The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-03-10

| Avlgnon, where | had put up. | thinl
| was the only man servant they kept TO
appeared to do everything. | have seer
! 1 sweeping rooms, polishing the oal
us, busting, driving the hotel omnibus
ding and unloading the luggage, carry
! trunks UP and down stairs with "a
lie apparent effort as though they wer'
! made Of cork; and then, added to all this
swice day. with his hair well brushed anC
| )omaded and serviette over his arm
Piro:ou served at table.
One could not help noticing this man, be
cause he had such n happy looking ex
preston His whole face laughed, from hi:
bright, black eyes, his lips, his trumpet
shaped nose, even to his very hair. which
was cropped short. his teeth and mis- grow.
ing mustache, which he was beginning &c
train at the corners of his mouth. He
was very quick and obligng, and he was
not only a favorite 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 drivers box
OF the way to or from the station, he had to
nod, smile touch his hat or wink to every
one we met. The fact was. he liked every
one. and every one liked him. This popu-
arty gave rise to certain prerogatives and
privileges. Pirotou liked talking. and he
was decidedly more familiar than one ex-
poets waiter to be; but 1t all came so
naturally to him that somehow every one
took 1t in good part.
When the table d'hote dinner was over,
the things all cleared away and the room
.early empty, Pirotou would glance round
and If any ono that he had taken a fancy
to happened to be still there. why he Would
make his way across the room and start a
conversation at once. 1t never lasted long,
though, for either the hotel proprietor or
ono Of the customers always interrupted
hlm-he was continually In demand for
some ssrvice or another. In spite of this,
the very first day dined there he found
an opportunity of getting a little private
conversation with me.
I've got a brother who is an oflcer in
the army" no informed me; and without
waiting for me to express my surprise, he
continued: Queer. isn't lt?-me a waiter
and him an officer. It's true, though. my
brother is an officer in the army"
"Pirotou, take No. 1873 box upstairs.
Plro;ou. coffee for No. 8. 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 so proud Of
him, and. although he knew very little OF
this said brother. yet he adored him all tha
same. He spoke Of him always In the same
way without any vanity. but simply that he
could not help mentioning him, Just as &
vine dresser must speak about the weather
and the sun. 1t was the subject always up
permost in his thoughts and he would fire.
quently take up his thread again hours Ter
and go on Just as though he had never
left it.
Il expect you wonder how 1t is, how it
came about?" he said to me, in continual
ton, during his next interval.
How was it?" l asked. for I could not
imagine what he was driving at.
'Why-my brother being an off1cer!'
"Ah, yes; how did 1t come about"
well, 1t was like this. 1t was lady
that lived near our village, an old lady, very
we'll off, and she had lost her con. Our
parents were dead. and she took 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 I can tell you
it put me about good deal when I got the
'Pirotou, answer the bell-No. 81"
had the next installment of the story
the following day.
well, the old lady"
What old lady?" 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 a. good income.
That put me at my ease at once, for you
see I had felt anxious for him, but with
this money, why, Of course. be could keep
up his position"
But did she not leave you anything,
p!rotou?'
"Me!" he exclaimed, opening his eyes
wide in his astonishment at my question.
why, no, eir-it was my brother. you see.
that was the same age as her son!'
Does your brother come to see you?"
I asked.
yes 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 vii
lage where We used to live. l was veXed to
have such short time with him, but as it
happened I did not stay the four days even,
for l got back here on the third.
you see, my brother found he could only
stay two days with me, for he'd got invi-
tations to two or three country houses.
Then, too. he didn't tell me this, but I
guessed t-he found it pretty dull in the
little village. OF course, it was very natural
he shoud--just think, sir an ofFicer!'
docs he help you?' l asked.
Pirotou burst out laughing at this.
Him! help me! Why, he couldn't, sir.
1t ism, the same kind of work we're used
to-"
ooh! I did not mean in that sense
mean does he ever send you-any money!"
"Oh! 1 would not have It, sir. upon any
account. I'm paid well, you see, and l get
fair amount in tips, and then no eX-
penses. like he has. Why, In my way. I'm
as rich as he is"
HAS he never been to see you again p
Pirotou looked slightly embarrassed this
time. as he answered:
He'll be coming, sir, soon, because OF
my wedding. I'm going to get married
you see "
"Ah, you're going to get married."
well. sir, yes; you see, it's getting time
I'm nearly twenty four-and then she Ia
from these parts. and we've known each
other three years. We haven't been able
to SEQ much of each other, that's true, for
you see she's lady's maid for q lady who
lives at Paris and has a country house near
here. They come for three months each
summer, and l can only see her on Sundays
after church; so. you see, sir. I'm anxious
to get married"
you'll be changing your trade then,
suppose?'
mo sir, not yet awhile. You see, we
haven't got enough money to set UP in q
little business In five or six years, if we
savo up, We shall be able to do it. For the
present. though. as soon as we are mar
ried, the lady's going to take me in her