Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-02-21

s..I~ 49, =. .."cneu ms destination that lonely
ne'gnoofhood was wrapped in gloom. ~
sne nRnt * Kas lamp near the Capucbin
convent 20 saw Number I2'' over 4 half
open door ~ rough stone wall. and On
enterine' found himself In large marx &
garden He could just distinguish in the
uarkness square plots Of vegetables. somc
kroups OF rose bushes, and here and there
ths siihouettes Of fruit trees. At the other
snu OF the garden two or three dim lights
showed the front OF plain, square build.
ing, and to this the deputy governor n,ada
MS way, and had the good luck To RIM
against the gardener, who directed him to
shs widow Blsuet's lodgings upstairs.
Aiter twice stumbling on the muddy
Steps N. Boinville knocked at door M
DER which line Of light was TO b. ssen
ana great Was his surprise when tbs AZ,
being opened, he saw before him a Girl ~
about twenty years holding up a lighted
lamp and looking at him with astonished
eyes She was dressed in black and had a
fair, fresh face, and the lamp light "a.
shining on her wavy chestnut hair. RON I'd
pid blue eyes. " a'1 nun
TINS where Madame Blouet liyes,n
asked NJ. Boinville after moment bes;ta.
uon. and the girl replied: "Yes. air. Be
kind enough to walk In. grandmother
mere ID gentleman who wants to see Won J,
am coming" cried thin, piping voice
from the next room, and the next minute
Cne old LADY came trotting out, with her
false front all awry under her black can
ana trying to unite the strings Of 4 blne
apron which she wore.
Holy motheri' she cried in amaze,ner.
on recognizing the deputy governor. "is n
possible, siri Excuse my appearance I
was not expecting the honor OF a Wait from,
you. Claudette, give NJ. Boinyille 4 chair
This Is my grandchild, sir. She ia ali
havein the world"
The gentleman seated himself in an AN.
tique armchair covered with Utrecht vel
vel, and cast rapid glance round the
room, which evidently served as both par
!or ana dining room. It contained very
little furniture; a small stove OF white
DELFT ware. next to which stood an old
fashioned oaken clothes press round
table covered with oilcloth and some rush
bottom chairs, while on the wall hung two
old colored autographs. Everything was
very neat and the place had an old time
air Of comfort and rusticity. M. Boinyille
explained the object Of his visit in a few
words and the widow exclaimed
"Oh, thank you, siri How good you arel
1t Is quite true that pleasant surprises
never come singly. My grandchild has
passed an examination in telegraphy, and
while she is waiting for position she ia
doing little painting for one and another
Only today she has been paid for a large
order, and SO we made up our minds said
the grandmother, ITO celebrate the event
by having only old home dishes for dinner
The gardener down stairs gave US a cab
bage. some turnips and potatoes to make a
potee. We bought Lorraine sausage.
and when you came in had just made a
tot-fait."
"Oh, a ot-fait!' cried Boinville. THAT
Is sort of cake made Of eggs. milk and
farina. 1t Is twenty years since heard its
name and more than that since tasted it. -
His face became strangely animated, and
the young girl, who was watching him
curiously, saw look of actual greatness
In his brown eyes While he was lost in a
reverie OF the tot-fait Claudette and her
grandmother turned away and began dis
cussing and at last the girl whispered:
II am afraid it would not do"
why not?" returned the old lady; II
think it would please him." And then.
seeing that he was looking at them won
deringly, she went toward him, saying:
IN. Boinville, you have already been so
kind to us that am going to ask of you
another favor. 1t is late, and you have A
long way to COVE should be so glad if
you would stay here and taste our tot-fait
should we not. Claudettes"
tnly - caid thu ss,ut NJ Do;.
vile will have a plain dinner, and, besides,
he is, no doubt, expected at home.''
"No one is waiting for me-" answered
the gentleman, thinking of his usual dull,
solitary meals in the restaurant. II have
no engagement, butt he hesitated looked
at Claudette's smiling eyes. and suddenly
exclaimed
81 accept, with pleasure"
''That is right" said the old lady brisk
ly. "What did / tell you, Claudette,
Quick, my pet, set the table and run for
the wine, while go back to my tot-fait. ."
The girl had already opened the press
and taken out a striped tablecloth and
three napkins, and in the twinkling of an
eye the table was ready. Then she lighted
q candle and went down stairs to fetch the
wine, while the old dame sat down with
her lap full of chestnuts, which she pro-
ceeded to crack and place upon the stove.
SIS not that bright, lively girls" she
said. "She is my consolation; she cheers me
like linnet on an old roof"
Here the speaker ratified the chestnuts
on the stove, and then Claudette reap
peared, little flushed and out of breath,
and the old woman went and brought in
the potee, and set it, steaming and fragrant,
on the table.
Seated between the CHEEKY octogenarian
and the artless, smiling girl, and in the
midst of half rural surroundings which
constantly recalled the memory of his
youth, Hubert Boinville the deputy gov
ernor, did honor to the potee. His grave.
cold manner thawed out rapidly, and he
conversed Familiarity with his new friends,
returning the gay sallies of Claudette, and
shouting with merriment at the sound of
the patois words and phrases which the old
lady used.
From time to time the widow would rise
and 90 to attend to her cookery, and at last
she returned triumphant, bringing in an
iron baking dish in which rose the gently
awellino golden brown tot fait, smelling of
orange flower water.
Then came the roasted chestnuts in their
brown, crisped shells, and the old lady
brought from her press bottle of figno-
lette, liquor made of brandy and sweet
wine.
When Claudette had cleared the table
the grandmother took up her knitting me-
chanically aud sat near the stove, chatting
ga, Is at first, but she now yielded to the
combined effects Of the warmth and the
hcnolette and fell asleep. Claudette put
the lamp on the table, and she and the Wis
itor werc left to entertain each other. Tbs
Il FL