The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-04-14
Select gtorg.
EASTER EGGS.

| was twenty years old and inspector of
study-haIl at the College of Chautevigne,
a little old town whose lime wbitened
houses were basking in the sun on the
banks Of the Rhone.
Above the houses, and surmounted by
weather-cock or cross, pointed the
steeples of its innumerable churches, while
the whole was enclosed with sham fortifi-
cations, cut out as if from pieces of lace,
and gilded like the crust of II pate
By what train of circumstances l had
come to occupy this moi very lucrative and
little to- be envied situation, permit me to
say nothing. The story besides would not
be new. There comes a time to many OF
us when, if the heart is rich and the brain
full, the pocket is light and the purse
empty.
The college was, as are almost all these
little colleges of the South, an old religious
building, more or less appropriate for its
novel use The passages were dark and
winding; the class-rooms had still the air
of the cell; in the refectory was still the
chair where formerly each of the white
fathers came in his turn to read some
pious work, while the others, in silence,
ate their stew of potatoes or their bowl OF
rice and milk. Even now the table fare
was but little changed. In the court,
surrounded by its circular yard, surmounted
by high standing walls covered with moss,
the sun seemed never willing to enter.
All, well You may believe me or
not, as you wish, but this college without
sunshine, with its old walls and its gloomy
passages, had ended by pleasing me, and L
lived there contentedly; [ ceased to re-
member the principal, very slim man,
with spare beard, whose blue glasses and
enormous bunch Of keys seemed at every
instant to spring up behind you; | even
forgot my scholars, lot of gamins badly
combed, mischievous and wicked-and all
this because, one morning, from the win
dow of my room, made discovery.
It was Thursday was awaiting the
hour to descend to the study hall, and was
leaning on my elbow at the window, gaz-
ing at the roofs and chimneys. saw in
the distance the fields already green, and
on my right the Rhone, on the blue waves
of which, hosting their white sails, the
little barks were passing. Below, in the
street, scissors grinder sang as he made
the wheel Of his grindstone whiz; and in
the material silence of beings and things,
his song came up to me, mixed with the
rumbling of the stone under the iron.
Suddenly window was opened almost
opposite me, hand pushed back the mar
row shutter, which creaked on its hinges;
then head appeared, a pretty blonde
head, with large blue eyes and hair dis
ordered in most amusing fashion She
had not seen me. Gently she hung a
little mirror on the side of the window;
then taking her long golden hair in her
hands, she set about completing her toll
ette l stood there open -meuthed, my
heart beating loudly. But at the same
time I listened to the neighboring clock.
If / could | would have stopped the hands.
Alas it rang the hour Below the drum
mer beat his drum and its roll, mounting,
spread the length of the long corridors OF
the old college. 1t was the porter, whose
business it was to beatshe morning call, and
he acquitted himself very conscientiously,
| assure you.
At the noise, my neighbor lifted her
head. She saw me. began to redden,
for her look, at first angry, softened, and
while l withdrew with regret from the
window, it seemed to me that peal Of
mocking laughter accompanied my de-
parture.
arrived at the study hall late. The
principal said nothing, but his bunch oi
keys shook in the most significant manner.
At noon | knew who my charming un-
known was All | the lady was neither
duchess nor marchioness, but love
never has had its titles of nobility. She
was called Marietta, and she simply was
the niece of the pastry cook established
almost in front of our college, and who
recruited his best clients among all oul
young students.
/ never, until today, had paid any at
tention to his marble shelves, where on
gridirons, placed on paint plates, spread in
a most appetizing way, were golden nuga-
tines, buns loaded with raisins, and cream
puffs on which the sugar glistened.
/ had never entered his shop, but now
l desired two things, to cross the threshold
and to win, at any price, the friendship
of the uncle 1t seemed to me that that
was the chief point, and commenced the
| attoct that Same dav
At two o clock, when | went out with
my pupils, l made them pass very neal
the shop. ought to say that in this
had not much trouble, as they went very
willingly, indeed. The uncle was there,
large and fat, in his white vest with its
double row of buttons Tmidly, | saluted
him. Surprised, he glanced at me; then
mechanically bowed. Good man how
gladly l would have hugged him !
That same evening, toward six o clock,
I entered his house. The shop of the
pastry-cook was open to everyone. In a
trembling voice | asked, from the thresh-
old Of the door, for four cents worth Of
gum drops And / coughed to give q
most serious aspect to my demand.
1t was she who came to serve me; raw
ishingly pretty, blonder even then / had
thought, and very sweet with her white
apron so tidy and giving out warm per
fume of fresh cakes. She smiled sweetly,
handing me the little paper bag, and
gave her my four sous.
uThant Won mons;aur - said she