The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-05-12

Ol tHeiT OdJus hHu sHhkinS WuteI lTOUl
their coats with every movement Of
their bodies"
Jean persuaded himself that love
excuses everything in this world, and
even il il was q little mean he would
put the plan into action.
He dragged the two planks onto
! the bank without losinr a minute
more-for 8 O'Clock had asst sounded
from the village church, ne approach
ed the mill and rang the bell. His
heart was beating rather wildly, but
he felt no remorse in his soul and
proved that he possessed q nature
well hardened against the prick Of
the holy needles OF conscience.
'Ah, Mr.. Bad Joker" said the mil
Ter angrily. Here you are at last !"
He had sent Marthe into an adj
joining room in case the visit should
have IA violent termination.
Why do you speak to me like
that, Mr.. Miller?" asked Jean with
the most natural manner in the world.
II suppose you made a bet among
yourselves, heinz" continued the
burly miller, gruffiy.
"How-a bet. NJ. Bernardo"
90 Eth bien, with those inseparable
friends Of yours, Martin and Jac-
ques." ..
:" / 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
while?"
g cannot believe for an instant
that they would play such an unkind
trick upon me"
tell you that Martin has an
nounccd himself for $50 o'clock
and Jacques for 10 o'clock, both OF
them to ask me for my daughters
hand"
ITS shame !" cried Jean, IAN
unqualified piece OF treachery Be-
cause they found out that / love
Mile. Marthe, they are jealous Of me.
Listen, M. Bernard, II these fellows
come Mt the hours indicated, you
may believe | am their accom-
plice. But il 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
lie 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
n suitable son-in-law. and while he
talked the face OF his listener began
to show evidence Of benevolence and
reinsurance.
Crash 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, un-
til Mt 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 n 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 rs if 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, l have discovered that
you improve marvellously upon ac-
quaintance and, my faith! I'll agree
to it. 1t is n bargain -
But, Mile. Marthe," stammered
Jean, will she approve?"
His good fortune began to trouble
him.
MY daughter will do what l wish.
1t is agreed, l 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 10 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 n hop, skip and
n 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 little cold and
Jean reached home shivering. Next
day he had developed beautiful
pleurisy. His illness was severe