Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-11
"That old woman is a plague T"


"That old woman is plague!''
Mile. Lisbeth would come out Of her
room, and say, in cheerful voice:
'sDid you call me, my dear?''
"No, she was calling the cholera r.
muttered Planchon.
The cholera did not come, but, in its
stead, an infectious grip, which carried
off NJ. and Nine. Ancelin the same night.
This time, also. at the cemetery, the
day after the funeral obsequies, they
found a wreath. with the words, "God
calls his elect unto himself.
When Planchon found himself again
face to face with his daughter-in law,
both gave a groan, wherein there was
less Of grief than Of anger.
1t was necessary to put the empty
room of the Ancelins in order. The IA
ther-in-law assisted his sons wife.
Mile. Lisbeth had gone out for walk.
They heard her, when she came in, ex-
claiming:
"I'm in perspiration p
Then they were seized with the idea
of airing the house, and they opened all
the windows.
Take care, my child! This draft of
air is dangerous !" said the kind spin
ster, as she passed by Nine. Joseph.
This latter was taken i'll that very
night; she had pleurisy.
They saved her temporarily, but with
out giving her back her health. She
dragged along for two years, then went
suddenly, like the blowing out of can
die.
IT am sure" she said, when dying,
"that she has already ordered the
wreath. +"
The wreath, left at the cemetery, bore
this time only one word:
"Hope!"
Upon seeing it, Planchon was seized
with convu lsive shudder.
This shaking continued for five yearsl
Five years which he spent on the north
side, coveting the rooms with southern
exposure and giving way to attacks Of
rage which only aggravated his suffer-
ing.
Every year, when the time for pay
ment came round, he had frightful at
tacks, recovering from which he seemed
weaker and nearer the tomb than ever.
At the end of the fourth year he was
no longer able to leave his armchair. It
was Mile. Lisbeth, therefore, who came
to him on pay day, neat, even brisk,
and with very bright eyes.
This brought on an attack which left
him paralyzed.
Then she came to see him every morn
ing. bringing him soup, cream, little
sweets!
He devoured her with his eyes, the
entire expression of his face denoting
deep, inexplicable terror-the terror Of
a child OF an idiot. -
Nevertheless. she talked to him in
gentle voice, saying kind words the
while. "Couragel You must have pa
tiencer'
AT the end Of five years, the day of
the fourteenth payment, she came to his
room, gay, alert, rejuvenated.
''Here I am again, she remarked.
81 have come for my annuity! Two
thousand and two hundred francs, that
is it. That makes, up to today, 1900
francs. Still another 2,100 francs, and
the house is yoursP'
Planchon looked at her fixedly and re-
manned still.
She touched him. He was dead.
Mile. Lisbeth would not allow any
one to assist her in the last Offices. She
went herself to the church for the holy
water, and it was she who, with
branch from her own garden, sprinkled
the first drops on tho brow of the de-
ceased.
The last wreath which she placed on
the family tomb bore the word ''Re-
united!''
The next day ON the door Of the house
which had again become hers there
swayed in the breeze this sign: House
For Sale. From the French in Short
Stories