The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-04-17
THE HELMET.

n - - III ~ - n .
"But. uncle. love my cousin
Get out"'
"Give her to me!'
Don't bother mer'
at VIII be my deathr'
Nonsense. You'll console yourself
with some other girl"
Pray"
My uncle, whose back had been to-
ward me. whrled around. his face was
red to bursting. and brought his closed
fist down upon the counter with heavy
thump.
"Neverr' he cried; never. DO you
hear what say;'
And as | looked at him beseechingly
and with Joined hands he went on:
"a pretty husband you look like.
Without a sou and dreaming OF going
into housekeeping, a nice mess should
make OF 1t by giving you my daughter.
It's no use your insisting. You know
that when | have said No nothing I'M
der the sun can make me say 'Yesr"
! ceased to make any further appeal
knew my uncle-about as headstrong
an old fellow as could be found in n
days search. contented myself with
giving vent TO a deep sigh. and then
went on with the furnishing OF big
double-handed sword. rusty from point
TO hilt
This memorable conversation took
place. in fact in the shop OF my ma
ternal uncle. well-known dealer in an
tiquities and objects dart, % Rue des
Claquettes. at the sign OF the Maltese
Cross"-a perfect museum of curiosi-
ties.
The walls were hung with Marseilles
and old Rouen china. facing ancient
cuirasses. sabers and muskets and pic
ture frames; below these were arranged
old cabinets, Golfers of all sorts and
statues of saints, one-armed or one
legged for the most part and dilapidat-
ed as to their gliding; then. here and
there, In glass cases. Theoretically clos
ed and locked, there were knickknacks
in infinite ty-lachrymatories, tiny
urns. rings, precious stones, fragments
OF marble, bracelets. crosses. neck
laces, medals and miniature ivory stat
uettes, the yellow tints Of which in the
sun took momentarily feshlike trans
parency.
Time out OF mind the shop had be.
longed to the Coduberts. 1t passed reg
ularly from father to son, and my I'M
cle-his neighbors said-could not but
be the possessor OF a nice little fortune
Held in esteem by all. municipal coun-
cillor, impressed by the Importance and
gravity Of his office. short, fat, highly
choleric and headstrong, but at bottom
not in the least degree an unkind sort
OF man-such was my uncle Corubert,
my only living male relative, who as
soon as left school had elevated me tc
the dignity of chief and only clerk and
shopman of the Maltese Cross"
But my uncle was not only a dealer
In antiquities and municipal council
lor, he was yet more, and above all
the father OF my cousin Rose. with
whom l was naturally In love.
To come back to the point at which |
digressed
Without paying any attention to the
sighs which exhaled from my bosom
while securing the rust from my long
two-handed sword. my uncle. magnl-
flying glass In hand. was engaged In the
examination OF lot Of medals which
he had purchased that morning. Sud.
denly he raised his head; 3 O'clock was
striking.
The council." he cried.
When my uncle pronounced that au-
gust word II made mouthful: for a
pin he would have saluted 1t barehead.
ed. But this time, after a moments
consideration. he tapped his forehead
and added. In a tone Of supreme relief:
NO. the sitting does not take place
before to-morrow-and am forgetting
that have to 20 to the railway station
to get the consignment Of which | was
advised this morning"
Rising from his seat and lying down
his glass. he called out:
Rose. give me my cane and hatr'
Then. turning toward me. he added.
In a lower tone and speaking very
quickly;
AS to you-don't forget our CONVEX
sation. II you think you can make me
say Yes try it!-but don't think you'n
succeed. Meanwhile. not a word to
Rose. or. by st. Barthelemy. my patron
OF happy memory. I'll Instantly kick
you out OF doorsr'
At that moment Rose appeared with
my uncle's cane and hat which she
handed to him. He kissed her on the
forehead; then. giving me last but
eloquent look. hurried from the shop.