The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-05-21

seemed decided, and whispered some
words in the ear of the chamberlain.
Rene almost stopped breathing, so
great vas his excitement, as the latter
functionary stepped forward to an
nounce the result.
Ills Holiness" said the chamber
lain, has chosen In favor of the article
which, while perhaps not so costly a
material, is quite as beautiful as its
rival, and of far more practical value.
He gives the prize, together with the
post of papal jeweler and goldsmith,
to Master Jean Matthew, maker of the
ma gnificent salt-cellar.'
A murmur of appreciation ran
through the hall, for all liked to see a
of Provence chosen. Old Matthew
bowed low, and was in the very act of
beginning an elaborate speech of
thanks, when a little black-robed man
darted out of the crowd followed by a
boy. and. bending his knee before the
throne, exclaimed:
Your Holiness. I crave Il word on
this subject
Speak, Doctor valerius,' said the
pope. somewhat surprised by the in
terruption. You always have our
ear
Then up rose Doctor Nalerius and
in good. round Latin for the court
spoke LATIN denounced Old Matthew
as n thief and a man of lies. He re-
counted the whole history Of the salt
cellar. at the same time leading for
ward the utterlv-abashed Rene, at
whom Matthew darted a ScoWl of ma
lignant hatred.
When he had finished. Matthew had
his say. The physician he eX-
claimed, in whining tones, had SIM
ply reen imposed upon by this rascal
boy. vino imposed upon everyone. The
iloy's story was false. He. himself.
and non other, had fashioned the salt
cellar. Indeed. how could it be expect
ed that Il child of fourteen could make
such Il trophy?'
This reasoning had its effect upon
the pope, his cardinals and the audi.
ence. MurmurS arose, and all looked
doubtfully at Dr.. Nalerius. But the
old physician was not to be brOw-beat-
en-. Stepping forward, SO as to face
Matthew, he said, in a voice of thun-
der:
"Miscreant, l demand that you AL
Swer certain questions which l am
about to put to you. Did you, unas-
sisted, make that salt-cellar?'
II did" answered the false Matthew
Then repeat aloud the motto which
you engraved around the rim"
A cold sweat burst forth upon Ma
thieu's face. The motto! He had
wholly forgotten it, indeed, he had paid
but little attention to it at any time.
81 forget the motto" he stammered
Doctor Valerius smiled rs it likely
your Holiness" he remarked, that
man would forget the motto he en-
graved on his chief trophy" Then
addressing Rene, he asked him to re
peat the motto. Without a moment;
hesitation the lad spoke the words:
"Je prendre L acerbe avec lie douX
Jai, messfres, un propre govt
1T is even So" Quoth the pope
glancing at the craven lines on the sill
Ver.
Again Doctor Nalerius turned upol
the trembling Matthew. "NIaste
Goldsmith" he said, "since you pu
those lines there, you can at least tel
us what they mean?"
Matthew saw that he was confound
ed, for, in truth, like most Provencau,
of those times land even of today Ii
knew little of French. Clearly TIL
SdIIC was up lol It'll, 81, dltcL Il lulil
look around for some venue of escape
he threw himself PROSTATE before til
pope, confessed all, and begged pite
ously for pardon.
The end of the little drama wa
pleasing enough. His Holiness, tn
pope. altered his decree and mad
Rene Seguin his court goldsmith ii
stead of the disgraced Matthew. But
as the touch of comedy, and by way 0
punishment for the latter, he con
manded the old ieweler to take hi
former apprentice as partner in til
thriving little shop situated among tn
windings of the street of the Thre
Kings. And to-day, if you visit Avi.
non, and turf down that quaint littI
street. you will find the identical shol
t Philadelphia Inquirer.