Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-22

| tion. Indeed. old Cariere. across the
way. had told her on more than one oc
| casion that u must seem like old times
to have her lodger going on like this.
"And Il was bad play" Besson was
saying. smiling so blandly that Nam.
zelle frowned II too wildly reminded
| her of the old times. 'Sardou knows
no more about French affairs than
| than you do The next thing we shall
have you doing historical plays, Nam.
zelle"
"The good God forbId" she eJacu.
lated. "And II monsieur would kindly
enter will close the door. Monsieur
Is still outside"
II believe Mamzelle Is correct be
apologizcd Permit me-" And. enter
Ing. he shut the door In an elaborate
fashion. Does Mamzelle ascendY
1T Is my hour for beginning the
day" she told him.
ut Is an admirable hour for begin
ming anything" smiled Besson and zig
Jagged his way up to his room. Nam
Ielle waiting at the foot Of the stairs
| In case Of an accident. Then she took
the lamp from its stand and went into
her parlor.
But" she sighed. Il only wish he
would pay me co francs on account !
pity him. pity all men They are OF
the sex Of my father. l cannot press
q - sh.. Of hla md rQf
I have promised Dalcour 60 francs by
noon OF the 25th Of the month, and ]
have not n franc Of It. fully expect
ed monsieur to settle the lst OF this
month, which made six months rent
due me. bu, he has not done 80. and
now that be has taken to going to the
theater every night, In place OF twice
a week, and writing not at all. ] see no
prospects Of the money"
She threw open the window 30 that
she might catch the first light Of day
and have a box Of flowers under way
by the time she partook Of dejeuner.
81 will walt as long as possible.
though" she said. with sigh. IL must
not despair Despair ruins my skill.
and this time am making orchids"
The days passed. and Besson offered
no part Of the money he owed her Or
course In the midst Of her increasing
perplexity old Cariere had 10 come
over. when he saw her working at the
window. He folded his arms on the
window sill and talked In al her.
"Ah. Mamzelle." he chirruped, such
q tombstone as your father will have!
II must be pleasant TO rest under such
q tombstone. Dalcour Is proud OF II
himself. He says that but for my
friendship for you II would have cost
you considerably more than he charges
you. He Is an agreeable man. that Dal-
cour By the way. our young man. our
Besson--I hope his late hours do not
interfere with his work. Is be always
prompt In paying what he owesi
ask as friend"
81 fnd no fault with monsieur.
Mamzelle stiffiy replied. "He Is writ
er for the newspapers Writers for the
newspapers frequently keep late hours,
I understand"
Again old Cariere sauntered over.
"Dalcour says the marble Of tina,
tombstone Is without q flaw. ] have
seen IL. Dalcour says that 90 francs
you pay him on the 25th will just de-
fray the expense Of the marble and the
carrying OF Il to the cemetery, not
sou for the carving he has executed
| such a rayishing wreath OF acorns
round your fathers name. Our young
man. our Besson-does he write much
for the newspapers! ! meet him 90
frequently on the boulevard"
| ''Doubtiess II Is wearisome. But. then
these writers for the newspapers gath
er ideas on the boulevard" said she.
Old Cariere smiled and disclosed bis
two eyeteeth. which were separated by
q sad stretch Of unrelieved vacancy
and. dusting his elbows, went away
only to come back In day or so and
say something to the same effect. fol
he watched Mamzelle and saw tina,
something was on her mind. And al
In former times only one thing had
been on her mind-namely. her father
so he now decided that only two
things could have the old efect-heI
fathers tombstone and her lodger.
BY the 23d Mamzelle was nearly be
side herself. She had promised Dai
cour that be should have 90 francs on
the 25th. and she had never broken bel
word. The flower making was but
poorly remunerative. She earned only
enough to keep her In the bare neces
saries of life. The landlord must bt
paid regularly; the baker must moi
wait; her fuel must not be had or
trust. She had only the rent Of the
room Besson occupied to assist her ir
outside matters, and the rent had moi
been paid for nearly the half Of the en-
tire year he had been with her Why
did she keep him? She sometimes ask
| cd herself that question. Old Carriers
would have said that 1t was because
she had lived 80 long alone with hei
father that now, faded haired and fee
BILE eyed, she found in Besson's neglect
of her and his mode of living likeness
to the parent who had made himself
the controlling thought Of her exist
ence.
i On the afternoon Of the 23d Dalcour
going BY. stopped a moment at thu
window to say that through unprece
dented efforts he had managed to ge
the tombstone into such condition tha
It would be completed on the day h'
had promised. She was a woman o.
her word. and he wished to be mai
Of his.
MamseIle felt q sudden singing up II
her head. The piete was conveniently q
hand, but there was nothing to pledg'
unless It was her fathers tall hat. ant
Il was more than doubtful that sh'
could get any considerable sum Of
that especially a. the wheels OF
wagon had gone ever Il that dms 'e