The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-15
FORGIVENESS.

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Every one ia the house--a great hive
Of working people Ia the Rue Delam-
bre. ,where Tony Ro0ec had occupied
room for two quarters believed him
widower And a recent one, since
his little boy. with whom he lived alone
this little boy as well cared for as
by a m0ther-was hardly Q years old.
Sull neither father nor son wore crepe
on their hats or sleeves Early each
morning Tony Robec. who worked as
a composltor IN a printing oiice IN the
Latin Quarter. went of with little Ad-
rian still drowsy and sleepy on his
shoulder and left him al school IN
the nelghborhood. He called for him
when his days work was over, and
holding the little man by the hand Wis
tied the butcher and the baker, and
carrying home IN the childs basket
supplies for their humble dinner they
were invisible till the next day. The
gossips. with their compassionate
hearts. pitled the poor father-who was
not more than 40 aud stil handsome
man with bis black beard streaked with
silver. and eyes like a lions IN reDose
and they whispered behind his back:
That man should marry again. such
a good fellow. never tipsy. He could
easily find some good girl who would
take care Of him and his baby. Have
you noticed how carefully the little
man Is attended to- Not a rent or a
spot One can see at once that be Is
an orderly man. and he earns 10 francs
a day" They wished to make his ac-
Quaintance. Ordinarily this Is not a
dlficult matter Ia these crowded houses.
where the doors are often open. But
Tony had a reserved air. polite way Of
greeting people on the stairway that
rather intlmidated them.
Every Sunday father and son. as neat
as two sous. went out for a walk. They
could be seen In museums; In the Jar
din des Plantes. They were seen also
In a little cafe az dinner time. where
Tony permitted himself the only de-
bauch Of the week and drank a glass
OF absinthe slowly IN little sips. while
Adrain. seated beside him on the leath-
er bench. looked at the illustrated pa
pers. NO. ladies'" said the concierge.
who was sentimental. that widower
viii never marry again. We met him the
other Sunday In one Of the paths OF the
cemetery az Mount Parnassus. No doubt
his wife Is buried there-lt was sad TO
see him with his little orphan beside
him-he must have adored his wife.
They are rarely as constant as that;
he Is incongolable." Alas yesl Tony
Robec had adored his wife. And could
not be consoled for her loss. but he
was not q widower. His life had been
a very simple and a very sad one. He
had been a workman Of only ordinary
ability. and because he had begun
rather late IN life 70 make more than
bare living he had not thought Of
marriage an be was about 80. He
should have chosen a sensible girl who.
like himself. had experienced the mis-
cries OF life. But love Is not reasonable.
and Tony lost his heart to the pretty.
vain little aowermaker Of 19. stan in
nocent. no doubt. but very frivolous.
and who thought only Of dress and
could attire herself like q Princess In
four rags.
He had saved a little toward the mod
est menage. and they had a bureau
with a long mirror bought at the Fau-
bourg st. Antoine. for "a frnncs-where
lhe wife could see herself from head I
10 feet He married his Clementine. /
aud At first al was delightful: how they
owed each other. They had two rooms /
'n the fifth floor IN the boulevard. with /
4 balcony and view OF an Paris. Every
evening on leaving bis shop on the left 4
branch. Tony Robec. whose ovorcoat /
'ovored his working clothes. and gave
aim quite the air Of a gentleman. would /
walt at the corner OF the bridge for
bis little wife. who was coming back
irom her shop In the Rue 81. Honore.
walking close together. arm In arm
hey soon reached their distant iode- /
Ing, and prepared gayly their humble
supper. But the Sundays. They were
simply exquisite. They were 80 hapnv
At home they never went out OF ne
ialnty summer breakfasts. with win
lows open. through which they saw the
siiy spread below and the blue sky
above. While Be slipped h. eofee and
lmoked his cigarettes. Clementine wat
ired The flower boxes IN the balcony.
she VAS 100 sweet. he must surprise
ior with q kiss on her white neck. Then
lsme their Title Felix. who must be sent