The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-07-19

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sense!" He then folded his hands on hi,
breast and appeared to compose himself t.
| sleep.
| "Oh. what q sharp man of business ht
is :" Ramin said, adniringly; but for once
omnipotent fattery failed IN it's effect. s,
acute" continued he with stealthy gIaucs
at the old man, who remained perfectly un-
moved. "I see you will insist upon maxim,
it the other 500 Francs"
Monsieur Ramin said this as if 4 500
francs had already been mentioned, and wa:
| the very summit of Monsieur Boneiles am
bition. Brt the ruse failed in its effect; the
sick man never so much as stirred.
But, my dear friend,n urged Monsieur
Ramin in q tone of feeling remonstraDce
there is such thing as being too sharp
too acute. How can you expect that l shall
| give you more when your constitution is Sc
good, and you are to be such long liver ?'
Yes, but 1 may be carried off one of these
days." quietly observed the old man, evil
IDENTIFY wishing to turn the event of his own
! death to account.
Indeed, and / hope So" muttered the
mercer, who was getting very ill-tempered.
| You see,n soothingly continued Bonelle
"you are so good man of business, Ramin,
| that you will double the actual value of the
| house in no time. / am quiet, easy per-
son, Indifferent to money; otherwise thi.
| house would now bring me in 5000 at the
very least"
Eight thousandin Indignantly exclaimed
| the mercer. Monsieur Bonelle, You have
no conscience. Come, now, my dear friend
| do be reasonable. Six Thousand francs a
| year Il don't mind saying Sky is really a
very handsome income for man of your
| quiet habits. Come, be reasonable But
| Monsieur Bonelle turned deaf ear to rea-
| son, and closed his eyes once more. What
| between opening and shutting them for the
next quarter of an hour, he at length in
| duced Monsieur Ramin to offer him 1000
| francs.
Very well, Ramin, agreed he quietly
said; "you have made an unconseionable
bargain" To this succeeded violent fit of
coughing.
As Ramin unlocked the door to leave he
found old Marguerite, who had been listen
ing all the time, ready to assail him with a
torrent of whispered abuse for duping her
"poor, dear, innocent old master into such a
bargain" The mercer bore it all very pa
tiently; he could make allowances for her
excited feelings, and only rubbed his hands
and bade her jovial good evening.
The agreement was signed on the follow
ing day, to the indignation of old Nargue
rite, and the mutual satisfaction of the par-
ties concerned.
Every one admired the luck and shrewd-
ness of Ramin, for the old man every day
was reported worse; and it was clear TO all
that the first quarter of the annuity would
never be paid. Marguerite, in her wrath,
told the story as grievance to every one.
People listened, shook their heads, and pro-
nounced Monsieur Ramin to be deueed
clever fellow.
A month elapsed. As Ramin was coming
down one morning from the attics, where he
had been giving notice to poor widow who
had failed to pay her rent, he heard light
step on the stairs. Presently asprightly gen
tleman, in buoyant health and spirits, wear
ing the form of Monsenir Bonelle, appeared.
Ramin stood aghast.
"Well, Ramin," gayIy said the old man,
how are you getting on? Have you been
tormenting the poor widow up stairs
Why, man, we must live and let live ;"
Monsieur BoneIle," said the mercer, in
hollow tone; "may / ask where are your
rheumatics?"
"Gone, my dear friend, gone"
"And the gout that was creeping higher
aud higher every day." exclaimed Monsieur
Ramin, in voice of anguish.
/" It went lower and lower, till it disap-
peared altogether" composedly replied
Bonelie
sand your asthma -
"The asthma remains, but asthmatic peo-
pie are proverbially long-iived. 1t is, have
been told, the only complaint that Methuse-
lah was troubled with" With this BOnelle
opened his door, shut it, and disappeared.
Ramin was tTsnsfxed on the stairs; petri-
fed with intense disappointment, and
powerful sense of having been duped. When
he was discovered, he stared vacantly, and
raved about an Excellent Opportunity of
taking his revenge.
The wonderful cure was the talk of the
neighborhood, whenever Monsieur BOnelle
appeared in the streets, iauntily ff0urishing
his cane. In the first frenzy of his despair,
Ramin refused to pay; he accused every one
of having been in plot to deceive him; he
turned off Catherine and expelled his porter;
he publicly accused the lawyer aud priest
of conspiracy brought an action against the
doctor, and lost it. He had another brought
against him for violently assaulting Mar
guerite in which he was cast in heavy
damages. Monsieur Bonelle did not trouble
himself with useless remonstrances, but when
his annuity was refused, employed such
good legal arguments as the exasperated
mercer could not possibly resist.
Ten years have elapsed, and NM. Ramin
and Bonelle still live on. For house which
would have been dear at $4,000 francs, the
draper has already handed over 10000.
The last accounts OF the victim of Excel
lent Opportunities represent him as being
gradually worn down with disappointment.
There seems every probability of his being
the first to leave the world; for Bonelle is
heartier than eyer.-RoasehoId Words.
Friendly Browns Pet Jays.