Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-05-13
well, the old lady,

Why, my brothers. old lady, sir Ii
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 h,
could keep up his position.
But did she not leave you anything
Pirotouf'
"Me" he exclaimed opening hi
eyes wide in his astonishment at M,
question. why. no, sir-it was my
brother, you see, that was the same age
as her SON.
docs your brother come to see your"
/ asked.
Eyes. he came once about six years
ago, when he was ON leave. I'd got four
days holiday. and we arranged to so to
the village where we used to live was
vexed to have such a short time with
him, but as it happened did not stay
the four days even, for got back here
on the third.
You see. my brother found he could
only stay two days with me, for he'd
got invitations to two or 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 it
was very natural he should-just think,
sir, an officer !"
docs he help your" asked.
Pirotou burst out laughing at this.
Him Help me Why, he couldn t.
sir. 1t ism t the same kind of work we re
used to-"
"Oh. did not mean in that sense. I
mean does he ever send you any money!"
"Oh, would not have 1t, sir, upon
any account. I'm paid we'll, you see,
and get fair amount in tips, and
then no expenses, like he has Why, in
my way, I'm as rich as he is
Has he never been to see you again" ?"
Pirotou looked slightly embarrassed
this time as he answered:
He'll be coming, sir, soon, because
of my wedding. I'm going to get mar
ried. you see.''
"Ah, you re going to get married?"
well. sir, yes. You see, it's getting
time. I'm nearly "a. and then she is
from these parts, and we've known each
other three years. We haven't been
able to see much of each other, that s
true, for you see she's lady's maid for a
lady who lives at Paris and has coun-
try house near here. They come for
three months each summer, and can
only see her ON Sundays after church.
So, you see, sir, I'm anxious to get mar
ried. -
you'll be changing your trade then,
suppose?"
"No, sir, not yet awhile. You see.
we haven't got enough money to set up
in little business In five or six years,
il we save up, we shall be able to do it.
For the present, though, as soon as we
are married, the lady's going to take
me in her house with Louisette-Lou-
isette, that's her name. sir, the girl
I'm going to marry. My brother'll be
best man." he went on in great glee,
"and we shall have very fine we'd
ding, for, you see, sir, ! shouldn't like
to have anything shabby when he's COM
ing to it-just think. sir, an officer,
you knowl"
"Pirotou Pirotoul No. SO wants his
keyl"
After leaving Avignon it was some
months before I happened to 60 there
again. On arriving at the hotel l was
struck by the change in Pirotou. He
looked quite morose, and it was only
with an effort that he managed to smile
as he recognized me. 1 could see very
plainly that ho had something to tell
me, but there were 30 many people
wanting him, and then the landlord
kept calling him for something every
minute, Hurry up, Pirotou, hurry up.
my good fellowp"
He did hurry up, but it was not with
the same jovial alacrity as formerly. He
used to carry the trunks about as though
they were as light as air, but now they
appeared to be as heavy as lead. Idined
when every one had finished, and I was
really quite curious to know what had
happened and how Pirotou's wedding
had gone off. As soon as he was free he
approached me, but he did not come
and lean on the table in his old familiar
way. He just stood there looking wretch
ed, and it occurred to me at once what
had happened.
"Why, I don't believe your brother,
the officer, came after all, Pirotou, to
the wedding" I said.
Yes, sir; yes, he came, but-you
see. sir, must tell you how it all was.
First of all, l thought he would BIZ sure
to put up here, at my hotel, and SO
expected to see good deal of him-all
the time l was free. 1t was bit rough,
sir, when found he had put up at the
st. Yves hotel, right at the other side OF
the town. Well, then, he did not come
himself to see me, but he sent messen-
ger to tell me to meet him at cafe, and
he told me in his letter not to forget to
take off my apron and to put on hat
1t was just as we'll he thought to remind
me of that. you see, for l Should never
h. % remembered myself. Twas in such
rry to. see him that I should, Just
have nipped off there and then. without
thinking about what / looked like. Well,
sir, when I saw him looking so handsome
and so finely dressed, / felt that proud