The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-10-24
A PARIS NOCTURNE.

1.-The price will do :"
Monsieur is most kind "
"And-ah-tenez, madame. This is
the fifth, believer"
"No, monsieur" simpered the land
lady, slightly dropping her eyes,
but you told me, began the gentle
man with the Bohemian air, Greek nose
and shaggy blond curls, you told me,
madame
Eyes, monsieur" Nine. Toudouche
half stammered. IL had forgotten.
At the fifth there is room occupied, and
monsieur desired this floor, the fourth,
to be quite vacant. "
eyes, loitered the reply With a
remarkably white hand, though large
and muscular, the gentleman stroked a
clear chiseled chin. Suddenly, with this
same hand, he made sweeping gesture
Il will take all the little suit But,
mind you, hope for quiet during the
week that l am here. | shall rest and
browse most of the time. shall have
no Enthusiastically none, Frankly.
shall be in retreat An absorbing affair
"a matter of business, most wearisome
business-will soon engross me, and
hence | am taking this preparatory
term of repose. You are sure shall not
be disturbed. madame--absolutely
sure?''
"Oh, yes, monsieur, absolutely"
my name is--er-Duroc-M. Albert
Duroc. %
"Thank you, monsieur. =
''Please let my luggage be sent up
You have no doubt perceived that it is
very small 1 shall ask you for a cup of
coffee each morning-good, strong cot
fee-a roll and bit of butter. Pray, let
all three be excellent. Stay, madame. F"
And here M Duroc glanced about him
at the shabby but clean apartment
Perhaps you would prefer that /
should give you half my promised sum
in advance. He then drew out purse
and as he did so the old woman's wrin-
killed. face became ono immense labyrinth
inc smile
After she had gone M. Duroc leaned
from one of his high dormer windows
and looked at Paris below the slumber-
GUS azure of perfect autumn afternoon.
Yonder was the lie ST. Louis, with
Notre Dame SO near that one could al
most make out the grimaces of its
ghoulish gargoyles. All, dear old Notre
Dame, with tho adorable sculptures of
it's main doorway, saints and martyrs
all tangled together like roses in huge
WREATH Dear old "other side Of the
riverr" What thrilling memories it
evol1edi There wound the unforgetable
and unique Seine with its little toylike
steamboats, bound for Clarendon, for
Suresnes;sfor numberless ports besides.
And the stately fawn colored buildings
on either Eank, skirting SO palatially
each curvilinear verge. All, the de-
licious days of boyhoodl And to be here
once again where he had dwelt for so
many youthful years What refresh
ment after the loud, bustling life Of
that other Paris, whose boulevards and
cafes and theaters and salons teemed
with a thousand ambitions, rivalries,
hatesl
Il will dine over here near the Lux
embourg," meditated NJ Duroc, Sin a
little restaurant which has long ago for
gotten my existence. Then l will come
back to my placid refuge and enjoy the
first serene sleep of seven Others all of
which, hope, will be equally serene.
All, what comfort to be hidden away
like thisl After Monday next my work
must begin Meanwhile rest, rest, rest
before the tremendous task that awaits
me-"
Later M. Duroc followed out his in
tent He took q stroll through obscure
yet familiar streets for nearly an hour
after dining and then resought his new
lodgings He was light sleeper, yet a
healthful one. Hardly five minutes aft
err blowing out his candle he had fallen
into Just the suave slumber that he
craved.
"La-la-la - la lab - la-la-la - tira,
Ira, ira--lah-la- la-tira, liraah, Ira
--lah-r-r-r-rl"
Then the tinkle, tinkle, tinkle and
thrum, thrum, thrum of piano; then
the woman's voice and also the piano,
both dawning together into awakened
Consciousness; then a mans basso voice,
repeating every tira- Ira every lab, OF
the feminine one
By this time M. Duroc was thorough
ly awake He soon lighted candle and
looked at his watch-ten minutes past
midnight. The vocal exercises contin-
ued. Sleep was now impossible. He
mathematical his landlady. Why had
she dared to lie like this? Had she
not promised him peace? The detested