Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-08-09
THE ASSASSIN.

EOlyuUIo OudpOtcouf BIOcerB 1du IT,
tired from business. He had taken q
house in the country, where he raised
chickens and lived happily. He was con-
sidered among the fortunate few who re-
allied their dreams here below.
Chapoteau was q good fellow and
was fond of entertaining his neighbors.
Champignol was his best friend. They
had played some famous games of bill
lizards together and had become init
mate, though not without little rival
~ in caroms. Champignol lived at the
other end Of the village, and every
Thursday he came to take pot luck with
Chapoteau.
Well, one Thursday when the mel
ons were ripe Champignol arrived, as
usual.
sMme. Chopoteau and the servant
have gone to the city and will not return
till the last train. We are alone and
must prepare our feast ourselves. /"
Champignol put on the servants
apron, Chapoteau his wife's apron, and
while one prepared the vegetables the
other one roasted the meat.
It was a fine feast. A melon just ripe,
cultivated by Chapoteau with paternal
tenderness. appeared at dessert. Cham
pignol adored melons. He left only the
rind and the seeds.
IT have eaten too much" he said
after the coffee.
He became melancholy. Chapoteau
got up. and without saying a word
opened drawer where his pharmacy
was arranged, and taking one Of the
walls poured from it into Champignol's s
mouth teaspoonful of medicine.
"You do not find me unprepared, I"
he said. s'Do you not feel better?"
| Champignol rubbed his hand over his
stomach and nodded affirmatively. Sud.
denly his chin dropped, and he appeared
to be asllcccoll
Refreshing sleepl' murmured Cha
poteau, happy at the effect Of his drug,
and while waiting for Champignol tc
awaken he commenced to wash the
dishes.
Half an hour later he returned to the
room Oh his tiptoes. Champignol had
not awakened.
II will look after my chickens, said
Chapoteau to himself.
Half an hour passed thus. Champig.
mol still slept on.
HE is taking a long nap" thought
Chapoteau. IT will arrange the lettuce. \
That occupied full hour. Now
Champignol would surely be awake. But
Champignol still slept
"Ah, the ideal'' growled Chapoteau,
and he commenced to slap his friend Oh
the back, gently at first, then harder
and finally with his fists. Champignol
did not move.
Then cold shiver ran over Chapo.
teau. Had an accident happened to HIM
Gould he have burst blood vessel
Melons are traitorous.
He opened Champignol's hands and
slapped them, opened his mouth and
breathed into it. Finally, not knowing
what to do, he began to tickle him un
der his arms and laughed loudly to ex
cite him. In truth, poor Chapoteau had
no desire at all to laugh.
Champignol remained as lifeless as &
work of art.
Perhaps it would be better to leave
him alone. He will awaken himself. .
Chapoteau walked about his garden,
a prey toa vague agitation. Suddenly
the idea came Into his mind that hi
friend was playing him trick.
He knelt before him.
Now, Champignol, no more foolish
ness You have deceived me Ions
enough. !"
Charnpignol did not move.
"Champignol, dear old Champignol
my dear ChamSigSol, Guonal, my littlt
Pigno!l"
Chapotean employed all the tones d
tenderness, surprise and terror. ''Lit
tie Pignol'' was said in a heartbro
ken way, with trembling voice. A
stone would have been touched, bu
Champignol remained insensible.
'sAh, that's it, is it?'' said Chapo
teau, and becoming fierce he gave hi'
sleeping friend blow in the face.
tTAerel Now we shall see!"
Champignol oscillated, swayed ani
fell forward with his head upon tn,
table.
"Ahi You want to frighten me
That won't dol There and therep' H,
was becoming exasperated The homes
and gentle Chapoteau had been trans
fomed into an inquisitor.
| Suddenly his arm fell II this should
be reali If it were not joke Of Cham
| pignol'si
He seized his hat and rushed out lik,
the wind. Where should he go? Fo
the doctor, parbleul Why had he no
thought of that sooner? He was only +,
few steps from the doctors house whel
terrible thought stopped him short.
i He had given laudanum to Champig
| noll, to be sure, but he thought he ha,
| given him only fair dose Perhaps b
had made mistake. Perhaps he ha,
poisoned Champignol. They woul,
have an autopsy Of the body. The.
i would discover the poison He woul,
| be arrested, judged, condemned AM
dragged to the scaffoldl
To the scaffoldi
i The ideas clashed together in hi
head. He felt as il mill wheel wer
revolving in his brain. He retracod hi
steps Perhaps--who knows?- Chan
pignol may have awakened at lastl
Vain hopel Champignol had turne
green. His hands were as cold as MAJ
BILE. His heart had ceased beating.
Their little pleasuring was turnin
into tragedy. Chapotesu buried b
head in his hands, sad, distracted, Sc,
ing nothing but that inert mass, thol
rigid members and closed eyes, an
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