Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-08-18
DIR. TRIFULGAS

of the gale bowed the trees on the Nolsin-
ian coast and beat upon the cliffs of the
mountains of Crimma. The lofty rocks
along the shore were gnawed by the waves
of the vast sea of Niegalocride,
Whoo-oo-oO! Whi-i-ishi
At the end of the harbor is the little
town of Luktrop, A few hundred houses,
four or five steep streets, which look like
ravines, paved with pebble stones anti
roughened by the scOri9 elected by tn :
neigh boring volcano, NanglOr During the
day it emits sulphurous vapors, at night,
ever and anon, huge tongues of flame. Like
lighthouse the Vangalor shows the har-
Dor of Luktrop to the coasters whose keels
cut the waves of the Niegalocride
On the other side of the town are some
ruins of the Crimmarian period. Then
comes suburb which recalls Arabian vii
lagos with white walls, round roofs and
sun scorched terraces, heap of stones flung
there haphazard, like a pile of dice whose
angles were worn eff by the steps of time.
Among other buildings is the SiX-Quatre,
a name gi~en to an odd looking structure
with six windows on one side and four on
the other
a steeplc dominates the town-the square
belfry of st. Philfilene, with chime of
bells which are sometimes stirred by the
tempest II is considered bad omen and
always inspires terror throughout the cOun-
try.
Such is Luktrop. Then outside are scat
tered houses standing amid the broom and
furze, as in Brittany But it isn't in Brit
tany Is it in France? | don't know In
EuropeY | don't know that, either At
any rate, don't look for Luktrop on the map
not even on Stieler's atlas.
Tapl A timid knock was heard on the
narrow door of the Six-Quatre at the left
angle of the Rue Messaglere 1t was one
of the most comfortable houses, if the word
can be applied to Luktrop.
The knock was answered by savage bark
ing intermingled with bowling, like the
barking of wolf Then a window above
the door opened. Deuce take these trou-
blesome people" said an angry voice.
young girl wrapped in shabby cloak,
who stood shvering in the rain, asked if
DR. Trifulgls was at home.
He is or isn't-accordng to crcum.
stances
1--WE come TO ask him to go to my dying
father"
Where is he dyings"
On the coast of Val Harmon, four miles
from here:
"What is his nameY"
Wort Kartif'
Wort kartifs"
Yes and if DR. Triful0as"-
DIR TrfulgaS isn't i'll"
And the window closed abruptly, while
the roar Of the wind and the rush of the
rain blended in a deafening noise.
This DR.. Tritulgas was "A hard man. His
old dog Hurzof-a cross between bulldog
and Il spaniel-would have had more pity
His house, SiX-Quatre, inhospitable to the
poor, opened only to the rich Besides, he
had a regular scale of charges for his serv
ices-so much for typhoid fever, so much
for IA congestion, so much for percarditis
and other diseases which doctors invent by
the dozen Now, Wort Kartf was Il poor
man, IA member of an insignificant family
Why should DR.. Trifulgas disturb himself,
and on such Il night?
Just getting me up was worth 10 fret
GERS" he muttered as he went back to his
bed
Scarcely 90 minutes had passed when the
iron knocker again struck on the door of
Sx-Quatre
The doctor in rage again leaned out of
the window.
who's there" he shouted.
II am Wort kartif's wife"
THE man at Val Karinon?"
'Yes, and if you don't come he will die"
well, you be widow"
Here are 90 fretzers."
Twenty fretZers to go to Val Harmon,
four miles Off No. thank youl Deuce
take me if will"
And the window banged again. Twenty
fretzersl A fine piece of business Risk a
cold or lumbago for 20 fretzers, especially
when, the next morning, he was expected
at Kiltrono by the rich Edzngov, from
whose govt he made 80 fretZers visit
With this agreeable prospect Dr. Tri
fulgas slept still more soundly than before
"Whoo-oo-oo! M-i-ishl And then tap!
tap tapl This time three blows from the
knocker, piled by more resolute hand,
! blended with the noise of the storm. The
doctor woke, but in what "A temper! When
Me window was opened, the wind burst in
ike bombshell.
at is for Wort Kartif"
THAT miserable fellow againY"
IL am his mother"
May his mother, his wife and his daugh-
ter die with him."
He has an attack Off
We'll, let him defend himself"
They have sent you some money" the
old woman added. AN installment on the
| house which was sold to Dontrup ON the
Rue Messagliere If you don't come, my
granddaughter will be fatherless, my
daughter a widow, and shall have no son. "
1t was ptiful and terrible To hear this
Rged woman's voice, to think that the
wind was chilling the blood in her veins,
that the rain was drenching her thin form
IAN attack of epilepsy is worth 200 fret
zers," replied the heartless Trifulgas.
I'VE have only 100"
Good EVENING"
And the window shut again. But on re
Election 100 fretzers for two hours walk
including the visit, that was 60 fretzers al
hour, "A fretzer minute. The profit was
small, yet after all not to be despised
Instead of going back TO bed, the doctor
. slipped into his coat, put on his high boots
ais thick overcoat and his mittens, theI
leaving his lamp burning beside his Codex
open at page 1871, he unbolted the door o
Six-Quatre and stood upon the threshold
The old woman was there leaning on he
staff, emaciated by her 80 years of poverty.
"The 100 fretzersS"