The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-10-25

llOSt is W Dt llluTTicu tCllOTIOW.
"Much obliged. my respectable OLD
friend, for SO interesting a reply to my
question. Considering that | am the
valet Of M. Danville who plays the dis
tinguished part Of bridegroom in the
little wedding comedy to which you re
fer, l think | may assure you, without
Offense, that your news Is of the stalest
possible kind. Take a pinch of snuff
Guillaume, and excuse me If | inform
you that my question referred to public
news and not to the private affairs OF
the two families whose household in.
terests we have the pleasure of pro-
noting"
Il don't understand what you mean
by promoting household interests, Jus
tin. l am the servant of NJ. Louis Tru.
dame, who lives here with his sister,
Nile. Rose. You are NJ. Danville's serv-
ant, whose excellent mother has made
mp the match for him with my young
lady. AS servants, both of us, the pleas
ATTEST news we can have any concern
with is that connected with the happl.
ness Of our employers. have nothing
to do with public affairs. | make it nv
main object in life-to mind my own
business. If our homely domestic at
fairs have no interest for you, allow me
to express my regrets and to wish you
. very good evening""
Pardon me, my dear sir. have not
the least sympathy with people who
only mind their own business. How.
ever, l accept your expressions of re-
gret. | reciprocate your good evening,
and l trust to find you improved in
temper, dress, manners and appear
ance the next time l have the honor of
meeting you. Goodby, NJ. Guillaume."
These scraps of dialogue were inter-
changed on a lovely summer evening
In the year 1889 before the back door
OF a house which stood on the banks Of
the Seine about three miles westward
OF the city Of Rouen. The one speaker
was lean, old, grabbed and slovenly;
the other was plump, young, oily man.
nered and dressed in the most gorgeous |
livery costume of the period. The last |
days of genuine dandyism were then
rapidly approaching in France. Valet |
Justin was in his own way dressed to
living illustration Of the
expiring glories of his epoch.
After the old servant had gone the
valet occupied himself for few min
utes in superciliously contemplating
the back view of the house before
which he stood. Judging by the win
dows, it did not contain more than six
Or eight rooms. Instead of stables and
outhouses there were conservatory
attached to the building on one side and
long, low room, built of wood gayly
painted, on the other. One of the win
lows Of this room was left uncurtain-
ID, and through it could be seen on
Iort of dresser inside bottles of strange
y colored liquids, oddly shaped utensils
Df brass and copper, one end of fur
mace and other objects, which pro-
claimed that the apartment was used
rs laboratory.
Think Of our brides brother anus
Ing himself in such place as that
With cooking drugs in saucepans,"
muttered Justin, peering into the room.
Il am the least particular man in the
world, but l must say | wish we were
not going to be connected by marriage
With an amateur apothecary. Bah! |
AN smell the place through the win
1oww
With these words the valet turned
rom the laboratory in disgust and
'auntered toward the cliffs overhang-
ng the river.
Arrived at the summit, the whole
Tiew of the Seine, with its lovely green
Stands, its banks fringed with trees,
is gliding boats and little scattered
cottages, opened before him.
where the level country ap-
'eared beyond the farther banks of
he river, the landscape was aglow
With the crimson of the setting sun.
Eastward the long shadows and mel
ow intervening lights, the red glory
hat quivered on the ripping water,
he steady ruby fire glowing on the cot
age windows that reflected the level
unlight, led the eye onward and on
yard along the winding of the Seine
lntil 1t rested upon the spires, towers
nd broadly massed houses Of Rou-
n, with the wooded hills rising be-
'ond them for background. Lovely
o look upon at any time. the view was
most beautiful now under the gorgeous
vening light.
At little hollow, beyond which the
round sloped smoothly to the brink of
he cliff, three persons-an elderly lady,
gentleman and young glrl-wcre
Gated on bench watching the sunset
lear them stood two gentlemen.
"There they are still-Mme. Danville
q the same place on the seat; my mas
er, the bridegroom, dutifully next to
er; Mile. Rose, the bride, bashfulIy
ext to him; NJ. Trudaine, the anna
eur apothecary brother, and NJ. Lo-
naque, our queer land steward off,
ially in waiting on the whole party.
here they all are wasting their time
looking at nothing. Yes" con-
lnued Justin, lifting his eyes YEARLY,
looking at nothing all this while"
II the valet had ventured near the
I've persons whom he had been apos-
rophizing from a distance, and IL he