Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-10-12

SelI, IN MS nlSntdreSS ana IN SredI
alarm, came and opened the door.
"What is the matter-is the house on
fre?'
mo, my dear M. Bouvard," said Ana
tole. 81 have only paid you little
visit"
ssAt this hour!''
sit is pleasant to see you at any hour,
my dear M. Bouvardi But you arc SO
lightly dressed-pray get into bed
again"
81 am going to do SO. But suppose,
monsieur, that it was not simply TO trou-
bic mo in this way that you have come
at such an hour? You have something
of Importance to say to 1ne?'
''Very in portant, M. Bouvard! 1t is
to tell you that you must renounce the
idea of marrying my cousin Nicette to
M. Capdenac"
"What do you say?'
"You must renounce that project.
'.Never, monsieur! never!'
Don't fly in the face Of Providence
by using such language!''
''My resolution is fixed, monsieur;
this marriage will take place"
SIT will not, monsieurl'
"We will see about that. And now
that you have had my answer, monsieur,
I'll not detain you.'
"a speech none too polite, M. Bou-
ward; but, as am as good natured as
am tenacious, l will pass over it, and
remain"
ssStay, if it pleases you to do SO, but I
shall consider you gone and hold no
further conversation with YOU"
Saying Which M. Bouvard turned his
face to the wall, grumbling to himself
"Was ever such thing seen? rousing
man at such an hour, breaking his
sleep, only to pour into his ears such
pack of nonsensev'-
Suddenly M. Bouvard sprang into a
sitting posture in his bed.
Anatole had possessed himself Of the
professors trombone, into which he was
blowing like deaf man and sending
from the tortured instrument sounds of
indescribable detestableness.
s.My presentation trombone, given me
by my pupils! Let that instrument
alone, monsieur
monsieur, you consider mo gone.
shall consider You absent, and shall
amuse myself until you return Couac!
couac! fromn! brout! Eth? That was
fine noter'
"You will get me turned out of, the
house; my landlord will rot allow a
trombone to bo played here after mid
night"
"A man who evidently hath not music
in his soul! F'rrout! frrout, prrrr
"You will split my earsl You'll spoil
my instrument IA trombone badly
played On is atrombone destroyed, mon
sieurr'
"Couac! prounn, -pra-prrr"
"For mercy'.' sake, give over!''
"Will you CONSENT"
s'To whai?"
"To renounco tho idea of that mar
riage!H
''Monsieur, cannotr'
''Then-couac' -
'M. Capdenac" -
"Prrrrou-n'
SIS a terrible man to deal withw
sFrrroutt"-
eff f1.were to ctfer him such an affront
he would kill me-"
''Is that the only reason which stops
your"
'.That--;.nd several others"
"[n that case leave the matter to me
only swear to me that if | obtain M
Capdcn;n's remuneration my cousin shall
be free to choose a husband for herself"
s.Really, monsieur, you abuse
sCauac, frrroutt, ffuit, brrrout"-
"Monsicur, monsieur-she shall be
free"
Bravo! | havo your word. Will you
now allow ne to retire? By the way,
where does your Capdenac liver
''One hundred Rue des Deux-Epees."
Il fly thithcr. Until we meet again!''
You are going to throw yourself into
the lions mouth, and he will teach you
ii lesson you deserve" said M. Bouvard
as Anatole hurried from the bedcham-
Der and shut the door after him.
Without moments hesitation Ana
tole betook himself to the address of the
fire eating fencer; it was just o'clock
when ho arrived there. He rang the
doorbell.
,.Who is therc?" demanded rough
voice behind the door.
"Open-very important communica-
ton, NJ Bouvard"
The sounds of night chain and the
turning Of key in heavy lock were
heard
Here is a. man who does not forget
to protect himself against unwelcome
visitors" remarked Anatole to himself.
The door opened at length. Anatole
found himself in the presence of
gentleman with !, mustache fercely up
turned, whose nightdress appeared to be
the complete costume Of the fencing
school.
You see, always ready; it's my
motto
The walls of the swordsman's ante
chamber were completely covered with
panoplies Of arms of all descriptions;
yatagans, poisoned arrows, sabers,
rapiers, one and two handed swords, pis-
tols-a regular arsenal-enough to ter
rify any tilnid minded observer. 4
''Bah!' thought Anatole, "wnas do l
;low risk? AT most two hours and q
half =
Monsieur said Capdenac, "may
be allowed to know"-
Monsieur replied Anatole, ''you
want to marry Nicette?'
eyes, monsieur"
Monsieur, you will not marry her!'
"Ah, thunder-blood! Who will pre-
vent me!"
Il shall, monsieur!'
Capdenac stared at Anato1e, who was
not very big, but appeared to be very
decided.
"Ah! Young man, you are very lucky
to have found me in one Of my placable
moments. Take advantage of it-save
yourself while you have time; otherwise
l will not answer for your days?'' i
''Nor for yours"
ga challenge-to me-Capdenac? Do
you know that I have been master
of the art of fencing for ten years.?
''There's nothing of-fencive about me,
monsieurr' >.
81 have fought twenty duels, and had
the misfortune to kill five of my adver-
saries, besides wounding the fifteen 9th