The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1899-11-23

fond of oysters and old wine, and
somewhat bold p~leasantries, and de-
voted to her husband for her W sake
rather thai for his. She was imper-
turbably good-natured, but had nc idea
of self-sacrifice. To live in that pleas
ant old house, with a green garden be-
hind and bright flowers about the win
dow, to eat and drink of the best, to
gossip with a neighbor for a quarter
of an hour, never to wear stays or a
dress except when she went to Fon-
tainebleau shopping, to be kept in a
continual supply of racy novels, and
to be married to Doctor Desprez and
have no ground of jealousy, filled the
cup of her nature to the brim. Those
who had known the Doctor in bachelor
days, when he had aired quite as many
theories, but of a different order, at
tributed his present philosophy to the
study of Anastasie. 1t was her brute
enjoyment that he rationalized and per-
haps vainly initiated.
Madame Desprez was an artist in the
kitchen, and made coffee to a nicely.
She had a knack of tidiness, with which
she had infected the Doctor; every
thing was in it's place; everything
capable Of polish shone ~gloriously; and
dust was a thing banished from her
empire. Aline, their single servant,
had no other business in the world but
to scour and FURNISH. So Doctor Des-
PREF lived in his house like a fatted calf,
warmed and cosseted to his hearts
content.
The midday meal was excellent.
There was a ripe melon, a fish from the
river in a memorable Bearnaise sauce,
a fat fowl in a fricassee, and a dish of
asparagus, followed by some fruit. The
Doctor drank half a bottle plus n
glass, the wife half a bottle minus
the same quantity, which was a marital
privilege, of an excellent Cote-Rotie,
seven years old. Then the coffee was
brought, and a flask of Chartreuse for
madame, for the Doctor despised and
distrusted such decoctions; and then
Aline left the welded pair to the pleas
ures of memory and digestion.
"It is a very fortunate circumstance,
my cherished one," observed the Doc
tor-'this coffee is adorable-a very
fortunate circumstance upon the whole
-Anastasie, / beseeeh you, go without
that poison for to-day; only one day,
and you will feel the benefit, I pledge
my reputation"
What is this fortunate circumstance,
my friend?" inquired Anastasie, not
needing his protest, which was Of daily
recurrence.
"That we have no children, my
beautiful" replied the Doctor. Il
think of it more and more as the years
go on, and with more and more graft
tude toward the Power that dispenses
such Affections. Your health, my dar-
ling, my studious quiet, Il little kitch-
en- delicacies, how they would all have
suffered, how they would all have been
sacrificed! And for what? Children
are the last word of human imperfec-
They cry, my dear; they put vexatious
questions; they demand to be fed, to
be washed, to be educated, to have
their noses blown; and then, when the
time comes, they break our hearts, as
l break this piece of sugar. A pair OF
professed egoists, like you and me,
should avoid offspring, like an infldel-
ity."
Indeed" said she; and she laughed,
"Now, that is like you-to take credit
for the thing you could not help"
my DEAR" returned the Doctor
solemnly, 1--WE might have adopted"
"Never" cried madame. Never
Doctor, with my consent. If the child
were my own flesh and blood, I would
not say 10. But to take another per
sons indiscretion on my shoulders, my
dear friend, I have too much sense"
Precisely" replied the Doctor. wv
both had. And I am all the better
pleased with our wisdom, because-be'
cause" He looked at her sharply.
Because what?" she asked, with {
faint premonition of danger.
Because I have found the right per
= son." said the Doctor firmly, land shall
: adopt him this afternoon"
, Anastasie looked at him out Of
mist. "You have lost your reason" sh'
said; and there was a clang in he,
: voice that seemed to threaten trouble
"Not so, my dear" he replied: II re
! tain it's complete exercise. To thu
proof; instead of attempting to cloal
my inconsistency, I have, by way 0
. preparing you, thrown it into stroni
= relief. You will there, I think, recog
. nize the philosopher who has the &c
stacy to call you wife. The fact is,
have been reckoning all this Will