Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-03-18

sime he reached his destination thas LONELY
neighborhood was wrapped IL gloom. 3y
tie light CT r Eas lamp near the Capuchin
coavsns he saw ''Nnmber i2a over q half
open door In a rough stone wall. and. on
entering, found himself In a large market
garden He could just distinguish in the
darkness square plots Of vegetables, some /
groups OF rose bushes. and here and there /
the silhouettes of fruit trees Al this other /
end OF the garden two or three dim lights |
showed the front OF plain, square build |
Ing. and to this the deputy governor made |
his way, and had the good luck 10 run |
against the gardener, who directed him 70
the widow BiJuet's lodgings upstairs.
After twice stumbling on the muddy
steps NJ. Boinville knocked at a door un
der which n line of light was TO be seen,
and great was his surprise when, the door
being opened, he saw before him a girl Of
about twenty years holding mp a lighted
lamp and looking at him with astonished
eyes. She was dressed in black and had q
fair, fresh face, and the lamp light was
shining on her wavy chestnut hair, round
dimpied cheeks. smiling mouth and linn
pid blue eyes.
SIS this where Madame Blouet hvesv'
asked NJ. Boinville after a moment hesita-
ton, and the girl replied: Yes, sir BE
4
here Is a gentleman who wants 10 see YOU
Tam coming" cried "A thin, piping voice
from the next room, and the next minute
the old lady came trotting ont, with her
false front all awry under her black cap,
and trying to unite the strings Of n blue
apron which she wore.
Holy motherf' she cried in amazemeut
on recognizing the deputy governor. lis 1t
possible, siri Excuse my appearance. |
was not expecting the honor Of a visit from
you. Claudette, give NJ. Boinyille u chair.
This IN my grandchild, sir. She IL all !
have In the world"
The gentleman seated himself In an an
tique armchair covered with Utrecht vel.
vet, and east rapid glance round the
room, which evidently served as both par
lor and dining room. IL contained very
! | little furniture. small stove OF white
delft ware, next To which stood an old
fashioned oaken clothes press, "A round
table covered with oilcloth and some rusi
| bottom chairs, while on the wall hung tvs
{ old colored Autographs. Everything wa
I very neat and the place had an old tim
air of comfort and rusticity NJ BoinviIl
{ explained the object Of his visit in few
Il words and the widow exclaimed:
'Oh. thank you, siri How good you are
" Il Is quite true that pleasant surprise
never come singly. My grandchild ha
l. passed an examination in telegraphy, an
|. while she IN waiting for a position she
doing a little painting for one and another
n Only today she has been paid for larg
Z order, and so we made up our minds" sal
Is the grandmother, Ito celebrate the even
by having only old home dishes for dinner
" The gardener down stairs gave Us cal
Vi bage, some turnips and potatoes TO make
st potee. We bought n Lorraine sausag
- and vvbat Won cunue In had inst rnuda
m tot-fait.'
be "Oh, a tot fait!" cried Boinville. This
~ In q sort of cake made Of eggs, milk an
III farina. IL is twenty years since heard I
z; name and more than that since tasted it,
Ell His face became strangely animated an
10 the young girl. who was watching hil
In curionsly, saw a look OF actual Rreedine'
We In his brown eyes While he was lost in
reverie OF ths tot-fait Claudette and h
ed grandmother turned away and began Iii
" cussing. and at last the girl whispered;
m II am afraid IL would ust do"
M why notp" returned the old lady;
he think 1t would please him" And the
ms seeing that he was looking at them wo
IL deringly she went toward him, saying:
or M Boinville, you have already been
kind to us that am going to ask of ye
lie another favor. IL Is late, and you have
rs long way to COVE should be so glad
al you Nohlu stay HeFc huu taHec our loS-ld
m should we not. Chandelier
st. Certainly" said the girl, but NJ. Boi
!" vile will have plain dinner, and, beside
zee he Is, no doubt, expected mt home"
as mo one il waiting for me- answer
the gentleman. thinking of his usual du
IN solitary meals in the restaurant. 81 ha
itp no engagement, butt he hesitated. look
I'VE mt Claudette's smiling eyes and sudden
ng exclaimed:
81 accept, with pleasure.
In THAT Is right" said the old lady bris
ow ". what did | tell you. Claudett
lcr Quick, my pet, set the table and run
the wine, while 20 back to my tot fat
art The girl had already opened the pre-
Id: and taken out n striped tahlecloth al
.ar three napkins, and in the twinkling of
l." eve the table was ready. Then she light
'ur q candle and went down stairs TO fetch {
be wine, while The old dame sat down wi
ur her lap full of ehestnuts, which she pr
ceeded to crack and place upon the stove.
,u- rs not that bright, lively giri'" 5
ur said 'She Is my consolation, she cheers 4
like n linnet on an old roof
ed Here the speaker ratified the chestnu
. on the stove, and then Claudette rea
lie peared, a little flushed and out OF breat
ok and the old woman went and brought
ace the potee and set IL, steamiug and fragraI
ny on the table.
tut Seated between the CHEEKY octogenari
to and the artless, smiling girl. and in {
he midst OF half rural surroundings viii
-ge constantly recalled the memory of
yer youth, Hubert Boinville. the deputy &c
rs, ernor, did honor TO the potee. His graz
es- cold manner thawed out rapidly, and
3D. conyersed Familiarity with his new frient
no returning the gay sallies of Glaudette. a
US shouting with merriment at the sound
he the patois words and phrases which the q
Ird lady used.
eft From time to time the widow would RI
nd and 90 To attend to her cookery. and at Ia
RS she returned triumphant, bringing In
iron baking dish in which rose the gent
an swelling golden brown tot faii, smelling
hls orange flower water.
iaI Then came the roasted chestnuts IN th,
.de brown, crispod shells, and the old Ia
re brought from her press bottle OF figr
his iette, n liquor made Of brandy and sw,
ok wine
~ When sfaudette had cleared the tab
OH the grandmother took up her knitting n
ID, chemically and sat near the stove, chatti
an. gnsly ut first, but she now yielded To I
- combined effects Of the warmth and I
~. fgnolctte and fell asleep. Claudettc p
"A the lamp on the table, and she and the v
H. itor were left 10 entertain each other, T
De girl. sprightly aad light hearted, did nea
'ad all the talking She had been brought
ne at ArRonne, and described the neighb