The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-02
A MATCH MAKINGLAMP.

Inc Perronnet family-composed OF M
Jules Perronnet, retired hatseller, Nine.
Leontine Perronnet, his wife, and their
daughter, Amelie Perronnet, a young
woman who had just reached marriage
able age-had finished his evening meal.
Amelie Perronnet, following the wise
precepts of housekeeping that her mother
had inculcated to her, aided the little SER
want girl to remove the cloth, with an
eye on the fragile dishes. Mime. Perron-
net brought forth her ledger, to inscribe
In 1t the expenses OF the day, and M. Per-
ronnet, after having looked over the real
estate sales had installed himself at the
corner OF the fire to devour the political
news. For at the Perronnet's they sat
In the dining room after dinner. The
| parlor was used only on Friday, the re-
ception day; the rest OF the week the
parlor furniture was carefully swathed
in its linen covers.
Three times already they had been
asked for the hand of their daughter
they had brought her up in the good old
French way, and Amelie was too obedi-
ent child to have ideas of her own-but
they had declined. They had thought
that court was paid less to Amelie than
to the $4,000 dot, to the Geary street
house, and to the further little fortune
that constituted what, as regards mar
riage, are termed expectations"
The cloth removed Amelie brought her
father his petit verre Of cognac, and then
seated herself at the table and read the
fashion journal.
From time to time, when she seemed
absorbed in the reading, NJ. and Nine.
Perronnet exchanged few words in a
low voice, with a mysterious air, but as
soon as Amelie raised her head they
were silent or spoke of having repairs
made in the house.
Towards half past O'Clock all three be-
came silent-listening, waiting for some
thing. That something was a sound of
step on the stairs-a firm, regular step
that they followed from the street door
up to the third landing. They said moth
ing, but they thought, with an air of very
evident satisfaction, He has come inn
Almost Immediately Amelie kissed her
parents and went to bed.
When the old people were alone the
father said, "What regularity"
Evidently" approved the mother, ssne
Is an orderly man."
At 10 o'clock there was knock at the
door. 1t was the servant, who was come
to say good night to her mistress, accord
ing to the custom Nine. Perronnet had
exacted of all her servants.
After having gently closed the door
leading to Amelie's room, Nine. Perron-
net said to the girl:
well, how is the new lodger?"
"Well, ma'am, he gave me his little
lamp to fill again this morning."
sit is astonishing" exclaimed Nine.
Perronnet.
at is lit already" declared NJ. Perron-
net, who had pushed back the window
curtain, and was looking up at a little
window in the third floor OF the wing OF
the building.
"What energyW exclaimed Nine. Per-
onnet, "and what is it like, this lamp?"
81 saw il the day he brought it here.
madame: he carried it home himself. 1t |
is a little blue china lamp"
"The lamp of a student" solemnly de- |
cared M. Perronnet; "ah-I see him; he |
is taking breath OF air at his window
he is smoking a cigarette"
"And well he might, my dear, before
spending the whole night at his work. |
Mary he paid me in advance for the first
month yesterday. Tell him to stop in to-
morrow night to get his receipt. Good |
night"
An hour later the entire house was
plunged in the most profound darkness,
except the little window in the third
floor, which shone brightly into the
middle OF the night and even until dawn.
The sun then shone into John Chap
pelPs room and awoke him.
His first care was to extinguish his
lamp. He assured himself that IL had
burned brightly, and seemed greatly
pleased.
As he was leaving the house the servant
FASTENED to tell him that his receipt was |