Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-05-24
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The HIsER's DAUGHTER }
By HONRE BALZAC
>I~N>~~~>C>N>> - - 1870
CHAPTER 1I.-tcontinuedA
By HONRE DE BALzAc

present
He then offered her such a bouquet of
flowers as was seldom seen in Saumur
and taking the heiress by both arms,
gave her a kiss on either side of the
throat fervent salute which brought
the color into Eugenie's face. The mag
istrate was tall and thin, somewhat re-
sembllng a rusty nail; this was his no.
non of paying court.
Do not disturb yourself said Gran
Diet, coming back into the room. Fine
doings these of yours, NJ. lie President, on
high days and holidays"
with mademoisele beside him every
day would be holiday for my nephew"
answered the Able Cruchot, also armed
with a bouquet; and with that the Able
kissed Eugenies hand. AS for NJ Cru
chot, he kissed her unceremoniously on
both cheeks, saying; This sort of thing
makes us feel older, eh? A whole year
older every twelve months"
Grandet set down the candle in front
of the brass clock on the chimney piece;
whenever a joke amused him he kept on
repeating it till it was worn threadbare;
he did so now
AS to-day is Eugenie's birthday" he
said. ''let us have an illumination"
He carefully removed the branches
from the two sconces, fitted the sockets
into other pedestal, took from Nanon's
hands a whole new candle wrapped in a
scrap of paper, fixed it firmly in the
socket, and lighted it. Then he went
over to his wife and took up his position
beside her, looking by turns at his daugh-
. ter, his friends, and the two lighted can
dies.
The Able Cruchot was a fat, dumpy
little man. His peculiar type of face
might have belonged to some old lady
whose life is spent at the card table.
At this moment he was stretching out his
feet and displaying a very neat and
strong pair of shoes with silver buckles
on them "a
THE des Grassins have not come
round y he asked.
Not yet" answered Grandet.
Are they sure to come" put in the
old notary, with various contortions of
a countenance as full of holes col
ander
"Oh! yes. l think they win come"
said Nine. Grandet.
rs the vintage over?" asked President
de Bonfons, addressing Grandet; ARE
all your grapes gatheredY
Yes, everywhere" answered the old
vine grower, rising and walking up and
down the length of the room. He
Strengthened himself up as he spoke with
a conscious pride that appeared in that
word everywhere"
AS he passed by the door that opened
into the passage, Grandet caught
glimpse of the kitchen; the fire was still
alight, a candle was burning there, and
big Nanon was about to begin her spin
ming by the hearth; she did not wish to
intrude upon the birthday party.
''Nanonp' he called, stepping out into
the passage, "Nanon! why ever don't you
rake out the fire; put out the candle and
come in here The room is large enough
to hold us all.
But you are expecting grand visitors,
sir"
Have you any objection to them?
They are all descended from Adam just
as much as you are
Grandet went back to the president
Have you sold your wine?" he in
CURED.
Not I am holding it. If the wine
is good now, it will be better still in two
years time. The growers, as you know,
Of course. are in ring, and mean to
keep prices up. The Belgians shall not
have it all their own way this year. And
II they go away, well and good, let them
go; they will come back again.
Yes; but we must hold firm, SAID
Grandet in a tone that made the magis-
trate shudder. Suppose he should sell
his wine behind our backs?" he thought.
At that moment another knock Mt me
loor announced the des Grassins, and
!, 4
Gandet and the Able Cruchot
Nine. des Grassins was a dumpy, live
rs little person with a pink-and-white
complexion. one of those women for
whom the course of life in a country
town has flowed on with tranquility
and still youthful at the age of forty
Her husband had been a quartermaster
in the Imperial Guard, but he had re-
tired from the army with pension, after
being badly wounded at Austerlitz. In
spite of his consideration for Grandet,
he still retained, or affected to retain,
the bluff manners of soldier
Good day, Grandet," he said, holding
ont his hand to the cooper with that
wonted air of superiority with which he
eelipsed the Cruchot faction. "Mademoi-
selle." he added, addressing Eugene, af-
.er bow 10 Nine. Grandet, you are al
ways charming, ever good and fair, and
what more can one wish your
With that he presented her with a
small box. which a servant was carrying,
and which contained a Cape heath.
plant only recently introduced into Eu-
rome. and very rare. Nine. des Grassins
embraced Eugene very affectionately.
squeezed her hand. and said. Il have
commissioned Adolphe TO give you my
little birthday gift"
4 tall. fair-haired young man, some
Nhat pallid and weakly in appearance,
same forward at this; his manners were
oassably good. although he seemed to be
,hy. lie had just completed his law
studies in Paris. He now kissed Eu-
yerie on both cheeks, and laid 4 work
BOX with gilded silver fittings before her;
Z was snowy, trumpery thing enough,
II spite OF the little shield on the lid. on
which "E. c. had been engraved in
Gothic characters. Eugene raised the
id with little thrill of pleasure: the
aappiness was as complete as 1t was I'M
ookea for-the happiness that brings
bright color into 4 young girls face and
makes he- tremble with delight. Her eyes
turned TO her father as if TO ask whether
she might accept the gift; NJ. Grandet
answered the mute inquiry With Take
i. my daughter!" in tones which would
have made the reputation of an actor.
The three Cruchots stood dumfounded
when they saw the bright. delighted
glance that Adolphe des Grassins receiv-
ed from the heiress. who SCENE e. be
Sszz!ed by such un6reamedsof s2len orS-
CHAPTER III.
NJ. des Grassins Ssered his snuff box
to Grandet took pinch himself. brush
ed of few stray speeks from his blue
coat aud from the ribbon OF the Legion
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