The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-13

'But, papa, have his card. See here,
M. Agenor Baluchot supernumerary to
the ministry off, The father. with
out waiting to hear more, snatches the
bit of bristol board from the girl and
cries: "What, not content with lending
you 80 confines in violation of all the
proprieties, this gentleman gives you his
card besides! He is the pettiest intri-
guer, the lowest of the low-your young
man, who is genteel'
"Now, papa, be reasonable; to return
the money, it was, of course, necessary to
know his address"
M. Chapoulot finds no suitable reply
to this ingenious reasoning, but with a
gesture Indicative of decided ill humor
throws his napkin upon the table.
II am fated not to dine today. Ger
trude, go engage me carriage by the
hour. wish to return this Agenor his 8
sous at once and tell him few plain
truths besides''
s'Oh, papa, papa, you won't do that?
1t would be base ingratitude. Only think
of it. This young man has extricated me
from very unpleasant situation"
Unpleasant situationi Let me alonel
Shut upl l don't care to be lectured, es-
pecially by a rattle brain who loses her
pocketbook.
Monsieur puts on his boots and takes
his cane and hat, all the while growing
more and more morose. Gertrude enters:
The cabman is below, but he only
promises to take you there, not to wait
for you.'
Every well. I can get another cab to
bring me back"
So monsieur departs, after slamming
the door, while Charlotte, blushing and
trembling, recounts to her old friend,
Gertrude, how she is much better ac-
quainted with Agenor than she dares con-
TESS to her father; that for a month at
least she and he have taken the omnibus
at the same time each evening, and that,
without seeming to do SO, she, Charlotte,
has noticed, etc.
ga fine affair indeed" exclaims the
astonished servant, all in tremor of ex-
citement.
Agenor is in his bachelor apartments,
and in sentimental mood is gazing at
the hand that his charming neighbor in
the omnibus has touched while taking the
card he gave her.
I, Suddenly there comes a knock at the
door, which opens abruptly. A large
man, out of breath, his hat over his ear,
his cane in his fist, enters unceremoni-
ously
Sir" he exclaims, to say the least of
It, your conduct is unworthy of a French
gentleman. A gallant man does not thus
take advantage of the innocence, the in
experience, the artlessness, the embarrass-
ment of young girl. To profit by the
absence of father and pocketbook, to
brutality offer to a young person who is
alone not only 80 confines, but visiting
card, may be good investment, but it Is
very bad manners. But here they are, sir,
your sous. My daughter and I wish
nothing further in common with you"
And the large man, after perorating with
much volubility, begins to search in his
pockets, but before Agenor, who is liter
ally dumfounded, can utter word,
new actor appears upon the scene. It is
the cabman, who comes in furiously brand
ishing his whip.
"This is fine! 1 tell you I will bring
you here and not wait for you, and you
accept the terms. You even order me to
make haste, and when we arrive you shoot
off like zebra as slippery as an eel, with
out paying me and calling out to me to
wait. That won't go down, tell you
mean what say. One trip means one
trip and nothing else. Come, hurry up
citizenl No pourboire if that worries
you, but want my 80 sous, and be quick
about it!''
Agenor does not understand, but the
large gentleman, who has precipitately
dived into each pocket, then successfully
turned them all wrong side out without
appreciable result, grows pink and white,
then crimson, then violet and now shades
Oft into green-a rainbow in a plug hat
and overcoat.
!" neutrality-suspicious. p
THAT'S an old trick" roars the cab
man, but you can tell that to the COM
mlssary. 1t won't answer with me-" and
he prepares to seize the arm of the unfor-
tunate, who in despair, on the verge Of
apoplexy, meekfy submits. But Agenor,
verltable providence to the family, gives
the cabman the necessary amount and Or
ders him away.
Permit me- the young man says,
with exquisite politeness, to M. Chapou-
lot, who barely has strength to articulate:
Certainly, my dear sir, with pleasure,
but give him only 25 confines pourboire-
no more. !"
The father OF Mile. Charlotte who but