Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-12-16

times Cney CnOuSht that he had aged par
ents to support, and it was for this that he
did this supplementary work; sometimes
they imagined him a student, scientist, a
future benefactor Of his race.
What constitution he has," M. Per-
ronnet would exclaim, Ito work all night,
and look like that in the morningp'
Amelie had not been consulted, and, to
tell the truth. the wonderful lamp had
made no great.impression upon her, but she
always found some pretext to go down
stairs at the precise moment when the
ledger on the third floor was coming in
he came in very regularly, not having the
money to seek amusements-and she found
his air, as he saluted her, very elegant.
Already Nine. Perronnet was disposed
to wait if John Chappell did not have his
money ready at~the end of the month. But
he was exactly punctual. He was simply
perfect!
AT last the situation began to appear
strained to Amelie.
Mamma" she said. "don't you think it
must be very lonely for that gentleman up
stairs to sit alone every EVENING""
1t was like a flash of light to Nine. Per-
ronnet
"Perronnet," she declared solemnly to
her husband, ''the heart of our daughter
has spoken"
John Chappell was astonished to receive
an invitation to take tea with the Perron-
nets, who were going to have a few friends
He came, was charming, sang a few love
songs for which Mile Perronnet played
the accompaniment, and noticed that
Amelie was quite pretty. Nine. Perron-
net could not believe her ears; this grave,
studious man, this interchangeable investi-
gator, sang love songs! He assumed in
her eye the proportions of hero of ro-
nance. She devoured her daughter and
the singer with her maternal regards. M,
Perronnet always had the same idea,
"What a constitution he must havep'
But he felt sure that after this little fam
lily gathering Johns window would re-
main unlighted for at least one night
that he would have at least one nights
rest. But no-that night, as every other,
the wonderful lamp lighted the students
window
Amelie went to bed happy, and dreamed
the most roseate dreams.
This first family evening was soon fol-
lowed by a second then by many Others
Amelie and John learned duets, and played
at the same piano; they even went to the
theater once, and John presented Nine.
Perronnet with a bouquet and gave Amelie
"a box of bonbons
However, M. Perronnet made inquiries
as to the commercial stand ing of his
ledger, and learned that John was as ex-
emplary in his business as in his private
life, and that to secure a ver.J good place
he needed only little capital All the
friends consulted found the young man
charming. They had been Informed of
his al 10 bopc I11t do
the least allusion to them, through feel
ing of delicacy easy to comprehend, for
they all felt sure that it was really to help
his aged parents.
Moreover, John gave proof of admirable
disinterestedness. He had fallen deeply i'll
love with Amelie, but, knowing her to be
rich, he did not dare ask for her hand.
Amelie had to break the ice. She knew
very well what was passing in Johns mind,
and SO one evening between two songs she
shyly asked him:
why shouldn't we get married, John?"
she said
He flushed violently, and explained man
fully that he would want nothing better,
but he had nothing but his nleager salary.
His fran l1ness, com bined with Il look full
Of tenderness, completed the conquest of
Amelie, and the marriage was decided on.
During all the preparations, during the
buying and making of the trousseau the
very night before the ceremony, the lamp
still burned.
''This is too muchP' cried M. Perronnet;
snow he no longer has the right to COM
promise his superb health''
After the marriage, which was gayly
celebrated, the young couple left on their
wedding journey, and M Perronnet was
at last free to enter his son-in-law's room,
There he discovered, to his stupefaction,
very few books, Il simple box of note pa
per, a rusted pen, and in the inkstand,
some ink half dried up.
sit must be that he does mental work.
he said, as he took the famous lamp and
respectfully bore it down stairs to room
which he had prepared for his son-in-law,
to which he had given the name of work
room.
Then he waited impatiently for the re-
turn of his children
They came back happy, enchanted; she
little fatigued by the journey; he still
fresh, still handsome.
After a pleasant family evening the
young couple retired, and John went to
find his lamp.
"Your work lamp" cried his astonished
father-in-law.
why" said John, surprised, cit isn't
work lamp, it is simply a lamp
Simply lamp"
Eyes; I cannot go to sleep without
lamp in the ROOM And then it makes
burglars think you are awake, you know,
and you can sleep with no fear of being
robbed. Adapted for Argonaut by l.. S.V.