The San Francisco call., 1903-01-04

with the family name Of poor old Peter
Valicombe.
out'n . mighty big difnculty-" But it
was plain that he had little relish for the
subject.
The reference to0the matter, however.
kindled the curiosity OF both ZepherinS
and Nan, and they insisted on knowing
all the facts IN the case. Mr.. Sanders
arose, cleared his throat and said he be-
neved he would go outsand see which way
the wind was blowing. Nan jumped up
and caught him and made him SIT down
again and he proceeded to tell them how
the family name Of poor Peter Valicombs
had been so changed that none OF the
friends Of his youth would know him X
they should meet him In the road.
In 1858 Mr.. Valicombe was the only
shoemaker In Harmony Grove. the little
town TO which Shady Dale lies adjacenti
IN 1870 he was the proprietor o. a shoe ana
leather store there; and yet Mr.. San
ders could have said OF him. as he frS-
duently said Of Miss Johns, that there
was never any such person IN Harmony
Grove. The explanation is very simple
When Mr.. Valicombe went to Harmony =
Grove, In 1s5S, the small tin sign THAI
hung over the door Of his modest shop
bore this inscription: Pierre Bienvenue
Boot and Shoe Maker" The name, with
its alien tang. attracted the attention OF
Mr.. Sanders the very day the shoemaker
began 70 ply MS Udde IN the tOWp.
Forthwith the humor-loving Georgian
went into the shop and engaged in friend
ly cOnversatiCh with the newcomer. His
first remark was characteristics. why,
you amt much bigger'n your name" be
exclaimed"
"Oh. some bigger-you think so7'' srnil-
ingly replied Pierre Bienvenue.
My name Is Sanders-William H. San
ders,' remarked the Georgian. by way OF
Introduction Some folks oder'n me go
far as TO call me Billy
"Oh, yes. Billee-me. have some frien'
name Billee.l like it II make some shoes
for those name"
Mr.. Sanders smiled lenientIy well,
when ! take a notion for to have nv
name shod, be jigged ef I don't give Won
the job" he declared; tsan' whilsc you fe
hxtn to do that. maybe you'll up an tel!
me what your name mought be. / seei
1t on the sign out thar. but we amt livin'
In postolic times an therefore I can't lay
nc claim TO gift of tongues The shc--
maker paused In his work and looked III
quiringly at Mr.. Sanders. puzzled. bur
still smiling. How do you call your
name?' the Georgian was persistent
'Ow / call my name? Ne Bienvenue-
Pierre Bienvenue"
You'll never git me out OF the bog az
that gate" remarked Mr.. Sanders GIVE
1t to me in plain Georgy talk
The shoemaker paused again. scratched
his head with the point of his awl, and re-
hected- Finally he made reply buos
whether he answered Peter Velcoou'' a
''Vailcoom,' makes little difference What
he tried to say was Peter Welcome" but
Mr. Sanders didn't understand il that
ways and when he issued forth from the
shop he carried in his mind the name
valicombe-by which the shoemaker and
his descendants were to be known In the
region henceforth.
Now. the most interesting part OF this
fnV
cerned, was the fact that the Frenchlnan
was still in the village and that he W..
from New Orleans. 1t was Interesting
yes, indeed. 1t was impOrtant-to know
that there was some one close at hand who
had been in the same city with her
father, and had probably met him or
passed him on the street This was sorna-
thing-oh, a great deal-and, fortunately.
Nan Thought so. too Sarah Clopton was .
not enthusiastic but she said nothing to
cast the cloud Of doubt over Zepherine's
hopes. As for Mr.. Sanders he was OF the
opinion, as he expressed it. that II there
wasn't but Sne chance in hundred. IL
was a mighty big chance.
In ilne Mr.. Sanders gaze little Miss
johns great cause to hope that Peter Walt
combe would be able to give her vaIuabIa
information of some sort Nevertheless
Nan DorringtOn wass more enthusiastic
than all sOf them put together She was
perfectly sure that Mr. sValicombe could
tell Zepherine something about her
father; and why not go to see him at
once? Nan had pair OF shoes that need
ed new soles. and she'd have them hxed
without delay.
The case became very urgent Notbirv
would satisfy her but an immediate visif a
to the shop Of Mr.. ValicOmbe and -
course ZepheriRe must accompany bc-.
When this was all settled Mr. Sanders
said he'd go along to keep Nan straiqbr
clerks in the stores for candy
Well. the trio went to Mr. Va1fcornhe-.
shop, and he was not there; his prosperitv
had reached such point that he was ahla
to employ journeyman or two. and a.
this particular tinse he was on a visit 20
MS oIu nome IN seW Orleans. But he
would soon be back-if not to-morro,v
certainly the next day.
Zepherine was plainly disappotnted ana d
Nan was really angry; but Mr. Sanders =
marHed that8t was very lucky thai Peter
had taken a notion to go back home on a
Slsl., IL might Pc he said. that he would
Information about her poppy.
Ihe next day and the next Nan noada a.,
her business TO watch the old staee-coo,S
as II came m from Malvern. and on +be
thlrd day she noted tha> Mr. VaIicombs
arrived In II, being the only passe ger
he had no sooner alighted at the tstyer,
than Nan pOunced upon him. and blfthsI,-
informed him tnat 4 beautiful young Iadv
had oeen trying D make his ACQUAINTANCE a.
NO; she wouldn't tell who it was but y
was young lady who spoke French. AMI
VINO intended TO ask Mr. NSlicombe a very
important question, and he must be sIira
TO give her favorable answer.
The next day. when Zepherine and M,
called to see Mr. Valicombe they were
told that he was i'll in bed and could see
no one. few days afterward. Nan hav-
ing failed to put in an appearance. wora
came to Shady Dale that she. too vas MA
and this news was Immediately foIIoweGl
Oy the announcement that she had thss
smallpox -