Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-01-20
PARDONED.


well cared for as by IL mothcr-was hardly
b years old. Still neither father nor son
wore Grape on their hats or sleeves Early
each morning Tony Robec, who worked
as compositor in ii printing Office in the
Latin Quarter went off with little Adrian
still drowsy and sleepy on his shoulder
and left him at II school in the cighbor-
hood. He called for him when his day s
work was over. and holding the little man
by the hand visited the butcher ana the
baker and carrying home in the child s
basket the supplies for their humble din
ner they were invisible till the next day.
Inc gosslns, with their compassionate
hearts, piticd the poor fathcr-who was
not more than 80 and still Il handsome
man with his black beard strcakod with
silver, and eyes like u lions in rcpese-
and they whispered behind his back
That man should marry again-such q
good fellow, never tipsy. He could easily
find some good girl who would take care
of him and his baby. Have you noticed
how carefully the little man is attended to:
Not rent or II spot One can see at
once that he is an orderly man. and he
earns 10 francs day They wished to
make his acquaintance. Ordinarily this
is not a difficult matter IN these crowded
houses. where the doors are often OPEN
But Tony had "A reserved air, polite way
of greeting people on the stairway that
rather intimidatcd them.
Every sunday father and son, as neat
as two sous, went out for u walk They
could lie seen in the museums, in the Jar
din dos Plantcs. They were seen also in n
little cafe at dinner time, where Tony per
mitted himself the only dehauch of the
week and drank IL glass of absinth slowly
in little sips, while Adrian, seated beside
him on the leather bench. looked at the il
Illustrated papers. NO. ladies. said the
concierge, who was sentimental, THAT
widowcr will never marry again.
I've met him the other Sunday in one of
the paths of the cemetery at Mont Par
nasSc. No doubt his wife is buried there
1t was sad to see him with his little orphan
beside him. He must have adorcd his wife
They are rarely as constant as that He is
incon~ulable. Alas, yes, Tony Robec
had adorcd his Wife. and could not be con
solcd for her loss, but he was not Il widow
er. His life had been very simple and
Il very sad one.
He had been u workman of only urd
nary ability, and because he had begun
rather late in life tn make more than Il
bare living he had not thought of maria &c
till lac was about 30. He should have
chosen Il sensible girl who, like himself,
had experienced the mscrics of life But
love is not reasonable and Tony lost his
heart to he pretty, vain little flower maker
of 49, still innocent, no doubt. but very
frivolous, and who thought only of dress
and could attire herself like IL princess in
four rags.
He had saved IA little toward the modest
nenage, and they had ii bureau with ii long
mrror-hought at the Faubuurg st. An
tome for n francS--Whcre the wife could
see herself from sfetd to feet. He married
his Clcmentfne;iEd at first ailiwas deligh =
ful. How they loved each other! They had
two rooms Oh the fifth floor in the bOule-
ward, with "a balcony and IL view of all
Paris Every evening" on leaving hsshop
ON the left branch, Tony Robec. whose
oVcrcoat covered his working clothes and
gave him quite the air of a gentleman,
would wait at the corner of the bridge for
his liule wife who was coming back from
her shop in the Rau IT. Hunorc.4
Walking close together, arm in arm.
they soon reached their distant lodging
and prepared gayly their humble supper
But the Sundays, They were simply ex-
quiste. They were so happy at home they
never went out. oh. the dainty summer
breakfasts with windows open, through
which they saw the city spread below and
the blue sky above While he slipped his
coffee and smoked his cigarettes, Cleme:l-
tine watcrcd the flower boxes in the bal
cony. She was too swcet-he must surprise
L,, III | les, bc, itn ,ptl
Then came their little Felix, who must
be sent to Margency to nurse, and who
died in II year. They were soon consoled
ly the birth of Adrian. and the mother
must nurse him. She left the shop. taking
home her work. She earned much less,
but she dressed herself like lady and
went To the Luxembourg, pushing her
baby before in "A wicker carriage.
And Tony had to work day and night
to keep the pot boiling and even then
things went badly. They got in debt. The
child grew, was weaned and sent to the
day nursery, and the mother, often idle,
always n coquette, began to have danger
Gus adventures. Can you not see the whole
tragedy? The poor man, worn with toll,
aged before his time, and this frivolous
20-ycar-old with the pretty Greuze head?
one evening, coming NOME Will HIS IVY,
whom he had called for at the nursery on
his way, Tony Robec found letter on ms
mantclpiecc and when he opened it Glenn
entine's wedding ring fell out. In the
letter the wicked girl babe him and their
boy farewell and begged them to forgive
her.
Oh. romantic jury, who thirst for blood,
and who always acquit the injured nus
hand who kills his wife and her lover, you
will find poor Tony very ridiculous and
even "a little culpable, for he had more sor-
row than anger in his heart. He wept bit
terly, and when Adrian said to nm:
Where is mamma: Will she come back
soon." he embraced the child tenderly
and answered, Il do not know. Ciemen-
tine fled in early May. Oh, how hateful
is the odor of lilacs sometimes
When July t.me, Tony sold Als small