The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-26
TRIBULATIONS OF JACQUES.

''Vatin will give you 90 francs Tor the
calf, understand Take care you don't
lose them"
mo fear of that" replied Jacques
confidently as he tied the calf fast and
started on his three leagues journey
from Etricourt for St. Quentin Arrived
at the city he went straight to the
butcher Vatin, delivered the calf and
received the stipulated so francs, as well
as liberal potion of brandy AS ne
drove away he noticed that the clock
indicated a quarter to nine, and said 20
himself that he would easily get back
to the farm by dinner time. He drove
slowly along the street, peering into the
shop windows. One which bore the
sign, ''Vinsse Soeurs. Modistes.' at
tracted him so strongly that he drew
up to the curb and halted to feast his
eyes on the marvelS displayed in the
window. There were hats and bOnnets
of wonderful complexity and riotous
colors, and ribbons of rich velvet and
glittering satin.
What especially aroused his admira-
ton was big straw hat, periodically
adorned with bottles, daisies and
poppies and broad green ribbons. He
dismounted and stood before the win
dow, with his eyes and mouth wide
open. Some day, he thought he might
be able to buy such hat for Clemen-
tine. His mouth expanded into a broad
smile as he CO. d m the picture of
her pretty face frame IS work of
art. and thought how pleas she
would be to receive such a gift from
him. Clementine and he were employ
ed on the same farm, and, if not yet
| declared lovers, were in fair way OIL
becoming such. His revery was rudely
| interrupted by the pressure of heavy
| hand on his shoulder. He turned and
| saw his old comrade, Zephyrin, and
| several other people, men and women,
| who had stopped and were laughing at
| his establishment.
II didn't know you with that thing
| on said Jacques, pointing to the 9TH
| er's high hat. Then his eyes wandered
| over the company. The men wore high
hats and frock coats or dress coats of
various Vintages; the women had on
silk dresses and ShawlS embroidered
with flowers.
One girl was dressed entirely in white
and wore a wreath of orange blossoms
and a voluminous veil.
"A wedding party?" said Jacques.
| Yes and 1 am the bridegroom re-
| sponded Zephyrin with a laugh Come
with us. We are going to luncheon"
Jacques declined, saying that he must
be hone by noon. zephyrin insisted
but 1 can't go like this said
| Jacques. pointing to his rough blouse
| and great shoes. Then the bridegroom
became angry. But still Jacques shook
his head. Then the bride, plump and
| vivacious little woman, told her hus-
| band that he ought not to insist as the
gentleman 6NldenIly Qlu not uLu tue So
! ciety to his liking. This decided Jacques
| and he accepted the invitation The bril-
dal procession resumed its march,
| Jacques following with his cart. On
| the way Zephyrin told his mother-in-
| law why he had insisted on Jacques
| joining them.
THE cart will be handy if any of US
get tired" The bridegroom's happy idea
was received with approval by all:
Il
night No sound was heard in the de-
serted street except the noisy rafting
of the cart over the stones. Jacques
| steered a devious course out of the city.
| He muttered incoherent words, the most
| frequent of which were: 1.-The calf! :
! Then he felt his leather purse and
| swore. Only 20 of the 60 francs re-
manned. He was quite sure, for he had
| counted the money seveeal times by the
light of his lantern. 1t was an easy
sum to count, for the purse contained
| just one 20-franc piece.
This is how it came about. After
| luncheon he had been for going home
| A few hours late, what was that? He
could explain it, and the master was
good humored. But taking a whole fav
off was a very different matter He
! must go home His companions urged
him to stay the ladies employed their
most seductive arts, and finally the
bridegroom brought forward very
| plausible argument. The party was go
ing out to Estrees on the Etricourt
road. To accompany it to that point
would not delay Jacques greatly. and
then he could go his way. Jacques
yielded At Estrees they found 4 viii
| 1aee festival in progress.
The wine had circulated freely at
luncheon and on the way out, 50 that
| Jacques was in no humor to refuse to
dance a quadrille. After the quadril-e
came polka, which a lady OF his party
legged him to dance with her. Then he
danced waltz and then more waltzes
and more polkas. Dancing is thirsty
work, and after each dance the thirst
was allayed- partially Jacques forgot
all about going home, and spent the
whole day at Estrees. He also spent,
very soon, what little money he had OF
his own, and then he began on his
masters. The money went rapidly. AZ
| sunset the wedding party packed itself
( INTO the cart and returned to the city,
laughing and singing. Jacques drew
10 1g sigh as he passed the milliner S
shop and saw the gorgeous bonnet
again. Yielding to a sudden Impulse,
he stopped the horse, handel the re1ns
to the bridegroom and rushed into the
shop. When he came out h. had big
paper parcel in his hands and 20 francs
less in his purse He stood his COM
panionS' raillery with good huIuOr, but
at dinner, which was the next event on
tire programme he drank recSlessly to
drown his remorse- When the party
broke up his companions had to help
him into the cart
Hence, as has been said he found
himself driving homeward at midnight
in very cloudy frame of mind. AS he
drove on the weather became cloudy,
too. The stars vanished, the wind blew
and presently the rain fell in torrents.
Jacques had become slightly sobered
and thoroughly wretched- Every few
minutes he started at what seemed the
plaintive cry of the calf lying bound
behind him as in the morning. He
turned and saw only the famboyant
hat. Then he thought of his almost
empty purse and trembled at his mast
er's wrath With unsteady hands he
drew the purse from his pocket took
out the lonely gold piece and stared at
it vacantly. The wheel struck stone
and the coin slipped from his fingers
fa1l into fla1ar Tar T.