The Somerset reporter., 1896-07-23
AN AUTOGRAPH.

AN AUTOG RAPH.
Scarcely had the postman gone out Of
the house, after having left the morning
/ letters, when jules Dupre, who was
watching from his sixth story window,
descended hurriedly to the porter's of
fee.
Any letters for me?" he asked
/ The porter put ON his spectacles,
4 gathered up the letters which had Just
come in, looked them over one by one
and replied laconically:
"None "
Thank you. said the young man,
and he slowly remounted the stairs,
where his friend Armand was waiting
for him.
Through economy the two young men
/ lived in the same room. There were to
be seen all their furniture all their
books and all their papers. There were
more papers than anything else, because
both OF them ran manuscript mills. We
regret to say that while the two young
men turned out great deal of manu-.
script they succeeded i'll placing very
little. Once i'll awhile one of them
would get an article inserted i'll one Of
the papers, but they scarcely made
enough to live ON, even by making a
partnership of their assets-and labili-
ties.
"Well?" said Armand, seeing his
companion enter.
Nothing. as l told you We shall
have to wait until the end of the month
My uncle is man who is a believer in
fixed dates. >
"The devil! We have five days yet to
wait. Still, l would not object to break
fasting today instead of five days from
now. "
1--WE needn't breakfast In that way
we can save taking cocktail. "
"Oh, | could spare that. l am as
hungry as a wolf. You know we had
rather a light supper yesterday"
Yes it Is true that smoked herring
for two is scarcely gluttony.
Armand, his hands i'll his pockets,
walked up and down the room reflect
lively.
"See here, " said he, don you know
anybody who could loan us a hundred
francs?"
yes, know lots who could, but
know no one who would. -
Armand suddenly cried out, II have
an idea -
us it n good one?"
''Kisten. Have you not often spoken
to me of an old collector of autographs
who lives in this house,
Yes. He lives ON the first floor a
man named Bridoux
What sort of a man is hep
'Wcll, | don't know l have scarcely
seen him more than a couple of times. -
Suppose we try to sell him some
thing"
THAT is "A good idea. 1t is true we
have plenty of autographs, but they are
mostly our own. He wants historic
ones.
Are You sure that no celebrity ever
wrote to US
81 don't think So but there is The
correspondence Golfer Look through
it"
Armand seated himself at the table,
emptied the box upon the table and be.
gan to go through the letters For at
least half an hour be carefully turned
over the sheets Of paper.
Suddenly he cried ont:
"Eurckai | have found it--a letter
from the Empress Marie Louise
Feverishly he waved in the air yell
lowing sheet of paper almost cut in two
by the folds.
jules looked at it. tWhy, recognize
that" said he. 1T is note from little
Marie Louise, who used to be sales
woman at the lace counter i'll the Louvre
| got that letter from her when was
serving my volunteer term of year.
with the grade of corporal. "
81 tell you, old man, that it is from
the Empress Marie Louise, and it is adj
dressed to the great Napoleon.
And dated 1872
"1S13, my dear fellow. The seven
looks exactly like one. 1t is after the
victorious battle Of Lutzen, and this is
what the empress wrote;
my LITTLE CORPORAL You have won
enough Of laurela for the moment Leave your
army and come L M at the Louvre, whore
Em yawnng in thu midst of pillows of lace.
MARIE LOUISE"
And you think you can sell that to
our neighbor Bridoux? Why, you are
joking. 1t would be Il swindlc. "
You can aid me Have you that
false beard that you wore at the mas
querade last year"
Yes, L think it is around some
where -
Listen, then, and l will teach you
your role. -
III a few words Armand instructed
his friend what he had to do, and then,
putting the precious autograph in his
pocketbook, said: do not forget.
Knock in quarter of an hour "
Armand repaired at once to the apart
ment of Bridoux. The autograph col
lector lived alone He was man of
about 60 years of age Armand looked
at him critically.
81 wish TO speak to NJ. Bridoux. "
That's my name, sir. "
81 wish to see you on serious af.
fair "
Come in, " said Bridoux.
Armand entered, and Bridoux offered
him chair.