Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-06-28

NCl " SldIt our lTleuu the WOITY OF
what is, after all, piece of lawyers
business. my nephew. the president, of
fers to start Immediately for Paris, so
as TO arrange with the creditors, and
duly satisfy their claims"
The three des Grassins were thorough
ly taken aback by these words; Grandet
appeal to acquiesce in what had been
said, for he was pensively stroking his
chin. On their way to the house the
family had commented very freely upon
Grandet's niggardliness. and indeed had
almost gone so far as to accuse him of
fratricide.
"Ah. Just what l expectedr' cried the
banker, looking at his wife What was
l saying to you only just now as we
came along. Grandet, said. is a man
who will never swerve a hairs breadth
from the strict course of honor. n5 will
not endure the thought of the slightest
spot on his name! Money without honor
is disease. OH we have a keen sense
of honor in the provinces! This is noble
really noble of you, Grandet l am an
Cd soldier, and ! do not mince matters,
say what l think straight out; and
this is sublime,'
Then the s-s-sub-sublime costs great
d-d-deal," suffered the cooper, as the
banker shook him warmly by the hand.
But this, my good Grandet, is sim
ply matter Of business" des Grassins
went on, land requires an experienced
man of business to deal with it. There
will have to be accounts kept Of sales and
outgoing expenses; you ought to have
tables Of interest at your finger ends
must go to Paris on business of my own,
and could undertake."
Then we must s-s-see about it, and
t-t-t-try to arrange between us to pro-
vide for anything that m-may t-t-turn up,
but / d-ddon't want to be d-d-drawn into
anything that would rather not d-d-do,"
continued Grandet, because you see, NJ
lie President naturally wants me to pay
lis expenses" The good man did not
stammer over these last words.
Eth 2" said Nine. des Grassins. "Why,
it is pleasure to stay in Paris. For
my part, / should be glad to go there at
my own expense"
She made sign to her husband, urg
ing him to seize this opportunity of dis
committing their enemies Then she flung
whitening glance at the now crestfallen
and miserable Cruchots. Grandet seized
the banker by the buttonhole and drew
him aside
Il should feel far more confidence in
you than in the president" he remarked;
land besides that" he added, there are
other fish to fry. | want TO make an in
vestment. | have several thousand francs
to put into consols, and | don't mean to
pay more than eighty for them Now.
from all can hear, that machine always
runs down at the end of the month. You
know all about these things, | expectY'
II mould think i did Well. then.
l shall have to buy several thousand
livres' worth of consols for youY'
Just by the way CT beginning. But
mum. l want to play at this game with
out letting any one know about it. You
will buy them for me at the end of the
month. and say nothing to the Cruchots:
it would only annoy them. Since you are
going to Paris, we might as well see at
the same time what are trumps for my
poor nephew's sake"
THAT is an understood thing. | shall
travel post to Paris tomorrow" said
des Grassins aloud, land l will come
round to take your final instructions at
when shall we say?"
AT o'clock before dinner" said the
vine grower, rubbing his hands.
The two factions for little while re-
manned facing each other. Des Grassins
broke the silence again, clapping Grandet
on the shoulder, saying:
ut is a fine thing to have good I'M
Gle like
Eyes. yes" returned Grandet, falling
into the stammer again, without m-mak
ing any p-p-parade about it: l am good
uncle; | l-l-loved my brother; l will give
p-p-proof of it, if-if-if it d-doesn't cost
too much
1--WE must go, Grandet," said the bank
er. III l am to set out sooner than in
tended, shall have to see after some
business at once before l GO"
Right, quite right. l myself, in con-
nection with you know what, must PIP
put on my cons-s-sidering cap, as P-Pres-
ident Cruchot s-s-says."
Plague take it, l am no longer NJ.
de Bonfons," thought the magistrate
moodily. and his face fell: he looked like
a Judge who is bored by the cause before
him.
The heads of the rival clans went out
together. Both had completely forgot
Ten lISdCHcIOuS CIlIlG VI that
morning; his disloyal behavior had faded
from their minds. They sounded each
other, but to no purpose. as TO the good
mans real intentions in this new turn
that matters had taken.
A few moments later, and the news
of Grandet's magnanimity was set circu-
lating in three houses at once; the whole
town talked of nothing but Grandet's
devotion to bis brother. The sale of his
vintage in utter disregard of the agree
ment made among the vine growers was
forgotten; every one fell TO praising his
scrupulouS integrity and TO lauding his
generosity. a quality which no one had
suspected him of possessing. AS soon as
Grandet had bolted the house door he
called to Nanon:
Don't go to bed" he said, "and don't
unchain the dog; there is something TO be
done, and we must do il together. Cor
noiller viii be round with the carriage
from Froidfond at II o'clock. You must
sit up for him and let him in quietly;
don't let him rap at the door, and tell
him not to- make a noise"
Having thus delivered himself, Gran
det went up to his laboratory, and Nanon
hCoA0 MN 1NAAAhA aROues ~
ing and coming, all with great caution.
Clearly he had no wish to waken his wife
or daughter, and above all things he de-
sired in no wise TO excite any suspicion
in the mind of his nephew.
In the middle of the night Eugene
heard q sound like the groan of a dying
man; her cousin was always in her
thoughts. and for her the dying man was
Charles How white and despairing he
had looked when he wished her good
night; perhaps he had killed himself.
She hastily wrapped herself in her capu-
chine, a sort of long cloak with a hood
to it. and determined TO go 10 see for
herself, Some rays OF bright light
streaming through the cracks of the door
frightened her at first, perhaps the house
was on FIRE; but she was soon reassured.
She could hear Nanon's heavy footsteps
outside, and the sound OF the old ser
wants voicS mingled with the neighing
of several horses.
"Can my father be taking Charles
nss Ii -kn caf hoN