Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-09-18
THE STORY OF AN ASS.

Elysees, powdered them with white like a
marquis of the old regime.
In the Avenue Noutaigu it was close
upon in the morning; the sun shone
through the fog like n ball Of fire, but
threw out no warming beams, and the
breeze WIS sharp and cruel ON that poor
struggling world.
Onesaw passing rapidly alongth avenue
women with yelled faces and men with
bowed heads, like vessels whose prows dip
under the blasts of the furious hurricane
One would have turned neither a dog nor
a lover from the door; the KISS Of an limo
cent, even, would have frozen en- route.
l. too passed in haste, Hike all the world
while close beside me a raguicker, pale and
Carcworn, led by the bride a forlorn little
Bss that had the air OF being at least a hum
dged years old and dragged puinfullya poor
little cart, full of the trash and the cast
oils Of the quarter-scraps, broken bottles,
discarded papers, disdained bouquets, worn
out saucepans skillets. crusts of bread
billet douX-in a word, the thousand moth
incs that make up the fortune Of ragpck-
erS.
The woman had made good collection
in her run Of The night, but the ass was at
the end of its endurance.
As l drew near the little wagonctte a
name caught my eye suddenly among the
Crumpled papers, the name Of Nile. Cen
evieve the name precisely of the demoiselle
from whose house had just come. Was
il, perchauce, that Nile. Geneyleyey
l did not need her portrait 10 be sure that
It was shell who had seen Der only the
night before, dazzling with beauty, all
daubcd with red and white and with her
hair in the latest fashion and her comedy
ways, for really she seemed to adore me
!, WHO 20 too much, however, 10 genuine
comedy to be caught by sAam9 Ike these.
Nevertheless, though it was but "a scrap,
dared not help myself to that tempting
letter; it was the ragpicker's property.
Madame" said to her, twill you give
me a bit Of paper to light my gar viths'
She regarded me with "A surprised air,
but as an honest woman, who did not de-
sire to take advantage of the situation, re-
sponded simply;
Help yourself, monsieur" and prof
tereI NE a match.
lcarelessly dropped a sou piece into her
hand and turned away, the letter with me.
Word for word behold it;
Permit me to say, my friend, that for
several weeks past have found you very
peculiar, posing, II seems TO me, for one Of
the Eleven thousand Virgins Of ancient
fame. l warn you, therefore, that the end
approaches; you viii respond by Offering
me cup of tea this very evening, or /
seek the hospitality Of your charming
nei9hhor, for shall dance attendance on
you no longer"
And this epistle was signed with the
name Of our mutual friend &c Marignac.
But why, / asked myself, why was this
letter thrown thus in the trash Of the rub
hish cart, A letter that myself had seen
1T Gene levels house within twenty-four
iou~-t I.1 In 11rau-l,t What u1qftrre1
"hao IL Meant' 1 Was gong 10 turn ABOUT
ana retArn 10 her mouse 10 see Tor mySeh
what lt meant, "hen the ass diverted me-
happily, from so stupid STEP.
lie Aha abruptly stepped snort As II re-
solved never TO move again; L's les
swayed under him, and he hung his head
to~rowtu4y' as an ass medItatlnG' VINO pre-
ha2ed MS last honr-
The sight broke my hea1W 1 stopped
short with him.
a ragman would have beaten tie ass to
reaAlmate ms tal4lng strength, cursed ana
revived hlmi the woman, On the contrary
regarded the poor beast with compa9-
slonete air the gaze OF mother, wife,
or sister The ass also regarded her, l,1
eyeeloquent saying plainly It's finished
The end Is here nave struggled Tor thee
heroicahy. have passed tie days and
nights without ever complaining, because
have Gomprehe nded that thy misery Was
greater than mine. Thou hast been good
TO me; thou hast refused me neither food
nor caresse'; thou hast even stolen tor me
the hay OF thy neighpori thou hast given
me the half OF thy bed OF straw. But die
OF agony
Inc Noinah stroAeu De ass always Iais.
ing 70 nun soltiy' 'enueI'y re"soAlL" WAN
MN