Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-16

I114N4 MA Il V 1tD
 "Oh, don't pretend to have your as surance. You march along as if you had nothing in the world to be afraid of"
 Can't you understand, you fool, that that assurance is our best safeguard? I wish you would cultivate it little, for, with your cursed cowardice, you'll get us into hole one of these days. What Is there to be afraid of besides? This bandage disguises me completely, and haven't we our passports quite en regleg''
 Thanks to my little accomplish ments"
 "Just so. You're good for that much at any rate. But in the devils name try and not look so frightened whenever any one speaks to you. We would have been stopped at the last poste if it had not been for my assurance as you ciAl it."
 I'll not be easy till we are over the frontier and in place of safety. The blood run cold"
 Courage, courage, and, above all, Rudacity-that's tho grand point. We will soon be out of danger, and in the meantime we'll have some food and rest ourselves. Hola, here, somebody" he cried, knocking with his stick on the table. Then taking off his hat he placed it on the table beside him, and having wiped his face with q ragged handker- chief he crossed his legs comfortably. and taking knife from his pocket pro ceeded to trim his nails in leisurely way. His hands were characteristic, like everything else about him. They were white and smooth, tho hands of a man who had never done manual labor, with long, 1.-the fingers that seemed formed for card sharping and yet were muscular enough to make one feel there would be little chance for the man whose throat was clutched in their grip of steel
 "These people don't hurry themselves" he observed presently. "Hola, there, are you all asleep:"
 Pierre appeared at the house door grumbling to himself at being called to attend to strangers at such n time, but when he saw the pair who waited his appearance his disgust was great and was not lessened by the air of easy con descension with which Remond beck oned him to approach and desired him to bring some refreshments.
 Nothing else?" said Pierre
 Well, I think I could cat bit" said Bertrand.
 What! Are you hungry" said his friend.
 Yes, am; aren't you?" Then turn ing to Pierre he asked what he had got in the house.
 "Whatever m'sieu desires" said Pierre.
 Let us hear the menu, said Remond
 Pierre went over a list of dishes, to each one of which they found some ob- jection, and finally ordered some bread and cheese and pommcs de tcrre n rhuile, with bottle of win ordinairc.
 If you would not mind, gentlemen" said Pierre, being served out hcre-we are rather crowded in the house today. In fact, he went on. with an air of much importance, we are to have wedding tomorrow. and today is the dinner du contrat"
 50 as you serve us at once, mon VicuN, we don't care where we cat" said Re mond, and as Pierre disappeared he con tinued: Il thought there was festive air about the place. Well, little di- version will do us good. and I take quite an interest in weddings" You" remarked Bertrand. Then why don't you get married yoursolf:"
 ''Oh, that is an old story. was mar ried long ago."
 The devil you were! You have kept | it very close. And where is your wife:'
 Hang me if l know! Why, let mo see, it must be more than 20 years since I lost sight of her" And have you never heard of her since:"
 Never"
 Well, now, that's pity. A woman | is sometimes useful"
 Not that one. You see, my friend, she was one of those persons afflicted with a conscience and principles. which found interfered with my plan of life. So," he went on, while a cynical smile deepened the cruel lines round his mouth, finding myself one day in rather tight place, made the only use could of her and left her to occupy it." Pierre, having brought what they had ordered, placed it on the little table be fore them and then betook himself to the gate to usher in the company who began to arrive. All the principal peo- 1 pie of the village were there. including the good cure, who was always ready to 1 take part in the innocent pleasures of his flock.
 NJ. Dumont came out of the house to meet his guests, followed by M. Germe- nil, Clementine and Charles, the latter of course being the center of interest.
 Some of the elder people preferred to go at once into the house; others re mained 10 watch the young people dance. | The violin players having arrived and been installed by Pierre in q convenient corner-with q good supply of wine be- side them-a country dance was soon ill full swing.
 The strangers, having finished their frugal meal, sat watching the dancers. Presently, the country dance being fin 1 ished, Remond remarked to his Compan- ion:
 That's an uncommonly pretty girl with the black eyes. I'll ask her to waltz with me-"
 "Whatr' said the other. You will venture?'
 "Bah! replied Remond. "She is not a gendarme in disguise" and getting up he walked nOnchalantly across the emp ty space which divided him from the young girl, and with n flourishing bow requested the honor of waltzing with her.
 The girl hesitated moment, but his grand air impressed her. She felt sure he was not what he seemed-perhaps some one of noble birth who had met with misfcrtune-so she timidly consent ed. One thing was sure-she had never before had a partner who danced so well. She was quite sorry when the waltz was over, and leading her back to her place he left her with most elegant bow.