The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-12-20
t.MArrHEw, HAVE YOU MY cAssocKP"

a. MATTHEW, HAVE '1OU MI SAoSoSh1
heart less light, than usual. Care ir-
: ritated and troubled his serene benevo-
lence and checked his compassion for
others, his forgiveness Of wrongdping.
Play actors were installed opposite the
rectory, at the Hotel du Dauphin, at
I the other side of the square. What a
trial It had been for him! For ten
{ days they had been there. Soulaire had
( seemed as though seized with q fever.
AT each corner Of the street many col
3sored posters were to be seen, and IN
front of them groups of people gath
cred, commenting upon the spectacle OF
\ the previous night or that heralded for
the coming evening. The streets, which,
as q rule. were deserted at 8 o'clock,
were thronged until after midnight.
From end to end, of the little town the
merits of the respective players were
talked Of.
< A roll of drums was heard beneath
the window. and NJ. Lamier sprang to
4 his feet. The nasal voice Of Father
onesime, the public crier and game
keeper, was heard distinctly calling
aloud in the same tone as the worthy
man ordinarily invited the. citizens to
/. kill the white worms or to muzzle their
dogs: ~
: ''Hochary Troupe. Soulaire Theatre
2 (Grain Market. this evening. For the
first time the great success, The Able
Constantin,' comedy by Ludovic Ha-
< levy Of the Academic Franchise. NJ.
: Anemon Of the Chatelet will fill the
role Of the Able Constantin. Mile.
Z Valerie, from the theaters of Brest and
Algeria, will appear as Bettina. The
usual price Of admission"
A roll Of wheels announced the ar
rival Of the diligence, which halted at
the hotel opposite, and the passengers
alighted with great deal Of noise, the
women precipitating themselves from
the interior like cloud Of wasps, deaf
. ening the driver.
"Late, as usual. Matthew. Where
Is my new muff? Matthew, where is
Totor's mechanical horse?
And Matthew, with his fat face
flushed and framed in the ear laps Of
his cap, dived down into the hood Of
the imperial. which was inflated like a
Z balloon, and withdrew packages and
boxes.
Come. Matthew, the abbe's new
cassoek." said Jeanne.
Matthew, have you my cassock?"
suddenly cried from a window in the
!. Hotel du Dauphin q man who display
ed face covered with soap. napkin
around his neck and shaving brush
In his hand.
The driver introduced his arm anew
Into the hood and after a careful
search drew forth two parcels Of un-
Z equal size.
Here is something for you. Mile.
Jeanne. And here. NJ. Artemon, is all
that was given me for NJ. Hochary's
company" And from the top Of the
diligence he held OUT long. narrow
card box to the comedian. who leaned
forward to receive it. In its aerial
transit the cover. which had been bad
" tied on. fell to the ground. and 8
wig Of yellow hair was caught by
Artemon on the wing. like flag float
ing in the wind.
"Bettina's wigw exclaimed the e1'
cited actor "BettIna's wig and not
nv, cassock, the cassock Of the Able
IS Constantin. Where the devil have you
6 put IT rascaly' s.lysns.,.,s,.. .
SO .'on my word Of honor. l have moth
ing else, asserted Matthew, display
int his empty hands. a: s.3...:s.. -: