Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-02-10
AN Accused HOUSE.

] 4 ~ ~ !
The Vicomte de B., an amiable and
charming young man, was peacefully en-
loving an income of 10000 livres yearly
when unfortunately for him his uncle,
miser of the worst species, died, leaving
him all his wealth amounting to S2,O00,00O.
/ in running through the documents of
succession, the Nicomte de b learned
that he was the proprietor of house in the
Rue de la Nictoirie He learned also that
the unfinished building bought i'm 1910
for 100000 francs, now brought in, clear of
taxes, rentals amounting to 50 600 francs
year.
TOO much, too much entirely" thought
the generous vicomte. MY uncle was too
hard. To rent at this price is usury, one
cannot deny it. When one bears great
name like mine one should not lend him
self to such plundering. | will begin to-
morrow to lower my rents, and my tenants
will bless me-"
With this excellent purpose in view the
| Nicoulte de B. sent Immediately for the
concierge of the building, who presented
| himself as promptly, with back bent like a
bow
BERNARD, my friend" said the vicomte
]
tenants that | lower their rents by one
ihird."
That unheard of word lower fell like u
brick on Bernard's head But he quickly
recovered himself; he had heard badly; hs
had not understood.
Lower the rentsI' stammered he
Monsieur lie vicomte deigns to Jest
Lower! Monsieur of course means to raise
the rents"
81 was never more serious in my life, my
friend" the vicomte returned; IL said, aud
] repeat it, lower the rents"
This time the concierge was surprised to
the point of bewilderment-so thrown off
his balance that he forgot himself and lost
all restraint.
Monsieur has not reflected" persisted
he. Monsieur will regret this evening.
Lower the tenants rentsl Never was such
a thing known, monsieurl If the dodgers
should learn of it, what would they think
of monsieur What would people say in
the neighborhood? Truly
IN. Bernard, my friend" dryly inter
rupted the vicomte, 81 prefer when give
an order to be obeyed without reply You
hear me-go!''
Staggering like drunken man, NJ. Der
narl went out from the house of his pro
prietor.
All his ideas were upset, overthrown
COMPOUNDED. Was he or was he not the
plaything of dream, ridiculous night
mare? Was he himself, Pierre Bernard, OF
Bernard somebody else?
Lower his rentsl lower his rentsl" re
peated he. at is not to be believed in
deed the dodgers had complainedl But they
have not complained; on the contrary, all
are good payers. All, if his uncle could only
know of this he would rise from the tomb
His nephew has gone mad, tits certain
Lower the rentsl They should have up thi.
young man before II family council; he will
finish badly: Who knows-after this
what he will do next? He lunched toe
well, perhaps, this morning."
And the worthy Bernard was so pale will
emotion when he re-entered his lodge, sc
pale and spent, that on seeing him enter his
wife and daughter Amanda exclaimed as
with one voice:
"Goodnessl what is itS What has hap
pened to you nowI'
Nothing" responded he with altered
voice; absolutely nothing"
You are deceiving me-" insisted Nine
Bernard; you are concealing something
from me; do not spare me- Speak! an
strong What did the new proprietor tel
you? Does he think of turning us OFF,"
IF it were only thatl But just think
he told me with his own lips-he told m,
to-ahl you will never believe mel
"Oh, yes, only do go on"
You will have it thenl Well, then, ht
told me, he ordered me to notify all tn,
tenants that-he lowered their rents one
third Did you hear what | said?-lowereC
the rents of the tenants"-
But neither Nine. nor Mile Bernard
heard him out-they were twisting anC
doubling with convulsive laughter.
"Lowerl' repeated they; "ah, what
good joke, what a droll mani Lower tn,
tenants rentsv'
But Bernard losing his temper and in
sisting that he must be taken seriously il
his own lodge, his wife lost her temper, too
and quarrel followed, Nine. Bernard de
claring that NJ. ~ernard had beyond {
doubt taken his i,v.tastic order from til,
bottom of liter of wine in the restaurant
at the corner. But for Mile. Amanda tn,
couple would undoubtedly have come t
blows, and finally Nine. Bernard, who die
not wish to be thought demented, threw
shawl over her head and ran to the propri
etor's house. Bernard had spoken truly
with her own two ears, ornamented will
big, gilded hoops she heard the incredible,
word. Only as she was a wise and prudent
woman she demanded "a bit of writing
to put, as she said, "her responsibility un
der cover"
She, too, returned thunderstruck anC
all the evening in the lodge father, mother
and daughter deliberated.
Should they obey or should they war;
some relative of this mad young man
whose common sense would oppose itsel
to such insanity
They decided to obey.