Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-07-20
CHAPTER VIII.

AFTER LONG YEARS.
In all the department. of the SaOne-et-
Loire there was no man more generally
liked and respected than NJ. Dumont,
the proprietor of Les Bons Amis,
thriving auberge which stood in the
outskirts of the village of Simard just
where the highroad to Montrct passes
the end Of the lano leading to the old
church.
NJ Dumont was widower, having
lost his wife some 20 years before. They
had gone to Marseilles to see her father,
her only remaining relative, who was
dyinc The fatigue of the Journey had
been too much for her, and she had died
in giving birth to a son, thcir first and
only child.
Having laid his young wife and her
old Gather side by side, NJ Dumont re-
turned to Les Bons Anis with a litte
dark eyed infant, Il few weeks old, to be
henceforward the great JOY and Interest
Of his life, for he never thought of re-
marrying, but devoted himself to the
bringing up Ct his child and the care Of
his inn and his farm.
In course Of time the little delicate
baby grew up to be tail, strong young
man, the pride and joy of his father, the
apple of his eye. He was a general ia
vorito with old and young, while his gem
tie manners and soft dark eyes made
him specially popular among the young
| girls of the surrounding villages.
Things had all gone well with NJ. Du-
mont, and at the time of which we write
he was a very prosperous man, as he well
deserved to BE-. for he was ALWAYS gerer-
GUS and ready to help his poorer neigh
bors.
An air Of well being pervaded every
thing about the house and farm. Tho
thriving fields Of golden grain. now al
most ready fer the sickle. were a picture
to behold. while rows of great pot bellied
yellow courges lined the burrows. from
trunk to trunk Of the slender poplars
we're festooucd tho carefully cultivated
vines. already showing promise of good
vintage and Il busy time for the veudan-
gcura who a little later would gather the
purple fruit and tread it out in Wonder
barns. with many a l.uga and lest, for
in those day, when thE century was still
but Young such simple methods wcro
sill practicod. and modern improve
ments were quite unknown in that quiet
village in the heart Of France.
The aulergp itself was Il picturesque
old bnildinr with biob upollrd roof and
ouaint little dormer windows lighting.
1be snacious roo,nv prcrier where the
winter store of frrit was ltept-apDles
and uears and uuts of various kinds.
while from lines stretching from rafter
70 ,,rtnr era Lr,u,, lunches of cranes
each bunch sruclv eusconced in its own
hao aud c,rcf,}Iv s.nar1tcl from its
uoicbbor
And the Naturalization but in name,
for no rOuch work was ever done there
how comfortable it was and how pictur-
esoue with its deep freplace. where III
winter time great LOGS blazed and
cracked. its roof hung with well
smoked hams and many a bunch of
sweet and sayorv herbs and pepper pods.
its rows of shining tlnaous and well Dre-
served Quaint old china and earthenware.
IFS noli.hol oaIlcu tables and settles. the
vivid color Of liz red tiled floor, In the
corner, Inv the tireolace was the picture
of tLe VIRGIN. with 4 inc Of fresh flowers
on the little carved bracket beneath it.
for they were pious. these simple people,
and the N'irgia never was without her
little oItering.
Up stairs what plies of soft wool mat
tresses. with store Of snowy homespun
linen sheets and coy blankets. Then the
best room. with its armolre glace, its
red damasl; covered chairs and sofa in
the style Of the first empire, the tall
gilt framed mirror over the chimney, the
groups of wax and paper flowers under
glass shades. and ON the wall facing the
window the portraitsof NJ. Dulnont and
his wife takcn when they were first mar