The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-11
THAT LAMP.

Leontine Perronnet, his wife, and their
daughter, Amelie Perronnct, young
woman who had just reached marriage
able age-had finished its evening meal
Amelic Pcrronnet, 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. Mime. Pcrronnct
brought forth her ledger, to inscribe in it
the expenses of the day. and NJ. Perronnet,
after having looked over the real estate
sales, had installed himself ut the corner
of the fire to devour the political news.
For ut 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.
1t should not be imagined from this that
the Perronnets were avaricious. They
were, on the contrary, worthy people, who
had come to San Francisco i'll the early
sixties and had thrifty amassed n COM
Portable fortune in the hat trade. But they
had their little foibles and, rs they had
not accustomed themselves to use Il parlor,
they did not occupy the one they had so
richly furnished when they bought their
house on Geary strect-a fine house, that
brought them in Sl,G00a year. what with
b
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 obedicnt Il child
to have ideas of her own-but they had de-
clined They had thought that court was
paid less to Amelie than to her $4,000 dot,
to the Geary street house, and to the fur
ther little fortune that constituted what
as regards marriage, are termed "eXpecta-
lions"
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 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 0 o'clock all three he,
came silent-listening, waiting for so...,..
thing. That something was the sound of
step OH 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 in"
Almost Immediately Amcle kissed her
parents and went to bed
When the old people were alone the
father said, "What rcguarityw
Evidently" approved the mother, she
is an orderly man"
At 10 o'clock there was knock ut 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 doo;
leading to Amelie's room, Nine PERFORMED
said to the girl:
well, how is the new lodger!"
well, ma'am, he gave me his little
lamp to fill again this morning"
1T is astonishingw exclaimed Nine. Per
ronnet.
1T is lit already" declared NJ. Perror-
net, who had pushed back the window
curtain, and was looking up ut little
window in the third floor of the win. @:
the building.
what encrgy!" exclaimed Mime. Per
ronnet, land what is it like this lampy"
Il saw it the day he brought it here.
madame; he carried it home himself 1t i;
little blue china lamp"
The lamp of student" socmnly de
clared NJ Pcrronnet; "ah--I see him: hc is
taking breath of air at his window-hc i,
smoking cigarette"
~AAi'' "N'A hO hiISHh, NY utuT, DtI0EH
spending the whole night at 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 WI.
plunged in the most profound darkness
except the little window i'll the third floor
which shone brightly into the middle Of
the night and even until dawn
The sun then shone into John Chappell's
room and awokc 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 oven
the vista of back yards and roofs which
constituted the view from his window
Then, fresh looking and handsome, he vert
down stairs to go to his breakfast of rolls
and coffee, and then to his desk Mt tho
store, where he earned sixty five dollars Il
month. AS he was leaving the house I'll,
servant fastened out to tell him that his re-
ceipt was ready in Nine Perronnet's rooms
Cali right" he answered. 81 shall gel
1t this evening"" and he walked briskly
away without glance back If he had
turned around he would have seen browi
little head ut Mile. Amelie's window, and
IL he could have heard what Mile. Amelic',
red lips said he would have been yer,
proud, for they murmured, "My, amt he
nice lookingp'
He was handsome indeed-tall, dark
with we'll proportional figure and crisy
mustache, and in his eyes there was lool
of tranquil content that was very pleasant
He worked all day, with no thought but
of his duties, only saying to himself, as h,
had said it many a time before, that if il
was good year they would probably raise