Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-29
THE ASSASSIN.

THE ASSASSIN.
Polydore Chapoteau, grocer, had re-
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 a 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
ry 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
''Mme 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 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 word
opened drawer where his pharmacy
was arranged, and taking one of the
walls poured from it into Champignol's
mouth a teaspoonful of medicine.
''You do not find me unprepared,
he said. EDO you not feel better?"
Champignol rubbed his hand over his
stomach and nodded affirmatively. Sud-
denly his chin dropped, and he appeared
to be asleep.
Refreshing sleepr' murmured Cha
poteau, happy at the effect Of his drug,
and while waiting for Champignol to
awaken he commenced to wash the
dishes.
Half an hour later he returned to the
room on his tiptoes. Champignol had
not awakened
IT will look after my chickens, said
Chapoteau to himself.
Half an hour passed thus. Champig-
mol still slept on.
He is taking long nap" thought
Chapoteau. Il will arrange the lettuce "
That occupied a full hour. Now
Champignol would surely be awake But
Champignol still slept.
''Ah, the ideaP' growled Chapoteau,
and he commenced to slap his friend on
the back, gently at first, then harder
and finally with his fists. Champignol
did not move.
Then a cold shiver ran over Chapo-
teau. Had an accident happened to him?
Could 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 I'M
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 BIZ better to leave
him alone He will awaken himself. -
Chapoteau walked about his garden,
a prey to a vague agitation. Suddenly
the idea came into his mind that his
friend was playing him trick.
He knelt before him.
CHOW, Champignol, no more foolish
ness. You have deceived me long
enough
Champignol did not move.
''Champignol, dear old Champignol,
my dear Champignol,. Guonal, my little
Pignol"
Chapoteau employed all the tones of
tenderness, surprise and terror. Gilt
tie Pignol'' was said in heartbro-
ken way, with a trembling voice. A
stone would have been touched, but
Champignol remained insensible.
"Ah, that's it, is it?'' said Chapo-
teau, and becoming fierce he gave his
sleeping friend blow in the face
''There! Now we shall see!''
Champignol oscillated, swayed and
fell forward with his head upon the
table.
"Ah! You want to brighten me!
That won't do! There and thereP' He
was becoming exasperated. The honest
and gentle Chapoteau had been trans
Toned into an inquisltor.
Suddenly his arm fell If this should
be real! If it were not a joke of Cham
pignol's!
He seized his hat and rushed out like
the wind. Where should he go? For
the doctor, parbleu! Why had he not
thought Of that sooner? He was only q
few steps from the Doctors house when
terrible thought stopped him short
t He had given laudanim to Champig-
noll, to be sure, but he thought he had
given him only fair dose. Perhaps he
had made mistake. Perhaps he had
poisoned Champignol They would
have an autopsy of the body. They
would discover the poison. He would
be arrested, judged condemned and
dragged to the scaffold!
j To the scaffold!
| The ideas clashed together in hts
hsad. He felt as if a mill wheel were
revolving in his brain. He retraced his
steps Perhaps-who knows?-Cham-
pignol may have awakened at last!
Vain hope! Champignol had turned
green. His hands were as cold as mar
BILE. His heart had ceased beating.
Their little pleasuring was turning
into tragedy. Chapoteau buried his
head in his hands, sad, distracted, see-
ing nothing but that inert mass, those
rigid members and closed eyes, and
through the doors he seemed to hear the
noise of the courtroom.
He was alone, without witnesses. No
one could prove his innocence: Every
thing was against him, 1t would be i'm
possible also to prove an alibi. People
had seen Champignol come in, and it
was known that he came every Thurs
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