The National tribune., 1891-11-19

Mime Nuirtin was past 3D. She was plumT
little woman. but of proportional hight
IN spite OF the beginning OF embonp0nti o.
discreet and decent conduct. with calm yisagt
and a pair Of limpid brown eyes iriuEed with
thick black lBshes. She was the widow 81
principal clerk of the Public Works admins.
trat0n who had married her late aud left her
the reverlibie third OF bis retiring pension and
Tentes valued at 500 Francs.
ID was upon this modest revenue Of ] 400
francs that the widow lived, with the very
variable assisting earnings from sewing fur
nishcd by large clothing house She bad no
child led a very quiet life, and found ways "a
make two ends meet not without pulling in
dull seasons, however She was industrious
with domestic tastes, and went out little except
30 the clothing house during the week, and on
Sunday 10 mass at the Church Of the Missions
She preserved acquaintance only VITA her dis.
tant relatives, whom she saw scarcely twice a
gear, aud with Ey0nyme Martel0t who visited
her very often
Martelot an ordinary clerk or the Public
Works had been an old friend and subordinate
Of the late III. Aoirtin. lie protested % wOr-
ship the memory Oi the deceased, who had
protected him since bis entrance into Office.
Already 30 large blonde, with rudy COM
plcElOn, be had prominent blue eyes easily
moist thin hair narrow forehead, and thick
lips-a physi0Eu0my not very intelligent, but
DiIty. He was timd and embarrassed, did not
know what 10 do with bis hands. aud formed
Ills sentences with difficulty.
For iAc rest be had a brave heart aud was
q model empl0ye, although slightuEiy alluded
70 hv some % bis ioiOw-clerks because Of his
peCuiautIUs. lie had remained single not
from any aversion % marriage, but because Of
excessive timidiiy. When De bad c0nscien-
uousIy given ilC ministry his seven hours pcr
Gay, he was obi grd 10 enlarge bis meager
wallet bF keeping lhc books of z fat merchant
OF tAp rue sgutier three times a week lie
Cousecraled the other four free evenings to his
visits 10 Dime. Ao!rtIu, % whom hc carried the
known attachment which had bound him FOR
five year 10 der husband.
The Interests OF the widow occupied him
when her pension fell due, aud he saved her
adj agreeable tasks. PuuctuaIy ID The stroke
81 ghi on bis free evenings Lc assembled the
~ Dries Of the house Iu Tie rue Saint
~ ic. Invariably WLgu the dry click Of tile
a. announced I've minutes before 10 he pre-
Fe r. leave gave his hand % D Is friend, and
az $50 tlc middle of the stairs heard in bis
Dc re- the grave aud familiar striking OF
~ uer upon the s0ugT0us bell.
n1Ccut Intimacy of these two simple
81 united honestly IN the memory Of
q AoiriiH, was q touching spectacle.
toward The same pCaceable tastes
ideas q little worldly, aud tho same
10 poverty. During these even
Iu the dining room, near he earth
N Winter before the window in
Pee conversation was little varied
WAS q mediocre prattllr While
n lttcd her patterns bastcd "a cor.
go haTc.8t rac0gHtcd the g0-s. D OF
The widow habtuated by sor
THAT KIND % gossip know the
e employee all was atIll interested
passing.
dad not omit telling any 81 tho
bureaucratic llte Iie narrated an
aln-a-teayut which took with tbt
.e Importance OF great political
new director did not Joke during
ui regular hours. iu spite 90 which
40 better tEau before: The anna
aeir ease and sH.Fscd Their work
uscIeutiugs clerks. work wac uot
nn January, aud there was talk %
Era'uiles The chimney oil th,
hll lts smoke into the rooms b
bich was bad for ailing tHr0ats
q bad finished al this lutte new
'sea entirely Tor lie had not
alton.
Nine. NoiI.iu. being TOO occ4rfa,
70 give o reply, ID frcaueuil,
40 The entertainment was .url
hme profound silence BE- guud i
AIDED only ly The suiD ol tAt
De ticking 81 The clock.
itsei irc4uauf 9 served 10 rovlyJ
uuVcEalIou lu The interest OH thl
SINE. Die would pull from lis fol
a~lchi plump as au onion. dear {,
Hts, which WAS fastened 10 "a but
Nala-caa ly au equally ancigu
"ill cHurmau- links; and. com
ally The indications of bis TasBcct
.ur with iHB.e 81 the clock. bt
aiOusy contend that the latter wa
Pes Zoo idtl or TOO slow. Nine Aoir
urlskiy the defense OF her cbcrishe,
ior she loved iJ as MarlclUt did IA
ta she vCncratod the memory OF he
ugr the clock shared the ycucratiou
ll0u That subject the widow was A
IT, She eFokcd with great clCarncs
calsiomcd animation an the rcmrm
% Der infancy. She pictured % Mar
kitchen Of her grandmother. IN
lc foot Of 8 village of Argoune. 81
' l the place which the clock occupied
~ tic bed aud the CTuCifE, fronting tb
place, 80 great that one could look nj
.e mantoplcce aud see the blue sky
told Of her grandmother small. alert
t' angry aud erect with impartanc
40 lnyoue who deprecated the clock.
wound b up herself" said Mime Noir
FeyiHg attcuuyoly the long dark body
'he bul herself had a right % touch il
= saturday she took Of her shoes. and
a. 'rl on chair she rubbed The inlai,
"o.A, polished the copper work, aud iuspccte.