Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-01-05
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fTowls picked ont, pluckcd, aud made
ready for the spit, the cake already in
the oven. ii he had been warned even
two days. before, it might have been
possible To put OH the ceremony. But
il WIS just like them; they did every
thing in thnt fashion. They had mr.
ranged the whole affair without CON
sulting him, and it was only now,
hardly IN hour ego, that he received
by post bit OF IL letter which let him
know what was going on.
Cassnulet looked at him confusodly,
listening without understanding. The
other went ON, sprinklng his talk with
vigorous exclanations, gesticulating
more and more, sometimes striking his
friend on tho shoulder, sometimes
Selling him by the hands, md ending
by telling him that under these cir
cumstances he alone could save him;
that without hisaid the baptism would
he n future, the banquet lost, the
mother in fears.
81 count on you," he repeated, MS
the other did not reply. "rhanis
And now our friendship is one of life
and death ~ And, scizing him by his
two long arms, ho kissed him noisily
on both checks.
Once escaped from The sudden clasp,
Cnssonlct first got his breath then
quietly, without hurrying himself, re-
marked:
':But You have not told mo what
You wish me to do" Mallamprnt
looked Mt him i'll establishment, then
burst into loud laughter.
cit is so, TO be sure" ho sail. "Tn
n word, this is whnt you must do. To.
morrow sSunday therefore, OF course,
there is high mass. III am not there,
who is to sing il? One person alone
can replace me-yoiil For lis to ask
ing the cure to change from high mass
to low mass, one might MS well as,l the
river Durnnce to swallow up the Rhone,
or the mistral to play on the flute. So
you mus! take my place Mt the singing
desk, or | am lost man. No train
passes during either mass or vespers.
And even if there did, it could wait II
little well enough. It's agreed, it is
not? Tomorrow you will sing in my
place, and when 1 get back, we will
drink together one of these bottles of
white wine That you know about, those
1 keep for my friends on special occa-
sions Mt tho FIR end of tho cellar"
The thought of the white wine
brought IL smile to CassouIet's face.
Yes, certainly, he knew it well, and
liked it even more. He winkel, clicked
with his tongue, and said, 81 accept |"
AT the same time he was really glnd to
do service to his old comrnde More
over, he WAS not sorry to have chance
to be listened to little, for there had
been no socinl meetings at the Grand
Cafe dc rUnivcrs for some time. In
summer the evenings were very heavy
and hot. He began to cough and hum
TO himself, as if to prove to his own
satisfaction that he still possessed that
sonorous organ which hnd made him
so famous.
81 can count on You, then?" asked
Mnllnmprat for the last time.
"5hakc hands on it," replied his
friend, extending his own MS he spoke.
"You mny so and baptize your nephew
: and all the rest of them, if You like
, with tranquil mind Don't disturb
, yourself. Everything will be right "
) "You quito understand what you
have to do?'
Perfectly. I hpve heard you often
enough to know how you go at it
: When your turn comes to sing, they
: give you sign, and you go right
! ahead"
exactly SO. But, if you wish, W.
5 might have q little rehearsal, this even
| ing"
s'By no means. I have sung plenty
l of other things, and more difficult
5 things too,' said Cnssoulet, bridiine
' up.
And the other bowed before him.
just then the bell i'll the station
C rang.
c "rhe 1arascon train," cxclain e,
s Cassoulet, rising. 'I return to m,
Q post Good-l,y, Jean-Baptiste. HAY
: good time"
II "Good-by. Trophime, and thanl
Q you'll"
Q And Mallumprat set out again on
L run in tho direction of his house, il
# haste to tell everybody that the affai
L was satisfactorily settled, while Cassou
IS let rushed TO the platform to meet tn
l. train. which rolled in Mt its customnr
d moderate pace, md to utter his RI
Sc sounding travellers for Gsi!lal
L CUES. Ferigoulet, Baracan, and Tara.
y con, take your seats!"
ii The next day--ah the next day