The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-04-20
grant thoughts.

can still hope for mercy. BY the way,
how much longer have to live?"
He looked at his watch.
ut lacks three hours of morning. 1t
is time ! was in bed. go to bed, in
deed! To devote the last sad hours
of my life to sleep! No. can certainly
do better than that. But, what? Par
bleu! l have it. will draw up my last
will and testament"
A restaurant which remained open all
night was near by. Anatole entered
and sat down.
"Waiter, bottle of champagne and
a bottle of ink"
He drank a glass and looked at his
writing paper, rejecting: ITO whom
shall l leave my 5000 francs income?
l have neither father nor mother-a
fact which is lucky for them. And
among the persons who interest me |
can only think of one-Nicette."
Nicette was one of his fortysecond
cousins, charming young girl OF IS
years, with fair tresses and large, black
eyes. Like himself she was an orphan,
and this community of fate had long
ago established bond of sympathy be-
tween them. His will was speedily
drawn up. He left everything to
Nicette.
When it was finished he drank a
second glass of champagne.
Poor Nicette," thought he. "Her
guardian, who knows little of the world
except his class, which he teaches to
play on brass instruments at the Con-
servatory, has bethought himself to
promise her hand to brute, a sort of
bully, whom she detests, because she
loves another, as she has avowed to me.
although with reticence and an en-
berrassed air. Who is this happy NOR
tai? But he must be worthy of her,
since she has fixed her affection on
him. Good, gentle, comely and affec-
tionate Nicette deserves an ideal hus-
band. All, how well would she have
suited me for wife. 1t is an infamous
tyranny to spoil her life by giving her
to a brute. But why should | not be
| Nicettes champion? | have said it
now, and tomorrow morning | will be-
gin to act. But tomorrow morning it
will be too late. Now is the time to be-
gin, if at all. The hour is little NAL
a propos to see people, but as | shall
be dead in five hours | don't care a
sou for conventionalitics Yes, I'll do
Tiny life for Nicette."
1t was four o'clock in the morning
when Anatole rang the bell at the
house of Nicettes guardian, NJ. Bou-
sard. Badly frightened and wearing
his nightcap, he answered the door
SIS the house on fire."
mo, my dear M. Bousard," replied
Anatole, II have come for chat
AT this hour?"
81 am at all hours pleased to see you;
but you are not dressed, NJ. Bousard.
Are you going back to bed again.
That's what am going to do. But
II suppose, monsieur, that to disturb
me in this manner you must have some
thing very important to say to me-"
"Very important, M. Bousard. 1t is
necessary that you give up your plan
of marrying my cousin Nicette to M.
Capendac.'
"Never, monsieur, never"
But / say, yes"
Monsieur, my resolution is taken.
The marriage will take place."
ut will not"
"We'H see about that. And now that
you are acquainted with my answer,
/ will detain you no longer"
THAT is not altogether polite. But
am as good-natured as am tenacious,
NJ. Bousard. l am not offended at your
procedure, and / will remain"
"Remain if you like. / consider you
fas gone. and i will not converse fur
ther with you"
And NJ. Bousard turned toward the
wall, grn-nbling: did you ever see
the like: to disturb peaceful man, to
rouse him from his sleep, for the pur-
pose of listening to such nonsense"
Suddenly NJ. Bousard made bound
from his bed.
Anatole had taken up one of the
trombones of the professor, into which
he blew with might and main, madly
moving the slide. Internal sounds
were emitted by the instrument.
MY cherished trombone, given me
by my pupils Leave the instrument
alone, monsieur"
Monsieur said Anatole, you con-
slider me as departed. / consider you
as absent, and l am amusing myself
while waiting for your return. Um-pa!
Um-pa What dulcet melody"
You will cause me to receive notice
to leave the house. My neighbors will
not tolerate the trombone after mid
night"
''Then all / can sag is, they have no
love of music in their souls. Z-z-z-z!
Wow! Tootle-too. Um-pa! Um-pa!"
stop, for mercy's sake"
DO you consent, them"
''To what?"
ITO give up the marriage?"
But monsieur, can't do it."
'Then, um-pa!'
M. Capendac is terrible man. II
affront him thus he will Kill me-"
Does that reason influence you"