Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-06-21

OF them; they should come to- him. That
very evening the comedy should begin,
the main outlines were decided upon al
ready, tomorrow he would be held up
as an object of admiration all over the
town, and his generosity should not cost
him a farthingi
He returned in time for the midday
meal, which he took standing. Then the
keeper, who had not yet received his
promised reward, appeared from Froid-
fond. bringing with him a hare, some
partridges shot in the park, a few cells,
and a couple of pike sent by him from
the milIer's.
'Ahai so here is old Cornoiller; you
come just when you are wanted. like salt
fish in Lent. Come. Nanon, look alive!
Just take this, it will do for dinnefsto-
day; the two Cruchots are coming"
Nanon opened her eyes with amaze
ment, and stared first at one and then at
another.
"OhI indeed" she said: "and where
are the herbs and the bacon TO come
fromT'
Wife said Grandet, 'let Nanon have
six francs"
well, then. NJ Grandet," the game
ton Of his salary properly settled, and
was duly primed with a speech) M.
Grandet-"
Tut, tut, tut" said Grandet, Il know
what you are going to say: you are a
good fellow, we will see about that to-
morrow, l am very busy to-day. Give
him five francs, wife," he added, and
with that he beat retreat. The poor
woman was only too happy to purchase
peace at the price of eleven francs. She
knew by experience that Grandet usu-
ally kept quiet for a fortnight after he
had made her disburse coin by coin the
money which he had given her.
There. Cornoiller," she said, as she
slipped ten francs into his hand; I'VE
will repay you for your services one of
these days"
Madame" said Nanon, who by this
time had a basket on her arm three
francs will be quite enough; keep the
rest. L shall manage just as well with
three"
''Let us have good dinner, Nanon,
my cousin is coming downstairs" said
Eugene.
There is something very extraordi-
nary going on, | am sure" said Nine.
Crandet. This makes the third time
since we were married that your father
has asked any one here to dinner"
1t was nearly o'clock in the after
noon: Eugene and her mother had laid
the c.rth and set the table for six per-
sons. Charles came into the dining room
looking white and sad; there was pa
thetic charm about his gestures, his face,
e. tIa ~ bfc
row had given him the interesting look
that women like so WELL and Eugene
only loved him the more because his fea-
lures were worn with pain. Perhaps,
too. his trouble had brought them near
er i'll other ways. Charles was no long
er the rich and handsome young man
who lived IN a sphere far beyond her
ken; he was in deep and terrible dis
tress, and sorrow is great leveler.
Charles and Eugene understood each
other without word being spoken on
either side The poor dandy of yester-
day, fallen from his high estate, to-day
was an orphan, who sat in a corner of
the room, quiet, composed and proud, but
from time to time he met his cousin $
eyes, her kind and affectionate glance
rested on him, and compelled him to
shake off his dark and somber broodngs,
and to look forward with her to a future
full of hope, in which she loved to think
that she might share
The news of Grandet's dinner party
caused even greater excitement in Sau-
muir than the sale of his vintage, al
though this latter proceeding had been
a crime of the blacklist dye, an act of
high treason against the vine growers
interest.
1t was not long before the des Gras-
sins heard of Guillaume Grandet's violent
end and impending. bankruptcy. They
determined TO pay visit TO their client
that evening, to condole with him in his
affection, and to show a friendly inter-
est; while they eadeavored to discover
the motives which could have led Gran
Diet to invite the Cruchots to dinner at
such a time.
Precisely at o'clock President c. de
Bonfons and his uncle the notary arriv-
ed, dressed up TO the mines this time.
The guests seated themselves at table,
and began by attacking their dinner with
remarkably good appetites. Grandet was
solemn, Charles was silent, Eugene was
dumb, and Nine. Grandet said no more
than usual; if it had been funeral re-
past, it could not well have been less
lively. When they rose from the table.
Charles addressed his aunt and uncle:
will you permit me to withdraw:
have some long and difficult letters to
write
by all means. nephew
When Charles had left the room, and
his amiable relative coul5 fssi::!i5yf assume
that he was out of earshot, Grandet gave
his ..Ife a sinister glance.
mime. Grandet, what we are going to
say will be Greek to you; it is half past
Z o'clock, you ought to be off to bed by
this time. Good night. my daughter"
He kissed Eugene. and mother and
daughter left the room.