The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-17
RESTITUTION.

The parliamentary session had ad-
| journed, the Hon. M. Grandcadet, dep
| uty for tho DeuX- Garonncs, took the OK
prcss-frec, thanks to his annual pass
and hied himself to feel tho pulse of
public opinion i'll his native town
Comfortably installed i'll corner of
the carriage NJ. Grandcadet unfolded q
voluminous evening newspaper, very
crudito and ministerial, and edited in "a
prose us heavy and depressing as virtue,
the Typography of which had grave
and puritanicnl air about it. Tho Pana-
ma scandal-insignifican as every one
knows, and exaggerated with SO much
malevolence by the enemies of the re
public-was insultingly relegatcd to the
third page and reported and printed in
| such small type as to be almost illegi-
bic. By contrast the columns of this
austere organ We're filled with foreign
| politics, articles of palpitating interest,
which commenced in the following
terms: Matters are very serious in
Venezuela, or else Are the days of
the Tricoupis ministry counted?''
To make good impression on the
white mustachcd colonel, who sat oppo-
site to him TRANQUILITY reading La Co
carde, NJ. Grandcadet did not lift his
eyes from the official sheet and appeared
to be deeply interested in the Hellenic
crisis and i'll the last dispatches from
Caracas. But in reality M. Grandcadct
was very much upset by the last turn
affairs had taken, and a deep feeling of
anxiety possessed him.
yet. Good, so far He had written
nothing, signed nothing. Wonderful
thoughtfulness OH his part But who
could answer for what might happen
later? Some of these fine mornings "a
compromising paper might come to
light. For, between ourselves, he had
handled his little Doodle in All honest,
honorable way among comrades, and he
had not thought much about the mat
ter. Come, | will allow my readers To
pass Judgment upon him. He was ncu-
trail at the last appeal for funds. "A
man OF consideration. IL rich banker,
whom he met very often in his political
circle. and with whom he was on very
good terms--in fact, almost friend
opened his eyes. gave him to under
tand how opportunc-shall I say pu-
triotic?-it was to vote favorably to the
emission. This man, who knew how t.
live, who WAS Il perfect gentleman, pro
posed To HMM most delicate terms
to associate himself with the financial
operations iii rslNctivc-naturall
enough, when there WAS a question of
this great schcmt-Gnd promised him
some rccompcnse iii advancs-to calm
his Scruples-a percentage, mon Dicu
not an enormous one, miserable
check for 20, 900 francs Do not gainsav
me; you would all have done the same
as NJ Grandcadct did. And / know
what you are going to say to me, The
subscribers, what about thcm?' Listen
to reason. In case of success they would
have said nothing, for they would have
made very advantageous investment.
They were merely gamblers. Would
you know my way of thinking. Well.
the subscribers We're of no earthly ac-
count. Could Grandcadct divine that
this famous canal would never he cut
through? But several times before he
had realized some benefits from affairs
of the same kind. which had been more
or less successful, and nobody had found
Iluit With nm.
We'll, frankly, with his hand on his
heart, he rcproachcd himself for nothing.
And l must confess it he did not believe
III this burst Of public Indignation. That
was all humhug. 1t was easy to rrcop-
ME back of all this indignation "a plot
OF the old parties; the hands of the
Comic dc Paris and the Boulangis:S
The president dn conscil had said IL;
much to them. Happily he had been
thcrc-hc, Grandcadct-to defend the
mcnaccd republic, aud at the risk of his
life, if you please. To sec him you
would not have thought him capable of
so much determination and character,
with his well trimmed whiskcrs and his
air of country notary. But when he
was in danger of being burned that was;
another thing. Yes, if it was necessary
he would allow himself to be killed on
barricadc, and like the heroic Baudn
he would cry out, Come and see how
one dies for 25. 600 francs"
However, in spite of all these fine req
sonings the honorable deputy dies Deux-
Garonncs was not easy in his mind.
Suppose l try to rest little" he
said to himself.
He drew his travelling cap over his
ears, developed his limbs III rug, and
stretching himself on the scat was soon
sound asleep.
Then he had the nightmare Was he
Overtalen by rcmorse? For myself |
think he did wrong to eat that dish of
"civct" at the station buffet. Hc should
have been mistrustful of ii. Evidently
Aarc did not agree with MIN.