The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-17

cierge quickly put his hand TO the partition
as though looking for something; second
but will you watt" cried he; ''he is in
a hurry, the fool And he continued to
search for the rope, when the third one
What is the matter with him, thought
Lagrive, and was just going to ask him
when the orchestra started the overture and
reminded the concierge that he was in a
stall at the opera and not in his own por-
ter's stall.
The first act went off to the somewhat
noisy satisfaction of our two spectators
During the intermission Lagrive proposed
that they should promenade in the foyer,
and offered his arm to Henrietta whom
such offer made radiant The three had
scarcely entered the foyer when some one
ran against Livarot; he turned suddenly and
recognized an old lodger.
Look where you're going cried he.
But the aggressor, instead of apologizing
replied by this little allusion TO the profess
sion of shoemaking of his ex-concierge:
What is the matter with this cobbler?''
Iagrive rushed up to him.
You are a blackguard,' said he to the
aggressor, and struck him in the face with
his glove. Cards were exchanged and the
one insulted went on, without Livarot and
Henrietta, who had stepped to one side haV-
ing noticed the exchange
He is one of my old dodgers who is angry
at having to leave the house." replied the
concierge shoemaker.
Lagrive, always calm, conducted them to
their box, where ices, cakes and punch
were served and the rest of the evening
CURED. The seconds of the two adversaries
soon met and a sword duel was decided
upon for the following day. Lagrive re-
ceived slight wound in the arm, which, by
order of the doctor, put an end to the duel,
and the wounded man, returning to his
apartment, was happy in the thought that
before the great show Of feeling on the part
of the banker Che fattered himself that he
had quite captivated both him and his
daughter), it would be out of the question,
since he had fought and been wounded in
his cause, for him to refuse his offer to be-
come his son-in-law. Obliged to keep his
bed on account of fever brought on by the
wound, Lagrive began to get impatient at
having to postpone the end of an adventure
SO well begun. His trouble, however. did
not last long. The very next day LiVarot,
suffocated by emotion, came to his apart
ment; he had just read in the paper of the
the Opera Comique, of the duel and of the
result, and had FASTENED to the bedside of
the brave young man. who had fought for
him, who had exposed his life for him;
and the grateful old concierge shed tears of
JOY on learning that it was only a slight
wound.
oh if could only return such favor"
usaid he; but howl how'
The young man. jumping at the offer, was
''Don't talkr' cried Livarot; don't fatigue
yourself; your doctor must have forbidden
it. But l must be going; my wife and
daughter are impatient to know how you
Lagrive insisted upon explaining, but
Henrietta's father claimed that an invalid
you soon again"
AS he went out an elderly lady entered,
much agitated and weeping. 1t was the
mother of the wounded man, who, having
learned of the accident, FASTENED to his bed
side but she was soon treasured as to his
health.
but why this duel, naughty child-ths
duel where you might have lost your life?"
Il fought. mother, for tn man who left
"Ah! 1 saw no one, assure you; no one.
But this man for whom you risked your
life-I don't understand; he is nothing to
''After what I have done, he may, per-
haps, be all for me, after you, mother"
Lagrive then told her of his hopes and
plans and as he greatly desired it his moth
er consented that he should take her to the
bankers, to present her to, as he already
called them, his future family, after which
she was to ask for the hand of Henrietta
for him.
A few days later mother and son, his arm
still painful arrived at No. "a Faubourg
POiSSOnnlere.
woman seated in the stall of the concierge.
him?''
why, certainly" he replied, surprised at
''The fact u.s." added the woman, "he IS
rather busy these days, SO is his wife; it
was only day before yesterday that some
one asked for their daughters hand in mar
riage."
''Mademoiselle Henrietta?" cried Lagrive
Yes do yoa know her? very commend
able young person; very good, hard working.
She is boot-stitcher, and
But" impatientiy 4 interrupted Lagrive,
II want to see M. Livarot, the banker"
"A banker? There is no banker in this
house; at least, don't believe there is, but
l am not the regular concierge; she has
gone out to see something about the mar
riage, and the father must be sweeping the
stairs. I'll go call him..
M Lvarot, here is a gentleman asking
for your cried she, and Livarot soon APP
peared wearing a big apron and carrying
a broom.
"a gentleman asking said he, then rec
ognizing Lagrive he gave cry Of joy and
extended both hands.
The young man, dumfounded and flu
rious, stepped back to escape the embrace;
then suddenly: "Ah ah, it is too funny; I
had rather laugh"
And in reality he laughed heartily at the
sight Of the crestfallen face of the old
concierge.
His mother. too. gave him a questioning
look
NO" said he, "as joke it is marvel
carriage to whom / have given a stall at
the opera, where I had ices, punches, etc,
served, and I have given my arm to the
boot-stitcher he has for a daughter and
walked with her in the foyer; for whom l
received wound in my arm, and when /
come to call upon the banker Livarot, I
find a concierge of that name!"
But, l DON'T murmured the old man,
and Lagrive cried:
Bell, if you pleasen and leading his
mother away. IN tell you all about it!
1t is too good!''
And they left laughing heartily.
Translated from the French of Jules
Moinaux, by Rowena M. New.