Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-09-29

gone faster. His eyes lighted up; he seem
ed quite forgetful of Medallion's presence.
When he finished, fresh change came over
him. He gathered his slim fingers in
bunch at his lips and made an airy salute
co the warm space between the candles. He
drew himself together with "A youthful air
and held his gray head CALAMITY. Youth
and age in him seemed most grotesuuely
mingled. Sprightly notes from the song of
a cafe chantant lowered on his dry. thin
lips. Medallion, amused, yet with hushed
kind of feeling through all his nerves, push
fd the avocat's tumbler till it touched his
fingers. The thin lips twined around it,
md once more he came to his feet. He
raised the glass. "To"-for a minute he
got no further-"to the wedding ever' he
raid and slipped the hot wine. Presently he
pushed the little, well worn book over tc
Medallion. 81 have known you for l5
years" he said; "readr' He gave Medal
lion a meaning look out of his flashing
eyes
Medallion's bony face responded cordial
ly. "Of COURSE" he answered, picked up
the book and read what the avocat had
written. 1t was on the last page When
he had finished reading, he held the book
musingly. His within had suddenly taken
on new color. The avocat. who had been
walking up and down the room, stopped
before him, took the book from him, turned
to the first page and handed it back silent
ly. Medallion read:
QUEBEC Sept. -. SILT is one year since.
shall learn to laugh some day.
Medallion looked up at him. The old
man threw back his head spread out the
last page in the book and said defiantly, as
though expecting contradiction to his self
deception, II have learned"
Then be laughed, but the laugh was dry
and hollow and painful. 1t suddenly
passed from his wrinkled lips, and he sat
down again, but now with an air as of shy
ness or shame. Let us talk, " he said, "of
of the Code Napoleon"
The next morning Medallion visited St.
Jean in the hills. Five years before he had
sold to a newcomer at St. Jean-Mme Lee
cyr-the furniture of a little house, and
there had sprung up between them quiet
friendship, not the less admiring on Me.
dallion's part because Nine Lecyr was
good friend to the poor and sick. She never
tired when they met of hearing him talk
of the cure, the little chemist and the avo
cat, and in the avocat she seemed to take
the most interest, making countless in
Quiries-countless when spread over many
conversations-upon his life during the
time Medallion had known him. He knew
also that she came to Pontiac occasionally
but only in the evening, and once of a
moonlight he had seen her standing before
the window of the avocats house Once
also, he had seen her yelled in the little
crowded courtroom of Pontiac when an in
teresting case was being tried and noticed
how she watched NJ. Garon standing so
very still that she seemed lifcless. and how
she stole out as soon as he had done speak
ing
Medallion had acute instinct and was SUI
premely N n of self counsel. What he
thought he pit to himself until there
seemed necessity to speak. A few days be-
fore the particular one of which we have
been writing he called at Nine Lecyr's
house and in course of conversation told
her that the avocat's health was breaking;
that he had the day before got con- pletely
logged in court over the simplest business
and was quite unlike his old, shrewd, kindly
self. BY this time he was almost prepared
to see her turn pale and her fingers futter
at the knittin needles she held. She made
an excuse to leave the room for a moment
He saw little book lying near the chair
from which sic had risen. Perhaps it had
dropped from her pocket. He picked 1t up,
1t was a book of French songs-Beranger =
and others less notable. On the fly leaf
was written, From Victor to Julie, Sept.
49, 1850"
She came back to him directly and quite
calmly inquired how the avocat was cared
for and hoped he would have every comfort
and care. Medallion grew on the instant
bold. He was now certain that Victor
was the avocat and Julie was Nine. Lecyr.
He said abruptly to her: why not come
and cheer him up-such old friends as
you are?"
At that she arose with little cry and
stared anxiously at him. He pointed tc
the book of songs. Don't be angry
looked, >" he said.
She breathed quick and hard and sai3
nothing, but her fingers laced and inter-
laced nervously in her lap.
"If you We're friends, why don't you 20 tc
him?" he said.
She shook her head mournfully. I'VE
We're more than friends, and that is diff
ferent."
You were his wife," said Medallion.
ut was different" she replied, flushing,
France is not the same as here. We were
to be married, but on the eve of our wed
ding day there was an end. only found
out where he was five years ago."
Then she became silent and would or
could speak no more; only she said at last
before he went, You will not tell him or
any one?"
She need not have asked Medallion. He
knew many secrets and kept them, which
is not the usual way of good humored peo-
pie.
But now, with the story told by the
avocat himself in his mind, he saw the end
of the long romance. He came to the house
of Nine. Lecyr, and being admitted said tc
her, You must come at once, with me-"
She trembled toward him. "He is worse
he is dying?"
He smiled: Not dying at all. He needs
you; come along. I'll tell you as we go"
But she hung back He was palmer then
and told her all he had seen and heard the
evening before. Without a word then she
prepared to go. On the way he turned to
her and said to her, You are Nine Lecyr."
II am as he left me- she replied timidly,
but with a kind of pride too.
Don't mistake me, =" he said IL thought