Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-07-06
Here and hereafter am simple citizer

OF Char1nOnt-Sur-IOllt.
No better instance could be given of
the absolute grilclessness of these simple
folk than the fact that they received in
faith and with gratitude this appalling
piece of sheer impudence. They all
made low bows or courtesies and re-
ioiced in their hearts and on their coun-
tenances.
Presently he said:
1.-The night comes on. and must stay
somewhere. You mentioned the name,
/ think. if my memory servcEne right,
of one Beaumont, at whose mouse You
thought it well that / should rest. Is he
here. or shall some of you conduct me to
him?"
This speech settled the matter. Not
only had he deity quartered himself in
the most desirable spot i'll the village and
by the public desire, but he had in an in
direct way by renewing the matter of his
accommodation himself given gentle
rcproof for their hardness. How could
any one after this venture to ask him
any questions, although all were burn
ing with curiosity to know something Of
him? AS yet they did not know even his
name.
So it was that the stranger became in
stalled in the best house i'll the village as
an honored guest. Farmer Beaumont
made much of him, producing for his
benefit the best wine he had, while his
wife and their daughter-an only child
now. for the boy and girl who had pre-
ceded her had both died yOung-prepared
tasty supper and spread for his bed their
finest sheets.
The supper and the wine, especially
the latter, seemed to thaw the strangers
reserve, for without being asked he told
them his name. doing it in such a man
ner that he seemed to be comforting a IA
vOr.
"You will doubtless, my good friends,
like to know my name. Well, a man, no
matter who he may be, must not be a
churl to those who have taken him to
their hearts"
Here Marie blushed and turned away
her head.
you may call me-remenber that
say it freely-you may call me Robert"
"Robert what or Robert who:" asked
the farmer.
easy, my good friend! Such knowl-
edge might be of inestimable value. But
why, | say again, should scruplc to tell
even such a thing to one who for aught
any of US can tell may some day be close
to my heart, through some one he loves,
even rs | feel am close to his and to the
hearts of those dear to him?"
Here the farmer scratched his head
His wife settled her cap strings, and
Marie again turned away her head.
The stranger Went on:
1.-The name you long so eagerly to hear
is none other than the proud name Of
Macaire.'
AS he spoke it he threw himself back
in his chair with an inctfable air of toll
Grafton at their surprise on hearing such
a name, quite regardless of the fact
that not one Of those present, from the
farmer himself down TO the half silly
cousin who sat hugging himself in the
| chimney corner, manifested the slightest
or faintest measure of surprise, interest
or any kindred emotion. Nevertheless
| the effect was just what he had calcu-
| lated on. for seeing him expecting to soc
surprise they all tried to exhibit some
and blamed themselves for their own IL
! norance III not knowing the name, which
! thus gained vastly in Importance.
! 1t was only natural that when the
next day the Beaumont family impaired
| The secret OF the strangers name, with
various degrees of confidence, they
should expect to find in their listeners
an equal degree OF surprise, and it was
| only natural also that they, being a SIM
pier people, should have expressed in
words their sense Of disappointment.
Thus it came to pass that in the village
of Charmont-sur-P the name of Rob
ert Macaire came to be regarded as one
fraught with an honor all its own. and
that the importance of the owner of il
! grew with an ever increasing rapidity.
Macaire remained at the house OF
/ Beaumont, and by borrowing a reason
able sum of money from his host as a
personal favor to him and by variou:
| purchases of clothing effected in the
neighboring hamlets ON his accomt-fol
he would not leave the place even for q
few hours-he began to make better APP
pearanCe.
Hitherto the rustic youths had regard
ed Marie with distant love. They hat
noG vcntured to lay their stricken heart.
y, her feet but had contented or rather
o.iscontented themselves by admirinl
afar off the beauty which they dared MOI
approach. Now, however, with the
sight of rival-for as such they O.
course regarded him-lovers regard ev
cry one as rival, and rightly so, whel
they have not the courage to speak on
for themselves-before them installed il
the house, and their possible chance,
fading into nothing, they began to grow
more courageous and to come closer t.
the object of their alteration, although
they did not dare to speak.
There was one important exception tC
this rule, bright eyed, keen witteC
young fellow called Pierre Lamar, the sol
of we'll to do farmer. He was some
what younger than the rest of Marie 81