Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-04-28

Although 1t was December the weather
was mild, so Hubert Boinville walked oil
the way to the Rue de la Sante, and by the
time he reached his destination that lonely
neighborhood was wrapped in gloom. BY
the light of a gas lamp near the Capuchin
convent he saw Number 1917 over half
open door in a 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 BlJuet's lodgings upstairs.
After twice stumbling on the muddy
steps M. Boinville knocked at a door un-
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 n
fair, fresh face, and the lamp light was
| shining on her wavy chestnut hair, round
dimpled checks, smiling mouth and lin
pid blue eyes.
as this where Madame Blouet Ivesr
asked M. Boinvillc after moment hesita-
ton, and the girl replied: Eyes, sir. Be
kind enough to walk in. Grandmother,
here is a gentleman who wants to see you"
81 am coming" cried n thin, piping voice
from the next room, and the next minute
the old lady came trotting out, with her
false front all awry under her black cap,
and trying to unite the strings of blue
apron which she wore.
"Holy motherl'' she cried in amazement
on recognizing the deputy governor, lis it
possible, siry Excuse my appearance, l
was not expecting the honor OF visit from
you. Claudette, give NJ. Bonvile 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; n small stove OF white
delft ware, next to which stood an old
fashioned oaken clothes press, IA 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 few
words and the widow exclaimed;
ooh, thank you, sirl How good you arel
1t is quite true that pleasant surprises
never come singly. My grandchild has
passed an examination in telegraphy, and
while she is waiting for position she is
doing little painting for one and another.
Only today she has zen paid for "A 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 rs cab
bage, some turnips and potatoes to make a
potce We bought a Lorraine sausage,
and when you came in had just made a
tot-fait."
"Oh. a tot faitp cried Boinville. "That
is sort of cake made of eggs, milk and
farna. 1t is twenty years since heard its
name and more than that since tasted it. u
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 a
| revere of the tot-fait Claudette and her
grandmother turned away and began dis
cussing, and at last the girl whispered;
81 am afraid it would not do"
, "Why not?" returned the old lady; 81
]
% seeing that he was looking at them won
r dcringly, she went toward him, saying:
M Boinville, you have already been 81
3 kind to us that / am going to ask Of yoU
) another favor. 1t is late, and you have
| long way to COVE should be so glad i
r you would stay here and taste our tot-fai
. should we not, Claudette"
Certainly" said the girl, "but NJ. Bon
e vile will have plain dinner, and, besides
5 he is, no doubt, expected at home"
"No one is waiting for me-" answered
10 the gentleman, thinking of his usual dull
? solitary meals IN the restaurant. 81 hav,
e no engagement, butt he hesitated. looket
Z at Claudette's smiling eyes and suddenly
exclaimed;
81 accept, with pleasure"
' "That is rightp' said the old lady brisk
r Nv. "What did l tell you, Claudette
A Quick, my pct, set the table.and run TO
t the wine, while go back to my tot fait.
/: The girl had already opened the pres
r and taken out a striped tablecloth ant
. three napkins, and in the twinkling of al
r eve the table was ready. Then she lighte'
e a candle and went down stairs TO fetch tin
r wine while the old dame sat down will
her lap full of chestnuts, which she pro
j. ceeded to crack and place upon the stove.
r as not that n bright, lively girl'" sh
a said. "She is my consolation; she cheers M
i like q linnet on an old roof"
Here the speaker ratified the chestnut
c on the stove, and then Claudette reap
= peared, n little flushed and out of breath
e and the old woman went and brought il
Z the potee, and set it, steaming and fragrant
I on the table
, Seated between the CHEEKY octogenarial
c and the artless, smiling girl, and in tn
e midst Of half rural surroundings which
r constantly recalled the memory of hi
), youth, Hubert Boinville, the deputy gov
J. ernor, did honor to the potee. His grave
!, cold manner thawcd out rapidly, and h
o conversed familiarly with his new friends
5 returning the gay sallies of Claudette, AM
e shouting with merriment at the sound o
d the patois words and phrases which the oh
u lady used.
d From time to time the widow would ris
S and 90 to attend to her cookery, and at las
she returned triumphant, bringing in Al
n iron baking dish in which rose the gcntl
e swelling golden brown tot fat, smelling o
"A