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

THAT LAMP.
The Perronnet family-composed of M.
Jules Perronnet, retired hatseller; Nine.
Leontine Perronnet, his wife, and their
daughter, Amelie Perronnet, young
woman who had just reached marriage
able age-had finished it's evening meal.
Amelie Perronnet, 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 eye
on the fragile dishes. Nine Perronnet
brought forth her ledger, to inscribe in it
the expenses of the day, and M. 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 it's linen covers.
1t should not be imagined from this that
the PcrrOnnets were avaricious. They
were, on the contrary, worthy people, who
had come to San Francisco in the early
sixties and had thriftily amassed a com
fer: able fortune in the hat trade. But they
hae their little foibles, and, as they had
nc a"custOmed themselves to use a parlor,
they did not occupy the one they had SO
richly furnished when they bought their
house on Geary street-a fine house, that
brought them in $l,6G0a year what with
she ~ - ore and the rooms they rent
ed on tae 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 q child
to have ideas of her own-but they had de
clinol They had thought that court was
paid less to Amelie than to her $40, 200 dot,
to the Geary street house, and to the fur
ther little fortune that constituted what,
as regards marriage, are termed ''eXpecta
tions'
The cloth removed Amelie brought her
father his petit verre of cognac, and then
seated herself at the table and read the
fashion journal.
From time to time, when she seemed alb
sorbed in her reading. NJ and Nine. Per
ronnet exchanged a few words in a low
voice, with mysterious air, but as soon
Amelie raised her head they were silent or
spoke of having repairs made in the house.
Toward half past o'clock all three be-
came sient-listening, waiting for some
thing. That something was the sound of
a step on the stairs-a firm, regular step
that they followed from the street door up
to the third landing. They said nothing,
but they thought, with an air of very evil
dent satisfaction, ''He has come inn
Almost Immediately Amelie kissed her
parents and went to bed.
When the old people were alone the
father said, "What regularityp'
Evidently" approved the mother, she
is an orderly man."
At 10 O'Clock there was knock at the
door. 1t was the, servant, who was come
to say good night to her mistress, accord
ing to the custom Nine. Perronnet had
exacted of all her servants.
After having gently closed the door
leading to Amelie's room, Nine. Perronnet
said to the girl:
"WelI, how is the new lodger?"
well, ma'am, he gave me his little
lamp to fill again this morning."
SIT is astonishing!" exclaimed Nine Per
ronnet.
SIT is lit already" declared NJ. Perron-
net, who had pushed back the window
curtain, and was looking up at a little
window in the third floor of the wing of
the building.
"What energyp' exclaimed Nine. Per
ronnet, land what is it like, this lamp"
II saw it the day he brought it here,
madame; he carried it home himself. It is
a little blue china lamp"
"The lamp of student" solemnly de
clared M. Perronnet; ''ah-L see him; he is
4ulx
smoking a cigarette y
'And well he might, my dear, before
spending the whole night at his work
Mary, he paid me in advance for the first
month yesterday. Tell him to stop in to-
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 light 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 he dressed he glanced happily over
the vista of back yards and roofs which
UuC view HUH DlS W iHuOW.
Then, fresh looking and handsome, he went
down stairs to go to his breakfast of rolls
and coffee, and then to his desk at the
store, where he earned sixty-fve dollars Il
month AS he was leaving the house tie
servant FASTENED out to tell him that his re-
ceipt was ready in Nine Perronnet's rooms
'All right" he answered. 81 shall get
it this evening"" and he walked brisllly
with ,r1o hocly IF b,1 Il
turned around he would have seen brown
little head at Mile. Amelie's window, ara
if he could have heard what Mile Amelie's
red lips said he would have been very
proud, for they murmured, my, amt he
nice looking!"
He was handsome indeed-tall, dark,
with well proportional figure and crisp
mustache, and in his eyes there was a lcok
of tranquil content that was very pleasant
He worked all day, with no thought but
of his duties, only saying to himself, as he
had said it many time before, that if i:
WAS good year they would probably raise
his salary. It was just then his sole am
bition.
That evening, having dined simply but
substantially, he presented himself at the
Perronnets' door He did not suspect that
he had so excited the curiosity of this
family.
He was introduced into the parlor, which
was brilliantly lighted for this event. NJ.
and Nine. Perronnet, who were already
there, and Mile. Amelie, who was listen
ing behind portiere, decided that he
made very graceful appearance.
| He was closely interrogated as to his
| life, his family-who lived in the country
and his work NJ. Perronnet compli-
mented him on his ardor as student, and
Nine. Perronnet counseled him not to
abuse his health. He thanked them, a
little astonished at this paternal solicit
tude, received his receipt and retired to
| his room, where soon his lamp shone with
| it's accustomed brilliancy and continued to
shine until morning.
| At the end of month the curiosity OF