Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-07-27
tCoNTlNUED.]
CHAPTER II
An ANXIOUS MoMEM.!


livery one was on foot brave and carly at
Les Bons Alnis, everything inside and
outside was put III apple pie order, and
by midday all was pretty well arranged.
The best room was opened and aired,
for there the contract was to be signed by
and bv. In the kitchen. where every
thing shone till you could see yourself
reflected in the very plates and dishes,
the long table was spread for the diner
du contrat. covered with a snowy cloth,
which bore testimony to the good house
Wiferv and industry OF more than one
generation. for in those good old times
women spun the thread for their own
household linen. and the poorest girl i'll
thecommune when she married brought
with her a little store of good homespun
linen. tho fruits of her own industry.
Already tho signs of good cheer to
rome pervaded the place From sim
mering pot All fen there issued an odor
moro than ordinarily rich and appetiz-
ing. The best cured and finest ham had
disappeared from its hook and now
dubbed peacefully III the biggest sauce
pan Les Bons Amis could furnish. The
farmvard had been denuded of its
savoricst ducks and plumpest chickens.
which lay stuffed with chestnuts and
favored with the piquant onion ready
for tho spit. and what soupe ala cit
rUlille. such as the cuisinere of Les
Rons Alnis was famed for making. to
say nothing oe the plats doux, the deli
cate frontage ia creme, the perfumed
melons, the plies of green and purple
figs. and such Il salad!
Md then the wine NJ. Dumont was
not the man to stint the measure on such
& day as this. There was the good win
du pays-mCre than one fat straw cased
flask which had come across the noun
tains from Italy-as,l to crown the feast
certain cobwebbed bottles of special
rintage. which had been laid down in
view of such an occasion as this and had
quietly reposed for many long year in
the farthest corner of the cave.
Outside the house all was hustle and ex-
citemcnt A fresh bush adorned the door,
and tia signbourd with its announce
ment That lei ON yend lie Bon Vim had
been decorated with green wreath; the
courtyard had been swept till not a
grain of dust appeared: the little tables
and the benches under the tilleuls on the
side facing the house had been scrubbed
to spotless whiteness, while Pierre, the
old head waiter. who had grown gray in
the service of N. Dumont, hustled about
supcrintending the proceedings of his
subordinates who We're carrying the wine
ont of the cave. the entrance to which. as
is usual in such places, is at the side of
the house door.
'Depechez done mes enfants nothing
will ever be ready if You go on at this
rate Hurry now and get these things
out of the way. Where do you think
people are to dance by and by if the
place is numbered up like this"
Turning sharp round on one of the
walters coming out of the cave with a
basket Of wine:
What are you doing there, Louis!
Here, give me that
please. sir. I'm doing nothing. sir.'
"NOtE;ng. Just so, nothing, but that's
hot what you are here for. Here yOu
Francois! Louis. put that plank there
now put the barrel on it-so; that will do
Carry those bottles into the house and
then go into the garden and get the bou
4uets ready. Hurry now; NJ. Germeni
and Mile. Clementinc will be here before
we know where we are
just then NJ. Dumont. followed by
Charles, came out of the house
II. Dumont Wore his usual serene anG
benevolent expression, but the young
mans face was sad and troubled.
"Wel, Pierre said NJ. Dumont
chow arc our preparations getting on
You must 6estir yourselves"
Don't be afraid, not bourgeois. I vii
answer for everything, though indee
If We're not here to look after these laz
fellows the guests would come and fir
nothing ready
well, we'll, Pierre, ! rely on you an
have given yor full powers. All say i,
don'tspare anything; let there be plent
Of everything; above all, wine. Nothn
like that to make the violins throw off
lively measure, and want nothing her
today but love and pleasure. Ell
Charles, what do You say?'
IN be bound he agrees with that
said Pierre.
"Doar dear! to think that you were
L
first, and here You are going to be ma
ried and hayo babies of your own for oil
Pierre to nurse"
Charles hcaved deep sigh.
'Saperlotte! What a sigh! And yo
Just about 10 be married to the girl {
your heart--and such face! Why, 20
look as melancholy as if you had bee
drawn in the CONSUMPTION this morning
What's the matter, NJ. Charles"
Nothing, my good Pierre, nothing "
"Why, Pierre said NJ. Dumont, "
is quite natural the lad should feel Ii
tie serious at the thought of all the T.
sponsibility he is taking on himself"
"Of course, Of course-only
thought tt
1T seems to me- said NJ Dumont, il
terrupting him, that You are chatte
ing here instead Of seeing after what HI
to be done"