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

was twenty years old and Inspector Of
study-hall at the College of Chauteyigne,
little old town whose lime whitened
houses were baSking in the sun on the
banks of the Rhone
Above the houses. and surmounted by
weather cock or cross pointed the
-tcepleS uf it, iuuumerahle churches. while
the whole was enclosed with sham tortlti
y..liots, cut out a> il from pieces Of lace,
and -ildcd ike the crust ct a pate.
By what train uf circumstances | had
come to occupy this Rat very lucrative and
htilc TO be cnyied situation, permit me to
say nothing. The story beside, would not
bee 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 It's
novel use. The passages were dark aud
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 20 read some
piuus work. while the others. in silence,
ate their stew of potatoes or their bowl OF
nee and rsilk Even now the table fare
was bat little changed In the court,
surrounded by It's circular yard, surmounted
by high standin. walls covered with moss,
the snn seemed never willing to enter
Al. well You may believe me OF
not. a. sou wish, but this college without
sunshine. with is old walls and its gloomy
passages, had ended by pleasing me and !
lived there coutenJedly | ceased 10 re
member the principal a very slim man,
with a spare beard. whoee blue glasses and
enormous bunch Of KEYS seemed at every
instant to spring up sehind you; even
forgot M scholars, los ot gAmIns badly
ly,mbed mlschievous and wicked-and all
this because, one morning from the win
dow of nv nom, | made discovery,
Ii was Thursday. was awaiting the
hoar To descend ,o the study hall aud was
l,aninc ON my elbow al the window, saz-
ius al the ruoi, aud chimneys | saw IN
| the distance the fields already green, and
on my ri.hi the Rhone on the blue waves
% which. hoistius their white sails the
. little barks we're passing. Below, in thc
street. scissors grinder sang as be made
tbs q heel oi his srindstone whlz, and N
/ the material silence Of beings and things
/ his song came up to me mixed with the
/ rumbling Of the stone under the iron.
suddenly a window WAS opened almost
opposite me, a hand pushed back the mar
row shutter, which ercakci on It's hinges
[ then a head appeared pretty blonde
Z bead. with large blue eyes and hair dis
I ordered In a mo>t amusing fashion She
/ had not seen me Gently she hung
/ little mirror on the side Of the window
/ then taking her long golden hair in her
/ hands. she set about completing her toll
cite. | stood there open mouthed, nay
heart beating loudly But At the same
time listened to the neishborins clock
/ It / could would have stopped the hands.
! Alas 1t rang the hour Below the drum
mrr beat his drum and it, r,ll, mounting.
spread the length Of the long corridors oi
I the I'D college Il va, the porter. whose
bushes, 1t was to beat the morning call, and
he acquitted himself very conseientiously,
| assure you.
At the noise. my neighbor lifted her
head She saw me began 70 redden,
Tor her hook, at first angry, soitened, and
while | withdrew with reuet from the
window. it seemed to me that 4 peal Of
mocking laughter accompanied my de
parture
arrived At the study hall late. The
principal said nothing, but his bunch Of
KEYS shook IN the most significant manner
At noon knew who my charming un-
known was Ah 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 our
young students.
| never. until today, had paid any at
tention 10 his marble shelves, where on
gridirons, placed on paint plates, spread in
a must appetizing way, We're golden nuga-
tines. buns loaded with raisins, aud cream
puffs on which the sugar glistened-
had never entered his shop, but now
| 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
attack that same day.
At two o clock, when | went out with
my pupils, | made them pass very near
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 Timidly, | saluted
him. Surprised, he glanced at me; then
mechanically bowed. Good man /! how
gladly | would have hugged him
That same evening, toward six o clock
| 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 a
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
"Thank you, monsieur, SAID she,
bowling slightly.