Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-11-16
A TRANSFER TICKET.

1t was Z o'clock and Marjeval hadn't
come in yet. Naturally madame, his
wife, spirited little blond of six and
twenty years, was in a very bad humor,
as was also Toinette, the bonne, who had
looked in three times already to an
nounce that the dinner would be done to
chip.
What in the world had happened to
him? Some accident of course, for, ac-
customed to leave the Office at an estab
ished hour, Phillipe's arrival could
usually be foretold to the minute. Real
ly it was frightful! PHILIPPE had surely
been run overl That Montmartre cross
ing doubtlessl He was so reckless al
ways, with an absolute mania for cross
ing a street when it was filled with
pack of vehicles Hark! no, a key CRATES
in the lock!
"Toinette! monsieur comes: quick,
bring in dinner!"
The door opened Marjeval entered;
his wife flew to him.
'There was an accident then, PHILIPPE?
You are hurt, crushed at last! knew
it; told you SO! 1t doesn't astonish me
the least in the worldr
"Hurt? Crushed? What the deuce,
Jeanette, are you talking about? How
could be crushed Id like to know?'
"But-such a late returni
"Oh, | see; but come, let us have din
ner; I'm dying of hunger. I'll tell you
about it at table"
''As you please, but everything's dried
up now. Nomatter though, since you've
no bones broken
And while his wife placed the screen.
turned up the gas and ran her eye over
the silver to see that nothing was lack
ing, Marjeval drew Off his topcoat and
mopped his brow-for he had clearly
been on the run to reach home:
Unfortunately, as he drew out his
handkerchief he pulled out with it an
omnibus transfer ticket which fell on
the floor unseen.
The edge of his hunger blunted, and
while attacking the remains of a pate de
foie gras PHILIPPE became comEunica-
tive, and told his wife that passing the
bourse coming home some one had
clapped him on the shoulder, and that
some one" was no other than Proudine.
Madame tiptilted her nose with an air
that said plainly:
'And who, pray is Proudine?'
"Proudine, you know" continued
her husband, whom I've told you of a
thousand times, and whom | met at
Vincennes. A regular character, that
fellow-a journalist, practical joker and
out and out Bohemian! It's five years
since | saw him; judge then of my
amazement and pleasure, for Proudine
and | were always great chums. Brief
ly, we entered Berons to take an alb
sinthe together; Proudine was joking
and talking and time passed before !
knew ii"
And dinner finished Marjeval got up,
whistling cheerfully, and passed to his
room to don his slippers and smoking
jacket.
Meanwhile his wife assisted Toinette
to clear the table; they sat in the salle-a
manger instead Of the salon-because it
was warmer and made it necessary to
keep but one fire going. In STOPPING to
pick up napkin, she suddenly per-
ceived the 'ttransfer" on the carpet, and
mentally asked herself, Glow did that
scrap of pasteboard come thereY' add
ing, naturally enough, "Phillipe dropped
it of course"
Marjeval just then returned with the
last new novel.
"You walked home, think you told
me, PHILIPPE, did you not?' Jeannette
asked carelessly, as he came in. ''Or
did you take an omnibus
mo, walked, as l said
"You are sure you walked? Think
we'll"
Certainly, I'm sure; and whatshould
think about? The Office is only some
twenty minutes from herer
''You are positive then, PHILIPPE, you
did not
'sSee here, Jeanette, this is a bore!
Why should | say I'd walked if Id
taken bus? And why do you ask this?
"Why? Oh, only to know whether
you are fatigued."
"What an ideap
And Marjeval installed himself in an
easy chair by the fire, book on his knee
and paper knife in hand, while JEAN
nette took her seat opposite. Nine.
Marjeval, however, closely watching
him, was mentally discoursing with her
self.
There's something under all this" "
thought she. 81 haven't been out of the
house today; no more has Toinette.
This transfer couldn't have got here
alone, therefore my husband brought it.
He has taken an omnibus today and did
not wish me to know it; therefore he
has been in some place that he seeks to
conceal from me. His delay at dinner,
too-ah-h! begin to see-that tale of
IN old friend at the cafe was pure inven-
ton. PHILIPPE is deceiving me, and l
am determined to know why"
And rising quietly she thrust the
famous ticket behind q candelabra on
the mantelpiece, PHILIPPE, absorbed in
his book, seeing nothing.
81 am going for my work." said she,
and left the room.
Five minutes passed and PHILIPPE, still
reading, took long pulls at his pipe.
Something was wt6ng with it; It refused
to draw, clogged and went out. PHILIPPE
rose impatiently for another match, and
cropping on the mantel for the box his
eye aGghted on the transfer ticket.
'Hallool'' he exclaimed, "Jeannette's
been out today. The Bon Marche again,
Of course, though she says she never
goes there Jeanette just then re-
turned, embroidery in hand, and PHILIPPE
said carelessly:
"You have been out see, dearest, to.
day in all this bad weather"
81? No, indeed! Such weather as this
would give cat cold to venture out in ,
"You have staid at home, then. al
day long?'
"Of course, and it isn't the first time
either!''
Moo" said PHILIPPE, mot the frs
time-and to finish the subject. let u:
~ers \ ----:--D