Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-25
A DEVOTED BROTHER.

Pirotou was the waiter at the little
hotel at Avignon where had put up.
I think he was the only manservant
they kept, for he appeared to do every
thing. I have seen him sweeping rooms,
polishing the oak floors, dusting, driv-
ing the hotel omnibus, loading and un-
loading the luggage, carrying trunks up
and down stairs with as little apparent
effort as though they were made of cork,
and then, add to all this, twice day,
with his hair we'll brushed and pomaded
and serviette over his arm, Pirotou
served at table.
One could not help noticing this man,
because he had such happy looking ex-
preston. His whole face laughed, from
his bright black eyes, his lips, his trum-
pet shaped nose, even to his very hair,
which was cropped short; his teeth and
his growing mustache, which he was
beginning to train at the corners of his
mouth. He was very quick and obliging,
and he was not only fayorite with the
travellers who put up at the hotel, but
every one in the neighborhood appeared
to know him and like him.
When he was seated on his driver
box on the way to Or froIp the station,
he had to nod, smile, tdnch his hat or
wink to every one we hiet. The fact
was, he liked every one, and every one
liked him. This popularity gave rise to
certain prerogatives and privileges. Pi-
rotor liked talking, and he was decided
ly more familiar than one expects a
waiter to be, but it all came so natural
it in good part.
When tho table d'hote dinner was
over, the things all cleared away and
the room nearly empty, Pirotou would
: glance round, and if any one that he had
taken fancy to happened to be still
there, why, he would make his way
across the room and start conversation
at once. It never lasted long, though,
for either the hotel proprietor or one of
the customers always interrupted him
-he was continually in demand for
some service OR another. In spite of this
the very first day dined there he found
an opportunity of getting little private
conversation with me.
Give got brother who is an officer
in the army" he informed me, and
without waiting for me to express my
surprise he continued: "Queer, isn't it
me waiter and him an officer? It's
true, though, my brother is an officer
in the army
'sPirotou, take No. 16's box up stairs.
Pirotou, coffee for No. 5. Pirotou, put
the horse in at once
He would then disappear like fash
of lightning and cheerfully perform all
the duties required of him.
He talked about his brother in this
way to every one because he was proud
of him, and, although he knew very
little of this said brother, yet he adored
him all the same. He spoke of him al
ways in the same way without any
vanity, but simply that he could not
help mentioning him, just as a vine
dresser must speak about the weather
and the sun. 1t was the subject always
uppermost in his thoughts, and he
would frequently take up his thread
again hours after and go on just as
though be had never lost it.
"I expect you wonder how it is, how
it came about?" he said to me in con-
tinuation during his next interval.
Chow what is?' I asked, for could
not imagine what he was driving at.
"Why-Iny brother being an officerl'
"Ah, yes. How did it come about?''
"Well, it was like this 1t was lady
that lived near our village, an old lady,
very we'll off, and she had lost her son.
Our parents were dead, and she took a
fancy to my brother. You see, he was a
fine looking lad, and just about the age
of her boy. Well, she took to him, and
she sent him to college at Paris, Just
near to her home. Then he went to the
military school, Saint Cyr. She died
last year, and can tell you it put me
about good deal when I got the news,
for the sake Of my brother''--
"Pirotou, answer the bell-No. 31v'
had the next installment of the
story the following day.
"Well, the old LADY,
"What old Iady?" asked absently.
The poor fellow was quite hurt to
think that did not remember.
"Why, my brothers. old lady, sir In
her will she left him quite good in
come. That put me at my ease at once,
for, you see, had felt anxious for him,
but with this money, why, of course he
could keep up his position
''But did she not leave you anything,
Pirotou?''
"Mep' he exclaimed, opening his
eyes wide ID his astonishment at my
question. "Why, no, sir-it was my
brother, You see, that was the sans age
as her son !''
''Does your brother come to see you?''
asked.
eyes, he came once about six years
ago, when he was on leave I'd got four
days holiday. and we arranged to go to
the village where we used to live. I was
vexed to have such a short time with
him, but as it happened Gid not stay
the four days even, for got back here
on the third.
4Ou hoo, Luy DfOt,lef iOuuu ne CQulO
only stay two days with me, for he'd
got invitations to two OF three country
houses. Then, too, he didn't tell me
this, but guessed it-he found it pretty
dull in the little village. OF course il
was very natural he should-just think,
sir, an officerP'
fDoes he help you?" asked.
Pirotou burst out laughing at this.
"4im! HelD mel Why. he couldn't