Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-12-01
THAT LAMP.


jules Perronnet, retired hatseller; Nine.
Leontine Perronnet, his wife and their
daughter, Amelie Perronnet, a young
woman who had just reached marriage
able age-had finished it's evening meal
Amelie Perronuet, following the wise
precepts Of housekeeping that her mother
had inculcated in her, aided the little serv-
ant girl to remove the cloth, with an eve
on the fragile dishes. Nine. Perronnet
brought forth her ledger TO inscribe In 1t
the expenses Of the day, and NJ. Perronnet,
after having looked over the real estate
sales, had installed himself at the corner
Of the fire TO devour the political news
For at the Perronnets' they sat in the din
ing room after dinner. The parlor was
used only on Friday, the reception day;
the rest of the week the parlor furniture
was carefully swathed in its linen covers
II should not be imagined from this that
the Perronnets were avarcious They
were, on the contrary, worthy people, who
had come TO San Francisco in the early
Hixties and had thrifty amassed a com
Portable fortune in the hat trade But they
had their little foibles, and, as they had
not accustomed themselves TO use parlor,
they did not occupy the one they had 70
richly furnished when they bought their
house on Geary street-a fine house that
brought them in $l,GO0a year, what with
the grocery store and the rooms they rent
ed on the third story.
Three times already they had been asked
for the hand Of their daughter-they had
brought her up in the good old French
way, and Amelie was too obedient a child
to have ideas Of her own-but they had de-
ohned. They had thought that court was
paid less to Ameiie than 60 her $1,000 dot,
to the Geary street house, aud TO the fur
ther little fortune that constituted what,
ne regards marriage. are termed "expecta-
tons
The cloth removed. Ameiie brought her
father his petit verre Of cognae, and then
seated herself at the table and read the
fashion journal
From time to time, when she seemed alb
sosbed In her reading, NJ. and Mime. Per
ronnet exchanged a few words in a low
voice, with mysterious air but as soon
Amehe raised her head they were silent or
spoke Of having repairs made in the house
Toward half past O'Clock all three be-
came silent-listening, waiting for some
thing. That something was the sound Of
step on the stairs-a firm, regular step
that they followed from the street door up
10 the third landing. They said nothing,
but they thought, with an air Of very evil
dent satisfaction, "He has come in"
Almost Immediately Amelie kissed her
parents and went to bed.
When the old people were alone the
father said, "What regularity
Evidently approved the mother "he
IS an orderly man.
At 10 o'clock there was knock at the
door. Il WIS the servant. who was come
to say good night to her mistress, accord
ing to the custom Mime. perronnet had
exacted Of all her servants.
After having gently closed the door
leading to Amrlie's room, Mime. Perronnet
said to the girl.
well, how Is the new lodgerf"
well, ma'am, be gave me his little
lamp to iill again this morning.
1T is astonishing exclaimed Nine. Per-
ronnet.
1T is lie already" declared NJ. Perron-
net, who had pushed back the window
curtain. and was looking up at little
window IN the third goor Of the wing of
the building.
"What energy" exclaimed Nine. Per-
ronnet, land what is it like, this lamp"
IL saw il the day he brought it here,
madame; he carried it home himself 1t is
little blue china lamp
Inc VI ~ ue-
olared NJ. Perronnet; 'ah--I see him; he is
taking breath of air at his window--heis
smoking a cigarette"
"And well he might, my dear, before
spending the whole night &C his work
Mary, he paid me in advance for the first
month yesterday. Tell him To stop in to-
morrow night TO get his receipt. Good
night"
An hour later the entire house was
plunged in the most profound darkness,
except the little window in the third floor,
which shone brightly into the middle OF
the night and even until dawn.
The sun then shone into John Chappells
room and awoke him.
His first care was to extinguish his lamp.
He assured himself that it had burned
brightly, and seemed greatly pleased.
AS be dressed he glanced happily over
the vista Of back yards and roofs which
constituted the view from his window.
Then, fresh looking and handsome, he went
down stairs to 20 to his breakfast Of rolls
and coffee, and then 10 his desk at the
store, where he earned sixty five dollars a
month. As he was leaving the house the
servant hastened out to tell him that his re-
ceipt was ready in Nine Perronnet's rooms.
''All right" he answered. II shall get
it this evening"" and he walked briskly
away without glance back. II be had
turned around he would have seen brown
little head at Mile Amelie's window, and
II he could have heard what Nile. Amelie's
red lips said he would have been very
proud, for they murmured, my, amt be
Moe lookingp'
He was handsome indeed-tall dark,
with well proportional figure and crisp
mustaohe, and In his eyes there was a look
of tranquil content that WAS very pleasant
He worked all day, with no Thought but
Of his duties, only saying 70 himself, as he
had said jt many time before, that II u
Nasa good yeaF tbey would probably raise