Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-10-26
STORY OF A POTATO.

Mile Aglae, milliner by trade, was
sitting one fine Sunday morning by the
open window pccling potatoes. The win
dow was on the fifth floor and looked out
on the Rae Dcpic. Suddenly one of the
potatoes slipped through her fingers, drop
ped over the edge of the window sill and
disappeared into space. 1t fell with a bang
upon q gentleman who was passing be-
Meath and maIo deep dent in his elegant
silk hat
This gentleman, who had only just been
TO pay a bill at lis hatter's, was seized
with sudden and uncomfortable fury.
lie glanced up at the house, and, socing
a window ON the fifth story shut down
hurriedly with bang. he forgot every
thing in his rage and made Il rush for tho
front door, opened it, tore through it and
ran precipitatcly up stairs, with no other
intention than making the guilty person
suffer for his clpmsinCss
l. took him but two seconds to reach
The landn" on tin second floor when "a
door sudden " opened aud person rushed
out in great hurry aud fell heavily into
hi arms
The two MON eyed each other for a mo-
mont wi;h angry and a9tonished looks,
ready to abuse each other, when both 81
simultaneously uttered an exclamation Of
surprise.
"Aratol.n'
Edgar!
Anotoio Baudrucho and Edgar Briohe-
tom wore two old college chums. They had
not met since the day when they took their
bachelor Of arts degree together, . years
before IN spite of this long interval in
their intercourse they found on the occa.
sion Of this sudden meeting that they had
very little ready change of conversation.
EDGAR was the first to speak.
Say, your hat looks very pretty" he
said
do not speak of it, 1t has just served
as target for potato that fell from the
fifth story"
And now you are going up stairs to re-
store the potato TO its owner? That's very
nice Of YOU.
"Not by any means I'm going up to
charge the clumsy devil with his crime,
try to make him pay for a new hat y, ,,,
might as woll tackle n corpse"
And why, If you please?"
Because cd Bidoche is an old hedge
hog, who " i'll kick You down Stairs even
If he opens tho door to you at all"
old Bid1ehc?"
eyes, the u,.n you arc after, for it can
be no Other tam he All The tenants in
the buildiua are always having trouble
with him one Insight tLiui, That he naGo
point to Le as disIgreoable TO every one
as he possibly cam"
Then do yoI live in this hon af''
NO. but an nunt OF mine u-~s and
scarcely a day passes without her having
scrap with Old Bidoche. If you will allow
me, 1 will go upwith you. Two heads are
better than ono in "A matter like this.
So Edgar AMI Anatolo went up another
three flights t4p,t her and stopped outside
door through which came softly the
sounds C noludioUs u~ic,l instrument.
This is the ROOM, said Edgar
He's practcng on the bassoon."
With these words be pulled the boll and
the bassoon sudoynly ceased. Then the
shutting of feet was heard and there,
framed in the doorway, stood a little old
man with benevolent, smiling face and
large sized ba7soon resting across one arm.
What do the gentlemen desires" asked
the little old man
M Bidoche" replied Edgar. Eyes,
the wretched Bidoche," added Anatole,
shaking his ruined hat in one hand and
with the other placing the potato on the
tip of the musicians nose"
IN Bidoche?' replied the old man DO
litely. Il de- not know him. never heard
of him"
What's thatp What's that" cried Ed
gar. Are you trying to deceive us?"
Not at all, " answered the old man
quietly.
There must be mistake somewhere
My name is Molcsqun. l am the solo
bassoon in the orchestra of the Theater des
Goheline and moved in this morning. 4"
Just our luck" cried Edgar. "Bi-
doche must have moved out "
"Then,' continued Anatole, "yOu are
not the man who threw this potato ON my
hat?"
Il only eat green vegetables, answered
Molesquin. Nevertheless, if the gentle
men will come in for short while, L will
play them my part in the Tour de Nesles
There are some interesting passages in it. "
Anatolo and Edgar did not like to refuse
and went into the old musicians room.
Molesquin gNve them a scat and some Gig
erettes, and then, going up to his music
stand, he played through for their benefit
the whole of the first bassoon part in the
Tour de Neslcs. "
Edgar made "a brave face over it, while
Anatole sat at the window with his potato
in his hand and scarcely able to contain
his Impotence.
Suddenly the musician struck false
note. 1t increased Anatole's i.npatience
so much that he gave JUMP and in SC
doing allowed the potato - slip from his
fingers. 1t rolled over me window sill and
with hop disappeared into the street. be-
Row.
When Mile Aglae dropped her potato
into the street, she was overcome with
fear She huTriedly shut her window sc
that in case there had been an accident nc
one would suspect her Then she sat down
and quietly awaited the turn of events
What, then, was her terror when she heard
steps coming up the stairs-the steps o.
men, of two men, heavy and loud
They're policemen, " she thought, and al
the thought her little heart began to bea