Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-11-21
THE LITTLE CASK.

Mister Chicot, innkeeper Of Epervills
stopped his tilbury in front Of Mother
Magloire's farm. He was q big fellow
Of forty. red.faced. high-stomached
ond passed for being mischievous.
He tied his horss to the way post Il
the gate, then took his way into the
court. He possessed an estate adjoin-
Ing the old woman's land, which for o
long time he kept watch upon. Twen-
ty times he had tried to buy 1t, but
Mother Magloire obstinately refused.
Here l was born; here will I die. '
she said.
lie found her peeling potatoes in
front Of her door. Being seventy two
years old, she was dried up. wrinkled
and bent, but as indefatigable as a
young girl. Chicot tapped her in q
friendly way on the back, then seated
himself on Q stool beside her.
swell, mother, and Is your health al
ways good?"
mot 80 bad; and yours, Mr. prosper%
"Eh! Ell! A few pains, otherwise II
Is satisfactory"
well, 80 much the better"
And she did not say anything more.
Chicot watched her accomplish what
she wanted. Her crooked fingers,
knotted hard like crabs claws, scizing,
pincher fashion, the grayish tubercles
with one hand, and quickly she moved
1t, taking OIL long strips Of the skin
with the blade Of an old knife which she
held IN the other hand. And when
the potato had become quite yellow she
threw it into 4 pail Of water, Three
fearless fowls came, ono after the other,
close to her skirts to pick up the peel
ings, then ran off ~ fast N their legs
would carry them, bearing their booty
in their beaks.
Chilcot seemed III at euse, hesitating,
anxious, with something on the tip OF
his tongue which would not come out.
At last he begins;
TELL me, Moth. Magloire--"
What can do to oblige you"
"This farm, you still will not sell 1t
10 me2"
isAs % that, no. DO not count on 1t.
] have said it. Do not talk about it
again."
1.-THE fact Is, have found an arrange
ment which will suit US both"
"What is that2'
Here IT Is: You will sell IT TO me,
nd still you will keep it. Don't YOU
eeeP Follow my meanipgq"
The old woman left Oft peelipg her
vegetables and fixed her quick eyes
with their crpmpled eyelida on the Inn.
keeper.
lie resumed: II will explain myself.
Livery month l will give you one hun
dred and fifty francs. You hear me
well---every month will bring to you
here, in my tilbury, thirty crowns Of
one hundred sous. And SO there Is moth
ing changed-nothing at all. You re.
main here Mt home; yoN need not
trouble y9arscll ABOUT pfe, yop owe me
nothing: You only take my money.
Does This suit you?
lie looked ut her with q Joyous air,
with Q gqedshumored pir,
The cid woman, looking for the snare,
considers IT with mlsgiyings She
asks:
THAT is for M. But for you--that
does not give you Ills farm at ALL
lie continued. Don't worry your
self about that. You will remain as
long as the good Lord let's you live. You
are at home. Only you give me a little
note from your lawyer to say that after
you y comes TO me. You have no chill
Ilren, only neplews, tor .,llom you care
little, Does this suit youg You keep
your land during your life and ] give
you thirty crowns Of one hundred sous
every month. 1t is all gain for you"
The old woman remained surprised,
but tempted. She replied:
Il do not say no, only want to think
II over. Come again and talk about 1t
The middle Of next week. Twill tell YOU
what think oft"
And Mister Ghieat went away as rQn-
ented rs king WHO had Just con-
lnered an empire. Mother Magloire
'emained thoughtful The next night
she did not sleep. During four days
'he had a fever OF hesitation. She
melt something bad for her In 1t, but
he thought of thirty crowns a month,
v thia lovely, climbing money which
would come rolling mo 1ef apron,
which, without her doing anything.
would fall TO her AZ II from heaven,
consumed her with desire, She went,
therefore,, to see the lawyer and told
lin her case. He advised her to accept
Ohicot's proposition, but instead OF
hirty to ask fifty crowns of a hundred
ons. her farm being worth at least
ixty thousand francs.
SHOULD you live fifteen years." tho
owyer said, "in this way he only pays
orty-five thousand francs" -
The old woman qniyered at the pros
ect OF fiftg crowns Of one hundred paNs !
er month; but still she had her doubts,
caring . thousand things Unforeseen
tricks hidden-and ahe remained ,
MI, -. ---"ins asking questions and un. !
bic to decide or to go ~ At mst