Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-05-31


friends Of yours, Martin and Jse'
ques."
q don't understand what Martin
and jacques have to do with this con-
versation."
/" What, you don't know that they
are coming here, too, In . short
whilef"
IT cannot believe for an instant
that they would play such an unkind
trick upon me-"
~ tell you that Martin has an
nounced himself for $50 o'clock
and Jacques for 10 o'clock, both OF
them to ask me for my daughters
hand"
"It's shame I" cried Jean, ian
unqualified piece of treacheryI Be-
cause they found out that love
Mile. Marthe, they are jealous of me.
Listen, M. Bernard, II these fellows
come at the hours indicated, you
may believe / am their accom-
plice. But II they do not come, you
must see that they have made fools
Of myself as much as of you, and
that they certainly are not in love
with your daughter"
That sounds plausible" thought
le pere Bernard. "Let US spend the
time meanwhile in conversation"
THAT was exactly what Jean
wanted. He began at once to enum-
crate with much complaisance the
various qualifications he possessed for
a suitable son-in-law. and while he
talked the face of his listener began
to show evidence Of benevolence and
reinsurance.
Crashl heard Jean, who had
kept his ears well open for any sound
from the direction Of the bridge.
A minute later the half hour
sounded. Completely. satisfied with
Martins fate, the rogue continued to
enumerate the advantages with which
kind fortune had overloaded him, I'M
til at length Father Bernard COM
menced to think that after all this
fellow might be the son-in-law of
whom he had so often dreamed for
his daughter.
Crash heard Jean second time
in the same direction.
1t was Jacques landing on his head.
Ten O'Clock sounded almost immedi-
ately afterward. and the miller looked
at his watch as il he were already
convinced.
you were right, he said, putting
the watch back In his waistcoat poe
ket. Neither one nor the other
has come. They alone are the guilty
ones. and ! shall not forget them
easily nor their villainous joke.
Meanwhile, / have discovered that
you improve marvellously upon ac-
quaintance and, my faith! I'll agree
to 1t. 1t is bargain! |"
But, Mile. Marthe," stammered
Jean, twill she approved"
His good fortune began to trouble
him.
my daughter will do what l wish.
1t is agreed, I tell you, my son-in-
law"
Jean was crazy with Joy. When
the Miller had embraced him and
called him his son-in-law he went
out Of the room backward, scarcely
knowing what he was doing.
Once outside he could no longer
contain himself. He began to jump
for Joy and to cut capers like child.
1t was while cutting these capers,
and skipping about that he reached
the beginning of the bridge without
being aware Of it. In particular he
had forgotten quite that he had taken
away the two planks.
Greeting to thee, sweet abode"
he sang, turning with hop, skip and
a jump for the last time toward the
beloved house that was so soon to be
his own.
Crash he went in his turn and
remembered too late.
The water was q little cold and
Jean reached home shivering. Next
day he had developed a beautiful
pleurisy. His illness was a severe
one, for It kept him in bed two
months, nursed by his excellent
friends, Jacques and Martin, who
had never suspected him as the
author of their triple misfortune.
AS soon as he was we'll again he
ran to the mill and met lie pere
Bernard holding his two hands out
toward him and crying for very Joy.
mon brave am! !" he cried, my
daughter is going to be married in a
week. She is to be the wife of
Thomas, whe has been left a splendid
fortune by one of his relations. They
loved each other, these two children,
what more could you wish Will you
be best man 2"
"Grand merci," cried Jean, who
was simply astounded at the news.
For my part Judge his discomfi-
ture to have been thoroughly de-
served. May it thus be to all who
are not loyal first and selfish after.
ward.-f From the French.