Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-07-17
RESTITUTION.

The parliamentary session had ad-
journed, the Hon. M. Grandcadet, dep
uty for the Deux- Garonnes, took the ex
press-free, thanks to his annual pass
and HE'D himself to feel the pulse of
public opinion in his native town.
Comfortably installed in corner OF
the carriage M. Grandcadet unfolded a
voluminous evening newspaper, very
erudite and ministerial, and edited in u
prose as heavy and depressing as virtue,
the Typography of which had q grave
and puritanical air about it. The Pana-
ma scandal-insignifcant, as every one
knows, and exaggerated with so much
malevolence by the enemies Of the re-
public-was insultingly RELOCATED to the
third page and reported and printed in
such small type as to be almost illegi-
BILE. By contrast the columns Of this
austere organ were filled with foreign
politics, articles Of palpitating interest,
which commenced in the following
terms: MATTERS are very serious in
Venezuela" or else, care the days OF
the Tricoupis ministry counted?''
To make good impression on the
white mustached 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 in the last dispatches from
Caracas. But in reality M. Grandcadet
was very much upset by the last turn
affairs had taken, and deep feeling of
anxiety possessed him.
His name had not been mentioned
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
compromising paper might come to
light. For, between ourselves, he had
handled his little Doodle in an honest,
honorable way among comrades, and he
had not thought much about the mat
ter. Come, I will allow my readers to
pass Judgment upon him. He was neu-
trail at the last appeal for funds. A
man of consideration, a rich banker,
whom he met very often in his political
circle, and with whom he was on very
good terms-in fact, almost q friend
opened his eyes, gave him to under
tand how opportune-shall l say pa
triotic?-it was to vote favorably to the
emission. This man, who knew how to
live, who was perfect gentleman, pro-
posed to HMM most delicate terms
to associate himself with the financial
operations in overwhelmingly
enough, when there was a question OF
this great scheme-and promised him
some recompense in advance-to calm
his scruples--a percentage, mon Dieu,
not an enormous one, o miserable
check for 25, 1000 francs. Donot gainsay
me; you would all have done the same
as M. Grandcadet did. And I know
what you are going to say to me, "The
subscribers, what about them?" 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 were of no earthly &C.
count. Could Grandcadet divine that
this famous canal would never be cut
through? But several times before he
had realized some benefits from affairs
Of the same kind, which had beer more
or less successful, and nobody had found
fault with him.
Well, frankly, with his hand on his
heart, he reproached himself for nothing.
And must confess it he did not believe
in this burst of public indignation. That
was all humbug. 1t was easy to recog.
nize back Of all this Indignation plot
Of the old parties; the hands of the
Comte de Paris and the Boulangists.
The president du conseil had said as
much to them. Happily he had been
there-he, Grandcadet-to defend the
menaced republic, and at the risk Of his
life, if you please. To see him you
would not have thought him capable Of
SO much determination and character,
with his well trimmed whiskers and his
air of q 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
!; o barricade, and like the heroic Baudin
he would cry out, Come and see how
one dies for %, 600 francs"
However, in spite Of all these fine rea-
sonings the honorable deputy DIES Deux-
Garonnes was not ensy in his mind.
"Suppose ! try to rest q little" lie
said to himself.
He drew his travelling cap over his
ears, enveloped his limbs in rug, and
stretching himself ON the seat was soon
sound asleep.
Then he had the nightmare Was he
overtaken by remorse? For myself
think he did wrong to eat that dish Of
''civet" at the station buffet. he should
have been mistrustful Of it. Evidently
hare did not agree with him.
His dreams were absurd.
At first he thought himself ct home
opening his safe and finding that he
had been robbed; that instead Of fat
pocketbook Of dark green leather con
tanning all his valuable papers there
was nothing In the safe but an empty
WOODEN stocking. Then suddenly he was