The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-02-02

take it in2 Eight hundred thousand
And you, what have your"
The engineer answered frankly; then
he added
II am not actually rich, but If you
give me Mile. Valentine believe me
! that nv work my humble acuuire-
ments"--
stop talking! Your conversation is
of no interest to me. Will you please
to take your departure at once2 1t
makes me die of laughing to have you
come to ask me for my daughter.
have only to add, Good evening"
But, sir, if | do not present my suit
until after my automatic brake has
made me a millionaire, l risk finding
Mile. Valentine married to another
Now, sir, do not wish to run any such
risk.
80 much the worse. What do you
want me to do about it?"
Passeraud retired in much distress.
Banging the doors after him. NJ Lamar
tin exclaimed:
Not a cent! No position! Asks
for my daughter. All, really, it is quite
interesting.
This visit, which had such an unfa-
vorable result as regards our friend left
very slight traces on the mind of M.
Lamantin. What brought, several
days later, an anxious look to the lat
ter S face was simply the fact that his
parlor chimney smoked.
In the middle of the month of De-
cember and just as he was preparing
to arrange reception in honor of his
daughters nineteenth birthday his par
lor chimney began to smoke. A house
holder could scarcely have had more
disagreeable thing happen to him. NJ
Lamantin sent for his architect. who
FASTENED to come, smelling an order.
- Is thatall2" he said, vexed when he
learned what the matter was.
:" think that is quite enough. 1t is
not amusing to own a chimney that
makes my wife and myself weep all
day long, like family recently afflict-
ed"
Your chimney was built on my
pidAOs nav lllCuIO IL dOCO lOb
But it does smoke.
Because you burn Mons coal. Don't
burn Mons. Burn wood, and you will
have clear fire. "
Perhaps you are right"
The change to wood in place of coal
did not make the chimney's breathing
easier. M. Lamantin, who was reso-
lutte man, sent for the best architect in
Paris and begged him to deign to come
in person to study the question.
The artist, after having infinitely ex-
amined the chimney, did not scruple to
restrain this cruel reflection on his
brother in art, What ass built this
chimney"
1T was Ledente, my architect.
1T was well said; an ass. Have the
lue made four inches higher, in order
to increase the draft. 1t will be all
right then.
What simple matter it is, after
allv'
1T only needed IA little thought"
The operation completed, the Chin
ney smoked as before. But the great
architect took care of his bill.
Hang it, what bill" NJ. Lamar
tin could not help signing as he paid it,
Disguised with architects, the house
holder turned to bricklayers. The first
one called in ordered the addition to
the flue of piece of sheet iron in the
form of serpent. \
The chimney continued to send out
its smoke into the parlor.
A second bricklayer arrived; with
disgust he had his colleagues serpent
removed and substituted for it sort of
helmet of the same material.
The chimney did not pay any atten-
ton to the helmet, but smoked worse
than ever.
But here the concierge interposed
with these consoling words: Sir, you
are wrong to despair. | was just this
moment talking Of this matter with
one of the tenants-oh, | must say it,
such nice tenant! He told me that
he would undertake to disenchant your
chimney in five minutes.
Let him come to me instantly, or
give him notice to leave.
AS quick as lightning Passeraud put
himself at the orders of M. Lamantin.
He found his landlord tramping up and
down his parlor, which was as cold az
ice.
"Ah, it is you, young man, who fiat
ter yourself You can cure in five min
utes chimneys incurably Ill. Try;
am curious to see you do it"
Five minutes is little too short
time, sir. | want an hour"
Very well-an hour. Here is a
chimney given up by all the doctors.
If you make it agree to send its smoke
up into the skies instead of down into
my apartments. will give you what
you wish. am quite out of patience.
| do not wish to bargain. Name your
price"
Sir, answered Passeraud, with dig
nifty, you will give me-the hand of
Mile. Valentine. That is my price
to be paid only after have succeeded.
"For chimneyl You wander in
your talk, my dear sir. "
This chimney, sir? Send for M.
GARNER, the architect of the opera; add
to him picked jury of engineers,
chemists, members of the institute, pro-