Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-04-17


up and down the
cozy dining room, turning on his heel
furiously, like bear in a cage while
poor mother Bourgueil, her fearful
eyes lowered on her plate. was discon.
solately nibbling almonds.
For two years the same dispute had
been springing up between the old
couple-just as now at the end of their
evening meal. For it was two years
since they had fallen out with their son,
Edward, who, in spite of their oppo.
sition, had married woman picked up
somewhere in the Latin quarter just
when he was about to take his degree
as a lawyer, too. How they had loved
him and petted him, this Edward
this long wished for child, who had
come after ten long years of married
life, when they had almost given up
hoping for son. The happy Bour-
gueil, then only simple builder. had
rubbed his hands, saying to his wife ::
"You know, Clemence, that smart fell
low Haussmann is improving and
changing the whole of Paris, from one
end to another. Here is good chance
for me. If things go on this way, !
can make fortune in twelve or fifteen
years. And know one thing, the lit.
tie rascal of ours won't need to climb
up into scaffoldings, like his father,
nor come home every night with spots
of plaster all over his gray vest, and
tit to drop with fatigue. We will make
q real gentleman OF him, won't we,
Clemence?"
All Bourgueil's ambitions had been
realized. At college Edward was q
brilliant pupil, and the old peasant
who had come to Paris many years
ago, carrying his shoes on his back
and little silver tied up in corner
of his handkerchief, had the satisfac-
tion OF seeing his son congratulated
and loaded with prizes by the Minister
of Instruction himself. What future
the boy had before him He would
pass the most difficult examinations
without any trouble-they would be n
mere joke for him-and then choose
any career he had fancy for. "We
will leave the hoy good 25. 900 francs
income" father Bourgueil would cay,
cheerfully, slapping his wife's shoulder
with his strong, broad hand. "And,
saperlotte! we will make him mari y
right soon. 1t will be easy to find
some pretty girl, with a good educa-
tion like his, who will make HIM
happy, and OF whom we can feel proud !"
Alb, those lovely plans! where had
they gone? The kind old parents had
been foolish enough to furnish room
in town for their boy, that he might
be more independent. Then he ct
that woman, aud Immediately his
studies were dropped. At twenty five
he had not even taken his licentiate's 3
degree. They were dreadfully disap-
pointed, after having built such fine
castles; still they did not give up all
hope. They consoled themselves,
saying: "He is so young! It will
pass. Let him alone awhile"
But one day the lmbecile had the
audaclty to inform them that he had
sdored this girl, and was determined
to make her bis wife. This was too
much. If Bourgueil did not fall with
a stroke of apoplexy it was a miracle
indeed; the veins in his neck were
swollen like cords. He ordered his
son out OF the house and cut off his
income.
"If you dare to give your name to
that woman," the old man roared,
crimson with wrath, "you need not
expect a sou from either of us as long
as we live."
But the stubborn, ungrateful boy
had outraged them to the end, and
now he was married to this doll OF his,
and living on u wretched clerks sal
ary. in the suburb of the city-like
some vagabond! Poor old couple !!
How their sons conduct had made
them suffer for these two horrible
years! Life was pleasure no longer,
and lately the situation was getting
worse every day. 1t was the moth er s
fault-she was too wretched and she
had relented at last. Her sorrow had
got the better OF her resentment, and
now she was actually inclined to for.
give. One day she mustered up suf-
icient courage 10 mention the sub
iect to her husband. But he fell into
frenzy of passion, crying, "Never!"
with force that shook the doors and
windows, forbidding the poor woman
to say another word about it. She
had not the heart to obey him, and
pleaded the cause of the guilty Sun
again and again. And at every new
attempt Bourgueil was furious aud
made terrible scene. Their home
became purgatory. These two old
people, who had nothing to reproach
themselves with, who had loved each
other faithfully, who had lived and
toiled side by side for more than thirty
years, became almost hostile. Every
night at the dinner table the quarrel
broke out anew. and it always ended
with some OF those stinging thrusts
that wound the heart.
DO you want me to tell you what
think, Bourgueil?" the old woman
woald say. "You are without pity ="
"And you are coward to want to
give in the mason replied, leaving
the room with a stamp Of his heavy
loot.
Left alone in the soft light of the
lamp in the comfortable parlor, tho
poor mother, who was still true to her
white linen caps. would quietly drop
burning tears on her knitting and pray
for her'boy. Bourgueil had lost all
love for his home, now that he had
continually sad face to look upon.
He had got into the habit OF joining
some friends in cafe close by where
they waited for him for a game Of
mauil'a. In dealing ont the cards the
irritated mason made long and violent
speeches against the present state of
morals. where paternal authority was