St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1896-08-01
UNCLE sAMBUQ's FORTUNE.
by PAUL ERENE.

SO often related the story of Uncle
Sambuq and his fortune that he had
finally come TO believe it himself. The
simple truth of the matter was that
Peter Sambuq, a ne'er-do-well who had
given his parents no end of trouble, had
shipped as an ordinary seaman on a
three-master one day in the year of
grace 184S, and had never been seen or
heard of since. The hard facts were
too ridiculous for the worthy friends
and relations of the vanished Peter;
they could not understand how anyone
could set outfor America without reach
ing that continent and making for
tune; so the worthy people gradually
. evolved the idea that Uncle Sambuq nfd
gore and done likewise, and would one
day return rolling in riches-of course,
to die in due time and leave his fortune
to them.
So the years rolled by, and Uncle
sambuq's fortune grew bigger in the
imagination of his people. The older
relatives died, and Master Trefume be-
came heir to his uncle. Now, it hap
pencd one day that Trefume met a
sailor whose acquaintance he had made
year or so previously. This man had
just returned from a voyage to the
states, and Trefume seized the oppor-
tunity to offer him a glass of brandy
(contrabanD and ask him if he had
heard of Uncle Sambuq while on the
other side.
The sailor, probably out of politeness,
S,, 10 md hir
wife, informed them that he had dis.
tinct recollection of having on several
occasions met an individual (on the
quay5 OF New York; who was undoubt
edly very wealthy indeed, and was the
exactilnage of Sambaq. That settled the
matter; there could no longer be any
doubt thnt Uncle Sambuq had reached
America and made his pile, as any other
reasonable person would do.
* On the following day Trefume again
met the sailor-or perhaps it was the
sailor who made point of meeting
Trefume; be that as it may, the result
of the meeting was another glass Of
brandy for the sailor, further questions
about Uncle Sambuq, and a confidential
communication to the effect that the
stranger in New York was really the
long-lost Peter, for he had spoken to the
mariner concerning his relatives, aud
had dropped mysterious hints as to his
intentions towards them. -.
The Trefumes became the envied ones
of the neighborhood Uncle Sambuq
and his fortune-especiall his fortune
were the chief topics of conversation
for many afday among the inhabitants
of the whole district. The Trefumes
lived happy and contented, patiently
awaiting the time when they would
have their share of the millions amassed
by Peter Sambuq. -.
A few months passed away. One
morning, when he was least expecting
it, he received letter from New York.
The letter bore the seal of the French
embassy. Trefume carried that pre-
cious letter about with him all day
without breaking the seal, in order to
show it to his friends. @ Not til the
evening, in the presence of his wife and
children his hands trembling with e1-
citement, did he VENT re to open, it. H. 1t
was somewhat bulky probably it con-
tanned banlS-notes. The papers were
carefully taken from the envelope and
proved to be-Sambuq's death certifi-
cate and brief note from the embassy.
so he is dead ?ps said his wife. ]
"Of course he is,"s replied Trefume;
doesn't the ambassador say so?" Ef /
There was silence. None Of them had
known the dead man, but. they had
thought so much about him that it
seemed as though they had been on
intimate terms with him. and q they
were able to squeeze out tear.
1.-THE ambassador doesn't say any
thing about the fortune, )" observed IRE
fumes better half, wiping her eyes q
81 suppose you want him to tell US
all about it before the mans fairly
Dead" replied Trefume, sarcastically.
1--WE can wait, and he knows it. He'll
write again in day or two" III
But, strange to say, the ambassador
omitted to write that other letter. AS
the time went on surprise deepened into
anxiety; a veritable fever-a gold fever
took possession of them; they lost
interest in everything, they could think
o1 Dub <ltIt
wonder what had become Of them. At
length their anxiety reached such a
pitch that T'refume announced his in
tention of undertaking journey to
New York-a decision which met with
the fullapproval of all concerned. 8
81 shan't be away more than a month
or two," said Trefu1ne, aand the boy
can look after the boat. \ few hun
dred francs won't break US; besides, /
know / shall be i'll if | don't go and
see what's going on over there"
He Travelled to Havre and embarked
ON a vessel bound for New York. He
knew absolutely nothing of the great
city which he was approaching; he
could not speak the language-he was
as helpless as q child in wood. He
began to get very anxious and looked
around for somebody to confideGin and
obtain assistance from. He tried the
under steward q fellow countryman,
but the latter was too busy to be
bothered Trefurne, however, refused
to besshaken off, and the eunder steward,
in desperation, glanced about for some
body to whom he could refer the per-
sistent fisherman, and SO get rid of
him.
"Here.r8he said, point ing to two OF
the@passengers; ethese are the men to
help you. They know New York so