Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-08-02


"It is not at all necessary for you to
be announced-I could not have passed
you on the street without recognizing
your
This friendly greeting put the cure
quite at his ease, and grasping his
friends hand heartily, he replied:
"And you, Citizen Minister, are 50
little changed that it seems as if We
were still at our studies under Father
We'll"
An unwouted expression of cheerful
ness spread over the face OF Fonche,
as if the sight of his college friend was
driving away host of unpleasant
memories, or perhaps it reminded the
dsputy to the convention OF the days OF
his innocence.
.'Sit down." he said, in iovial top",
"and tell me what you have been do
ing all these years since we = ,rtel.'
~ was the happiest OF men for sew
eral years." answered Perrin, ''for
very soon after taking orders. L be-
came pastor of the prettiest village of
Bopsgnyve."
"a poor business just now, that of
being priest" said Fonche, sinking
his head slowly.
$50 poor indeed that, having bet Ii
turned out of my home, ruined and
pergecnted, have lived for seven
years on the goodness of few kind
souls. At first / was obliged to hide
myself, for 1 was suspected, at least
t ey said so. Now, I a k you, of what
would they suspect me? But so it
was"
"But when your head was no longer
L., 4 nj, tItnE nf
your pockets?"
fillel them, they would have been
overfowing long time ago." said the
popr priest with sigh. Il think that
more Ideas pass through tee mind of
poor devil who wants to earn a crown
or two, than passed through Homer's s
when he was writing the lliad or the
Ody ysSey."
"Anl they had no RESULT"
"None, excepting that 1 came to
Paris" Michel stopped suddenly,
but fixed on his college mate a look
which spoke volumes.
'DId you know that 1 was Minis
ter?"
"CertainIyw
"And you counted on me-" said
Fonche, in tone which showed the
patnral kindness OF his heart.
$50 much so, replied the poor cure,
"that after God, l have no one but
you to turn to. Employ me in any
way you see ft-necessity does not
make one very particular, l Will not
refuse any work. must make my
living, one way or another"
"Yoa will not refuse any work. said
Fonche IN some surprise. "Do you
mean to say that you would accept en-
ploymrut In my Department.
"Why, that is all pskl" cried Per-
rim, his eyes beaming with Joy.
"iou VIII make more money with
US, than by being a pastor of souls, u
said Fonche, looking at Perrin's hon
est face thoughtfully. "You would be
valuable TO us-you are not without
brains, and you express yourself well. "
"a good education always tells, u
replied Perrin modestly, though be
was highly fattered by the compli-
ment.
"Besides which," continued Fouche,
Il have perfect confidence In you,
while in most of them"
The door of the room opened, and
IN attendant announced that the First
Consul wanted to see citizen Fonche
at the Tuileries Immediately. The
minister rose hastily and gathered mp
some papers, packing them into port
folio with all the eagerness of one who
dsres not lose a minute.
"And what about me?" cried the
cure in dismay. at seeing his friend
preparing to leave him without having
promised anything.
"Wait," said the Minister, writing a
few words hastily, ''take this to Des-
marest, Chief of Division" then he
rushed out of the room and into his
carriage.
Perrin glanced at the paper which
Fonche had put into his hands, and
read the woris:
"Desmarest is to employ Michael
Perrin and pay him we'll"
Then he went IN search of the person
age to whom they were addressed.
He was admitted at once. Citizen
Desmarest seemed to him a much
more formidable person than Fonche,
perhaps because he had never been his
classmate.
"Take seat" said the Chief when
he had read the message, sit is ev-
ident that the Minister wishes you to
correspond directly with me, and not
with himself"
Perrin bowed, saying:
"He Sent me to you," and then he
asked timIdly:
"When am L to begin my work."
"Without moments delay"
The Minister having directed me to
pay you well, doubtless has immediate
need of your ability and your zeal"
"I can answer for my ZEAL" replied
Perrin, and / hope that with little
practice my ability will equal it."
mo doubt, no doubt. You have
been chosen by a man who never
makes a mistake. 1 will put your
name on my list, and you will draw
twenty francs a day; from this date. -
The poor priest could hardly re-
strain his delight at these words, but
he managed to control himself suffi
ciently to say in a quiet tone, "I hope
to prove myself worthy of Minister
Fonche's kindness, and of yours, and
if you will tell me what L am to do"
al have nothing special for you to.
day, but you can come in again this
week, and meanwhile, walk about the
city, go to the boulevards, and public
squares, and dine at the restaurants
always at the best ones"
"Ab, the best restaurants see very
little me-" said Michel smiling, "they
are much too expensive for my purse. ="
81 understand. You are out of
funds at present. will pay you two
weeks in advance. Will that do?"
"Indeed it will, but 1 do not like
to take my wages before 1 have
worked"
'Pohl 1t is the general custom here;
it is not the Minister'S intention that
you 20 into the cook-shops.
"Wh hat good angel guided me to
these charming people?" said Michel
Perrin to himself, as he took the
money-order, and while he was utter
ing profuse thanks, the Chief, being
very busy, told him to go at once and
draw the amount, and not to come
back until Monday, unless he had some
thing important to tell.