The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-01-24

with him when he went home. AL
though he was possessed OF keen sensi-
bilities, his bearing was so reserved and
undemonstrative that he was thought
cold and stern.
He saw very little of society, his life
being devoted to business, and he never
had enough leisure to think of marry
ing. His heart, indeed, had once as
serted itself before he had left home,
but as he then had neither position nor
fortune the girl he loved had refused
him in order to marry rich tradesman.
This early disappoinl ment had left in
Hubert Boinville feeling of bitterness
which even the other successes of his
life could not wholly efface, and there
being. The old lady's voice and accent
had recalled the thought of the past,
and his quiet was overwhelmed by a
flood of recollections. While he stood
there motionless, with his forehead
pressing against the window pane, he
was stirring as one would heap of
dead leaves, the long slumbering
memories of his youth, and like sweet
delicate perfume rose the thoughts of
! bygone scenes and days.
Suddenly he returned to his chair,
drew Nine. Blouet's petition to him
and wrote upon it the words: Every
deserving case" Then he rang his
bell and sent the document to the clerk
in charge of the relief fund.
On the day of the official assent to
Nine. Blouet's petition, M. Boinville
left his office earlier than usual, for the
idea had occurred to him TO announce
the good news himself to his aged
countrywoman.
Three hundred francs. The sum
was but drop in the enormous reser-
voir of the ministerial fund, but to the
poor widow it would be as a beneficent
dew.
Although it was December the
weather was mild, so Hubert Boinville
walked all the way to the Rue de la
Sante, and by the time he reached his
destination that lonely neighborhood
was wrapped in gloom. BY the light
of gas lamp near the Capuchin Con-
vent he saw Number ~" over half
open door in rough stone wall, and,
on entering, found himself in large
market garden.
He could just distinguish in the dark
ness square plots of vegetables, some
groups of rose bushes, and here and
there the silhouettes of fruit trees. AT
the other end of the garden two or
three dim lights showed the front of
plain, square building, and to this the
deputy governor made his way, and had
the good luck to run against the gar
dener, who directed him to the Widow
| Blouet's lodgings upstairs.
After stumbling twice on the muddy
steps, M. Boinville knocked at a door
under which line of light was to be
seen, and great was his surprise when,
the door being opened, he saw before
him girl of about twenty years hold
ing up lighted lamp and looking at
him with astonished eyes. She was
dressed in black and had fair, fresh
face, and the lamplight was shining on
her wavy chestnut hair, round dimpled
cheeks, smiling mouth and limpid blue
eyes.
is this where Nine. Blouet lives?"
asked M. Boinville after a moments
hesitation, and the girl replied: Eyes,
sir. Be kind enough to walk in.
Grandmother, here is gentleman who
wants to see you"
81 am coming" cried a thin, piping
voice from the next room, and the next
minute the old lady came trotting out,
with her false front all awry under her
black cap, and trying to unite the strings
of blue apron which she wore.
"Holy motherl' she cried in amaze
ment on recognizing the deputy gov
ernor. Is it possible, sir? Excuse
my appearance, was not expecting the
honor of visit from you. Claudette,
give M. Boinville chair. This is my
grandchild, sir. She is all have in the
world"
The gentleman seated himself in an
antique armchair covered with Utrecht
velvet, and cast rapid glance round
the room, which evidently served as
both parlor and dining room.
1t contained very little furniture-a
small stove of white delft ware, next to
which stood an old.fashioned Oaken
clothes press, a round table covered
with oilcloth and some rush bottom
chairs, while on the wall hung two old
colored Autographs. Everything was
neat and the place had an old-time air
comfort and rusticity. M. Boinville
explained the object of his visit in a
few words and the widow exclaimed:
go, thank you, sirl How good you
arel 1t is quite true that pleasant sur
prises never come singly. My grand
child has passed an examination in teleg-
raphy, and while she is waiting for a
position she is doing little painting
for one and another. Only to-day she
has been paid for large order, and 80
we made up our minds" said the grand
mother, to celebrate the event by hay
ing only home dishes for dinner. The
gardener down stairs gave us cab
bage, some turnips and potatoes to make
a potee. We bought Lorraine sau-
sage, and when you came in l had just
made tot fait."
GO, a tot-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 greedi'