The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-12-19


was little attic apartment, with 10
carpet, one chair, rough table, Il
narrow couch and 4 tallow dip. Now
he grouped the characters together
thu co pairs of lovers, juvenile lovers
and elderly whimsical lovers-and the
curtain amid such witty lines as de.
light Partisan audience. The play
was completed and Claude was-hun-
cry. 1t is one thing to be hungry and
another thing to be able to appease
hunger. CLAUDIO ruminated mournful-
]y upon the felicity Of all the charac-
tiers Of the piece, blessed with album
dance, and upon his own misery.
Poet and dramatist! Had he known
what was in store ior him be would
have learned trade. "All the sane
I shall 60 to bed without any supper,
commented Claude, casting hungry
chances at the candle and being in
frame OF mind to appreciate all the
marvellous tales he had read Of shi D.
wrecked mariners ond their appetites
for all manner Of miscellaneous arti-
cles, such as bit OF shoe. This train
OF thought was interrupted by q knock
at the door.
"Come in, said Claude, and o stout
man, with rather ford face. fash
ionably dressed, entered. He bowed
politely, surveying the room with con-
siderable surprise.
"M. Claude Morain?" he asked.
"Yes, sir" answered the poet.
Il come on business matter, sir. !"
"Very well; be seated"
And Claude handed him the only
chair, sitting on the couch himself.
The visitor busted the chair carefully
and then proceeded to occupy il gin
gorly.
"Whct can I do for you?" asked the
young man.
"You are poet, Understand"
81 have written poems, sir"
"Well, l want to engage your SER
vices. want you to write me one
poem day and I'll pay you we'll for
it. Let mo see; I'll pay you ten francs
poem"
Ten francs day! CLAUDIO thought
he was dreaming. But he strove to
conceal his Joy and inquired Us coldly
as possibly:
"What magazine do you own, may
I ask?"
"None."
''What newspaper"
"None."
"But don't understand"
II want the poem for myself. They
will not be published.
"Will you explain furthar?"
swell. you see, NJ. Claude, the
matter stands just like this. I an pay
ing attention to certain young lady ;
TINT young lady is sentimental, 70.
mantle, full Of moonshine and non
sense. must win her, for she is not
only beautiful and aristocratic, but
has a considerable fortune. Now,
don't seem to have made as much
progress as should have done, so I've
made up my mind to feed her mood
upon rhymes, iambics, verses, stanzas,
lyrics and so on. I can't write them
myself, but that doesn't matter. One
can always buy what he wants in this
worldif he has money. So my PROPOSE
ton is this: taking out his purse. J
You are to write one poem q day,
such rs lover would address to 70.
mantle girl just out of school. These
poems I propose to send"
"And she will conclude you wrote
them?" asked the amused and yet an
noyed poet.
"Why not?"
Greatly, Sir, you are novel kin
OF lover"
"Confess that it was good stroke
of diplomacy" laughed the visitor.
"To deceive girl?"
"Pooh! She'll get over her roman.
tic iancies. All women do. You hes
itate? Think of what ten francs will
do for you every day. 1t will buy you
plenty to eat and plenty to drink. Be.
sides, if you don't do it, someone else
will, for I'm bound to carry her of
from all my rivals.
"Wel]. I consent. The first poem
will be ready tomorrow. Now what
is she llke?"
"Rather tall, good looking, yes, a
stunning grill"
But" said the poet, II must have
further details. What color are ler
eyes?" .
II don't know" 81.
"And her hair -
"a sort of 8 7 think" +
"What 6ov 1refer?"
"How
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