Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-07-16
THE ASSASSIN.

Polydore Chapoteau, grocer, had re- tired from business He had taken house ill the country, wherc he raised chickens and lived happily. He was con- sidered among the fortunate few who re- alized their dreams here below.
 ChapOteau was a good fellow and was fond of entertaining his neighbors. Champignol was his best friend They Lad played some famous Cames of bill lizards together and had become inti- mate, though not without little rival " in caroms. Champignol lived at the other end of the village, and every Thursday he came to take pot luck with Chapoteau-
 Well, ono Thursday when the mel ons were rip' Champignol arrived, as usual
 Mime. ChOpCtcau and the servant have gone to the city and will not return till the last traln4 We are alone and must prepare our feast ourselves '
 Champignol put on the servants apron. Chapoteau his wife's apron, and while one prepared the vegetables the other one roasted fhe meat
 It was a fine feast A melon just ripe, cultivated by Chapotcau with paternal tenderness. appeared at dessert. Cham pignol adOrcd lAaeIons- He left only the rind and the sfeds.
 II have eaten too much" he said after the Coffee.
 He became melancholy. Chapoteau got ><up. and without saving q word OpYned a drawer where his pharmacy Was arranged. and taking one of the vials poured from it into Champignol's mouth a teaspoonful of medicine ''You do not find me unprepared," he said. Do you not feel better?'' Champignol rubbed his hand over his stomach and nodded affirmatively. Sud- denly his chin dropped, and he appeared to be asleep.
 Refreshing slcep!" murmured Cha poteau, happy at the effect of his drug, | and while waiting for Champignol to awaken he commenced to wash the dishes.
 Half an hour later he returned to the room on his tiptoes. Champignol had not awakened
 ''I will look after my chickens. said Chapoteau to himself. Half an hour passed thus. Champig- mol still slept on-
 He is taking a long nap" thought Chapoteau. "I will arrange the lettuce. |"
 That occupied full hour. Now Champignol would surely be awake But Champignol still slept "Ah, the idear' growled Chapoteau, | and he commenced to slap his friend on the back. gently at first, then harder and finally with his fists Champignol | did not move
 Thor, cold teau. Had an accident happened to him? | Could he have burst a blood vessel: | Melons are trlitOrous. | He opened Chanpignol's hands and slapped them, opened his mouth and brcathed into it. Finally, not knowing what to do, he began to tickle him un- der his arms and laughed loudly to ex- cite him. In truth, poor Chapoteau had no desire Ut all to laugh.
 Champignol remained as lifeless as a work of art
 Perhaps it would be better to leave him alone He will awaken himself "
 Chapoteau walked about his garden, prey to q vague agitation Suddenly the idea came into his mind that his friend was playing him trick.
 He knelt before him.
 "Now, Champignol, no moro foolish ness You have deceived me long enough"
 Chanpignol did not move.
 "Champignol, dear old Champignol, my dear Champignol, Guonal, my little Pignolr'
 Chapoteau employed all the tones of tenderness, surprise and terror. Lit tie Pignol" was snid in heartbro- ken way, with trembling voice. A stone would have been touched, but Champignol remained insensible.
 "Ah, that's it, is it.' said Chapo- teau, and becoming fierce he gave his sleeping friend blow in the face.
 ''Therel Now we shall seer'
 Champignol oscillated, swayed and fell forward with his head upon the table.
 An! You want to frightei me That won't do! There and therer" Hc was becoming exasperated The honest and gentle Chapoteau had been trans fomed into an inquisitor
 Suddenly his arm fell If this should be real! If it were not joke of Cham pignol's!
 He seized his hat and rushed out Hki the wind Where should he go? Fol the doctor, parbleul Why had he no thought of that sooner? He was only few steps from the doctors house wheI 0 terrible thought stopped him short He had given laudanum to Champig noll, to be sure. but he thought he haI given him only fair dose. Perhaps h, had made mistake Perhaps he haG poisoned Champignol They woulC have an autopsy of the body. The, would discover the poison He would . be arrested. judged. condemned ant dragged to the scaffolh
 To the scaffoldi
 The ideas clashed together tn hi head He felt as if a mill wheel ~er, revolving in his brain. He retraced hi. steps Perhaps-who knows?-Cham pignol may have awakened at lasti
 Vain hopel Champignol had tuhnet green. His hands were as cold as mar blc. His heart had ceased beating
 Their little pleasuring was turning |. into tragedy. Chapoteau buried hi
 head in his hands, sad. distracted. see , ing nothing but that inert mass, thos 7, rigid members aud closed eyes, an,
 through the doors he seemed to hear tn noise of the courtroom h He was alone. without witnesses N
 one could prove his innocence Every
 thing was against him Is would be i'm
 possible also to prove an alibi Peopl g. had seen Champignol como in, and 1 - was known that he came every Thurs