The herald., 1898-06-19
AN AWKWARD FIX

"Confound It! Wherever can Charlotte
be?"
Ordinarily M. Chapoulot is as good-tem-
pered and easy going as one would expect
in a man Of 60, who had been, like John Gil
pin, in his day linendraper bold and has
in good time retired to enjoy modest COM
potency in repose. M. Chapoulot, like the
true Partisan he is, will never desert his
Vile Lumiere, and has retired no farther
than from the hustle of the boulevards 10
the more peaceful rue de la Trocadero.
There he now lives with his only daugh-
ter. Charlotte, and an old. faithful servant
Of the family and it is the former whom he
is at this moment impatiently waiting.
1t is dinner time with the Chapoulots, who
dine at 6.
M Chapoulot always begins his dinner
with punctuality, but he has never begun it
without Charlotte, and Charlotte comes not.
Five minutes past and NJ Chapouot's S
impatience becomes annoyance; ten min
utes and 1t is even anger; a quarter past
and he is furious. Hunger. they say, will
tame lion, but it will none the less ruffle
the equanimity Of saint.
Wherever can Charlotte be? She has gone
this afternoon to take her music lesson In
the boulevard Barbesse. She goes three
times week and always returns in ample
time for dinner. Twenty past, anger begins
to give way to nervousness; five and twenty
It is alarm; half past and no Charlotte, NJ
Chapoulot is trembling with anxiety. Hur-
riedly he summons the old servant, asks
for his hat and boots; he will himself go
out and see whatever may have happened.
But suddenly there was merry little rap
on the door, and Charlotte enters.
20, papa-I-"
But M Chapoulot's fear gone, his impa-
tience again usurps supremacy, and reas-
eured about the safety of his daughter, he
begins to feel anxious for the flavor of his
dinner.
"Come to table first. You can tell me
while eating 1 shall understand better
then"
20, but pap! You don't know. I have
had an adventure!"
AN adyenture!" exclaims NJ Chapoulot
starting from his seat and dropping his
spoon into the soup upon which he had
already commenced.
"Yes, papa! An adventure in the omni-
bus with young man."
1.-The omnibus-with young man! Par
bleup'
But with young man CONNIE IL faut.
papa, can assure your!
You ought to know, Charlotte. that a
young man CONNIE IL faut has no adven-
lures, above all in an omnibus. Whatever
do.you mean?'
1t Is very simple, papa. You need not
make such cruel face. had forgotten
my purse. That is a thing which happens
often enough
Eyes, yes; especially to those who haven't
got one. Go on"
II never discovered it until the conductor
held out his hand to take my fare. What
could do? What could say? 1 should be
taken for parper-for an adventures. per-
haps. I was crimson, was pale, 1 felt that
I should faint; when, happily, young man
who sat next to me gave the conductor q
piece of silver. saying: Take for two This
gentleman. seeing my embarrassment had
kindly paid for me-"
well, miss, you have done nice thing.
Accept cents from stranger You would
better have explained to the conductor. tr
Dhe driver. to all the company But people
should not forget their purses 1 never do
And now, how will you return his money;
You will never think of keeping it?"
u II have his card, papa: M. Agehor Balu
rhet, clerk, at the ministry Of"
But papa, without hearing another word