The Opelousas courier., 1903-02-14
FUNERAL MEATS.


One dreary afternoon in January,
during the siege of Paris, M. Reboullet
left his Office in a state of great men
tai perturbation. He went directly
home and, bursting in upon his wife,
exclaimed tragically: Virginia, We
must kill Adolphe!"
Nine. Reboullet sat beside a table
sewing. At her husbands emphatic
words she rose, trembled, grew pale,
then Dropped back into her chair in an
fttitude of abjeCt h%elpiessness.
Eyes, we must kill Adolphe! It is
hard, but there is nothing else to be
done. We really ought to have ex-
pected it. What did you say?"
Nine. Reboullet had said nothing.
She sat quite still in limp helplessness
and great tears went chasing each
other down her pallid cheeks.
"You are crying! Well, that's quite
natural, and if / weren't a man-but
what good would it do? One should
DE reasonable!"
But couldn't we-wait a little while
lOngcr. SODDed the lady.
you know, Virginia, that there is
n thing | have always been very
careful about; that is my reputation.
Well, that is To- at stake, and all be-
u Of Adolphe. You have persist
ed in taking him out for exercise
daily on the venue He is insolently
fat, and people think it strange that at
such a. time as this, when many poor
creatures haven't even a piece of
horse meat to eat, that we should keep
g useless mouth to feed. Talk of it
has even reached the Office. For some
time past l have noticed a coolness
among my companions. | couldn't un-
derstand it, but today Sergt. Bose said
to me. at the distribution of provisions,
'Adolpe is still thriving, I presumed
Then | understood that the sacrifice
was necessary, and it must be made"
After a silence, Nine. Reboullet
stammered: "But shall never have
the courage"
Nor l." replied her husband. I'VE
shall have to leave it to Rose"
Rose, who was the domestic, and
who hated Adolphe as much as her
masters loved him, agreed to perform
the agreeable task.
1t may be said right here that
Adolphc was a dog, and an extremely
Ill favored n at that. A curious
mixture Of pug and hound, with long
ears, a stubby tail and slender legs,
he certainly would have been no loss
TO the world from an aesthetic point
Of view.
NJ. and Nine. Reboullet went out to
walk the next morning at 10 o'clock,
leaving Adolphe to the tender mercies
Rose. They were d~isccnsolate, but,
spurred on by the cold, they were soon
walking at a brisk pace up and down
the avenue. Both were silent. After
a time, Nine. Reboullet gasped out:
1T must be over by this time!"
Reboullet looked at his watch. IT
was only ten minutes past II, so the
couple resumed their mute promenade.
a few moments Nine. Reboullet ex.
claimed again with a start: I'VE for
got to tell Rose what to do with poor
Adolphe after-where to bury him.
True; | W thought of it. But
dent worry; he shall have the sort of
burial he deserves"
Distracted in spite of themselves by
movement in the street and exhil-
arated by the nipping air. they began
to think less exclusively of their dog.
and when at noon they found them
in front Of their home, Reboul-
let exclaimed: How hungry I ami
And |, too" sighed Nine. Reboullet
Immediately after they gave each
other o look that promptly brought
hem back to a due sense of propriety.
TIE pair were soon seated at the
in the little oak dining room. On
entering this ROOM, SO fulrof haunting
Of Adclphe, and on sitting
Town st the table around which he had
wandered during meals, watch.
for homes and delicate nlorsels,
Nm. Rebeullet had q fresh outburst Of
grief. So when her husband asked
they were to have fer luncheon.
rerIca between her aohs: II
ionst Know, my dear; ordered no.
hing else, you remember"
Bring in luncheon, Rose!.. called
tut M. RebouIlet.
The maid entered noisily, her cap
flying. Here 1t Is. ana It's !
pod one, too!n