they sympathize'
with me, for they must have thought
had for husband sun homme un pei
toque."
1t is needless to say that we did no
go to the Louvre to see the picture
that morning, but took a cab and drov
straight home instead. where / com
forted myself with a good fit of crying
between my sobs insisting that wa
going right home tomother on the mex
. steamer.