The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-07
GREATEST OF THESE.
ss-You wish something. monsieur?'s

the shop as If he were ready for an attack.
MADAME, wish to speak to you,' he
replied.
'Be seated" She pushed chair near
the mahogany counter
''Madame, you look like very good
person.
She bowed, flattered by the compliment.
"And you will, am sure, grant me a
favor This is what I want He took
from his deep pocket a flask wrapped in
paper. Uncovering it he held it up, re-
6ecting the contents in the sun, which
shone into the shop. ''This is my wine
1t is good wine which they give u.s.
"Ah, so much the better,'' she said, to
make some reply, for she could not make
out what the old soldier had in view.
lido you see-I prefer soup and beef. -
''Have you none at Les Invalides?''
eyes said the brave man abashed,
''but that does not hinder me-if you will
take my wine every day Sergeant Tome
stopped. He twisted his mustacho in
veritable torture.
The woman looked at the soldier. Sim
pie souls understand each other with half
a word. The heart has language of its
own, a language that it always under
stands.
"That can be done" she said slowly.
ST will give you measure of soup, very
good consomme, real velvety, and pound
of vegetables. Will that do?''
"Thank you. That will do" And he
added 'What shall carry it IMP had
not thought of that"
"Do not worry. We will put the meat
in a bowl with the soup. It will keep hot
and will wrap it up well. -
She took double paper and tied the pack.
age He thanked her from the bottom of
his heart and departed, holding the bowl
with as much respect as a dean has for a
holy vase.
Abbaye place is truly one of the most
forbidding in Paris, and the sun never
shines into it. At the extreme end is q
fOrlorn looking house. Upon the grimy
wall the words Grand Hotel of the Alb
baye'' stand out in black letters, whitened
in spots. The tumble down doors open
upon halls reeking with misery and indie
scribable indebtedness.
The sergeant made his way to a stair
way, the lettering steps of which had for
a railing wornout rope. His wooden
leg sounded upon the stairs, making the
thick dust fly. At the top of the staircase
he stopped with satisfied smile He had
not spilled one drop of the precious nectar.
He knocked at a low door and a sweet
voice called, Come imp At the same
moment an angelic head, with long tan
gled curls, appeared in the half open door
way.
''It is Uncle Antoine" cried 4-year-
old child.
II was the WOFSG room the Wf6GCnSQ
lodging, yet everything was orderly. A
pale woman sat nursing child, and she
smiled as she saw the old soldier.
My good Nine. Didier, - said the brave
man, "all will go we'll. Here is some hot
soup and meat-yery hot, do you hear? No
need of charcoal and matches, for every
day we will have just much"
The young mother looked at the veteran
as if stunned by the news. The child,
mounted on a chair, inhaled the exhilarat-
ing fumes which escaped from the bowl
every day just as much?'
"Why, yesI You are surprised? Is there
no God for honest men2 Have I not the
right to be a capitalist"
'But explain yourself
"There is nothing to explain. Tt is
secret. 1t is my surprise. Here, give mo
the little one. I will hold her while you
lay the cloth. Do not forget anything
plates, fork-a fork, think of it-a long
time since we have had anything like that.
But have courage, Mime. Didier; every
thing will come out all right. Uncle Tome
will help you.
cit was not in vain recognized you
on the quay last month. That shows you
have not changed much during your mis-
fortunes. All, poor Didier, he was brave
boy, the true son of his father, my good
old friend Twas glad to see him married.
Then we separated and lost sight of each
other. This old grumbler has lived his
life. You young people have lived yours.
And now we find each other again-but
what news-Didier dead, the widow sick,
two children to care for
''And the two children and the mother
were about to die when you found them,
NJ. Tome"
Enough, Mime. Didier, enough. 1t is
O'Clock and must go That is the rule
GOodby till tomorrow"
'But tell me-
"Goodby-a good Appetite And the
man went down stairs, his wooden leg
sounding joyously on the rotten steps,
while he muttered to himself: Fifteen
cents day for making cloaksl How can
one support two children on that? Poor
Womani But what a fine idea of the gov
ernment to provide good wine for the pen
sioners- If 1 could only add glass OF
wine TO the beef and greasy soup.
'FWell 1 can do it!'' he cried suddenly,
rubbing his forehead. 'Three cents a day
is enough for glass of cider.
He looked at his tobacco box, an old
leather one which he had taken from his
pocket, and as his hand touched the short
brier wood pipe which he SO loved to smoke
he sighed deeply.
sit has been a long time, very long
time, that we have lived together, my old
friend, and you have given me many hap
by moments ali, well, we must separate. !"
He looked about him. He would never
have the heart to throw this faithful
companion of his solitary hours into the
street, for how many times, thanks to his
pipe, had he revisited in imagination the
ivy covered hut at the foot of the gray
Juras and the winding road down which
his mother went for water
But his mind was made up. He would
not keep the pipe, and to avoid temptation
he made his way to the Seine. Leaning
over he quickly dropped the box with its
! precious contents into the middle of the
stream. It did not sink Immediately, and
the good man watched it for moment,
the little object bobbing here and there