Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-07-10
] THE EEL PASTY


THE EEL ,PASTY.
It was winters night Of piercing
GOODNESS in Amsterdam. Banker Brcun.
ker sat near his stove smoking q long
pipe. Opposite was his intimate friend.
Won Grote. al s
What can be the reason, : said Grote
to Brounker that you will not consent
to the marriage Of your son with the
daughter Of Birkenrode?"
my dear fellow, do not oppose the
match. It is my wife who will not hear
Of it. - ga
/" But what reason can she have 10 re-
fuse her consent?'' 5g.
! ~ cannot tell You, answered
Brounker, lowering his voice.
a mysteryi' exclaimed Grotes
&''Comc, you know how discreet I am.
Let me know all about it. I"
well, it is now six and twenty years
since i was married. and frankly con.
fess to you that was excessively jeal.
ors Of my wife.
Ny position obliged me to see 4
great deal of company at home, and
feared that some Of my numerous Wis
itors would rob me Of my Clotilda's az
fections. One Of these particul arly
Colonel Birkenrode caused me the
greatest fear.
II could not deny him access to my
house, as he belonged to q very powerful
family; neither had anything in his
conduct given me reason to do SO.
"At ,As time speak Of bought this
house, where previously had con.
structed i'll secret, behind this stove, a
narrow closet, from which could hear
all that passed in this room, wherein
my wife received her visitors.
For a long time Birkenrode content
cd himself with depicting in the most
vivid colors the passion which consumed
him. My wife listened without making
my answer. AT last one day he became
more impatient than before and threat
ened to blow his brains out before her
eyes if she would not show a little more
pity. ,.s
~ =. But am not at liberty! exclaimed
she in a voice interrupted by sobs.
And if your liberty were restored
20 your urged the Lothario.
'Sir!' said my wife.
IF you become widow insisted
he, swear to give me your hand. 81
TO this proposition my wife an
gwered only with her tears, and he left
her. 60
'tThe next morning an extraordinary
occurrence greatly increased the agita-
ton of Clotilda. During breakfast q
servant came and whispered in my ear
that the cook wished to speak to me
privately. Let him come in, said l. i
have no secrets from my wife.
.'The cook came, as pale as death,
and, with long face, he told me that
he had that morning received q packet
containing 800 forms, d small vial and
a note telling him to put the contents
of the vial into the first eel pasty he
made. You know my extreme fondness
for cells, while my wife cannot bear even
the smell Of them.
He was promised even a greater
recompense il lie faithfully executed the
commission. Fearing some treachery,
he had fastened to give me the vial and
the 800 forms.
II Immediately put few drops Of
the liquid contained in the vial on a
lump of sugar and gave it to my wife's
little dog. The poor little animal was
taken with violent commissions and ex-
pired in few moments. There was no
doubt that the intention was to destroy
me.
1.-THE same day Bilkenrode came, as
usual, but Clotilda refused to see him
and wrote to him to say that she would
confess all to her husband if ever he
dared to show himself again. Having
uselessly tried to calrn her anger, he re-
solved at last to marry, and since that
our families have had no communica-
ton, except that my son has fallen in
love with his daughter, and although I
have given my consent my wife OPP
poses it. .
''She isright. = indignantly exclaimed
Won Grote. never should have
thought Birkenrode capable Of such .
vile action. = Az;
.'Ha, ha, hal" said Brounker, burst
ing with laughter. DO you, then, too.
accuse him. s4
''Who. then. could itbe, if he was not
the culprit?
st was myself, dear fellow. The adj
venture cost me 800 forms, which /
gave to my cook. It was rather dear,
but at the same time got rid Of dan
gerous rival and q lapdog which I
equally detested-ha, ha hal''
AT this moment the door opened, and
Mime. Brounker entered the room.
II thought you were at the party,
Clotilda, said her husband.
No. I do not feel very we'll and am
going to bed. Maurice has accompanied
his sisters. I have brought you . key,
which / have found on your desk, and
as it does not seem to belong to any Of
the locks il this house some friend Of
yours must have left it behind him. " @
Brounker, deeply blushing, took the
key. He had recognized it az the key TO
his private closet
MY dear, :, said Clotilda 4 have
given Maurice my consent to his mar
riage with the daughter Of Mr. Birken-
rode. . .s
ttn,l. T., 49,. ,ss.,s1 r3,o,, !, l.x,,.