Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-06-14
CHAPTER VII.

your nephew. Good, very good. oh! very
good, indeed" he said, withepl stammer-
ing. When the cat is away the mice
may play"
"FeteY' thought Charles, who had not
the remotets conception of affairs il
the Grandet household.
Grandet drew from his waistcoat peck
ct a lsrge clasp-knife with stays horn
handle, cut slice OF bread, buttered it
slowly and sparingly, and began to eat
as he stood. Just then Charles put some
sugar into his coffee: this called Gran
diets attention to the pieces of sugar on
the table: he looked hard at his wife,
who turned pale and came a step or two
toward him; he bent down and said in
the poor woman's ear:
Where did all that sugar come from 2"
"Nanon went out to Fessard's for
some; there was none in the house."
1t is impossible to describe the pain
full interest that this dumb show pos
sessed for the three women; Nanon had
left her kitchen, and was looking into
the dining room to see now things went
there. Charles meanwhile tasted his cof-
fee, found it rather strong. and looked
round for another piece of sugar, but
Grandet had already pounced upon it and
taken it away.
What do you want, nephew?" the
old man inquired.
''Ihe sugar"
Pour in some more milk if your cof-
fee is TOO strong" answered the master
of the house.
Eugene took up the saucer, of which
Grandet had previously taken posses
sion, and set it on the table, looking
quietly at her father the while. Charles
had not the remotest conception of what
his cousin endured for him. or of the
horrible dismay that filled her heart as
she met her fathers angry eyes; he
would never even know of her sacrifice.
you are eating nothing. wife?"
The poor bond-slave went to the table,
cut q piece OF bread in fear and trem-
bling. and took pear. Eugene, grown
reckless, offered the grapes to her faith
er, saying as she did so:
''Just try some OF my fruit, papa! You
will take some, will you not, cousin?
brought those pretty grapes down on
purpose for your
"Oh! if they could have their way,
they would turn Saumur upside down for
you, nephew AS soon as you have fin
ished we will take q turn in the garden
together; l have some things to tell you
that would take a deal OF sugar to sweet
en- them
Eugene and her mother both gave
Charles look, which the young man
could not mistake.
What do you mean by that, uncle
Since my mother died there is no mis-
fortune possible for me-"
who can know what Affections heav-
en- may send to make trial Of us,
nephew" said his aunt
Tut, tut, tut" muttered Grandet,
here you are beginning with your folly
already l am sorry to see that you
have such white hands, nephew"
He displayed the fists, like shoulders
of mutton, with which nature had termi-
mated his own arms.
'''That is the sort of hand to rake the
crowns together You put the kind of
leather on your feet that we used to
make pocketbooks of to keep bills in.
That is the way you have been brought
up. That's bad! that's bad!"
What do you mean. uncle? I'll be
hanged if | understand one word of
this
Come along" said Grandet, aid the
miser shut his knife with a snap and
opened the door.
'Oh! keep up your courage, coosin"
Something in the girls voice sent a
sudden chill through Charles; he follow
ed his formidable relative with dread
full misgivings. Eugene and her moth
er and Nanon went into the kitchen; an
uncomfortable anxiety led them to watch
the two actors in the scene which was
about to take place in the damp little
garden.
Uncle and nephew walked together III
silence at first. Grandet felt the situa-
ton to be a somewhat awkward one; not
ti,st he shrank at all from telling Charles
of his fathers death, but he felt kind
of pity for a yoang man left in this way
without penny in the world. and he cast
about for phrases that should break the
cruel news as gently as might be. You
have lost your fatherp' he could say that;
there was nothing in that; fathers usual
ly pre6ecease their children. But, You
have not a penny All the woes of the
world were summed up in those words
so for the third time the worthy man
walked the whole length of the path in
the center of the garden, crunching the
gravel beneath his heavy boots, and nc
word was said.
II Is very nUes very WdTHlf sdiu
Grandet, drawing in deep breath of air
"Well. my boy. Il have some bad news
for you. Your father is very i'll -
what am l doing here?" cried
Charles. "Nanonr he shouted, "ordeI
post horses! | shall be sure to find a
carriage Of some sort in the place, sup
pose" he added. turning to his uncle
who had not stirred from where he stood
Horses and a carriage are of no use, .
Grandet answered, looking at Charles
who Immediately stared straight before
him in silence. "Yes, my poor boy, you
guess what has happened: ne is dead
But that is nothing; there is something
worse; he has shot himself through the
head"
my father?"
Eyes. but that is nothing, either. The
newspapers are discussing it, as IL il
were any business of theirs. There, read
for yourself"
Grandet had borrowed Cruchot's pa
per, and now be laid the fatal paragraph
before Charles. The poor young fellow
he was only a lad as yet-made nc
attempt TO hide his emotion. and burst
into tears.
Come. that is better" said Grandet
to himself. THAT look IN MS eyes 1rlghC
ened me. He is crying; he will pull
through. Never mind, my poor nephew,
Grandet resumed, aloud, not knowing
whether Charles heard him or no, Ntha
is nothing. you win get over it. but
Never! never. My father my faith
err"
He has ruined you; you are PENN
less"
What is that TO me? Where IS m,
fatherT The sound OF his sobbing hlleC
the little garden. reverberated in ghast
" echoes from the walls. Tears are a.
infectious as laughter; the three womer
wept with pity for him. Charles broke
from his uncle without waiting TO heal
more, and spraEg into the yard. found
the staircase. and fed to his own room
where he duns himself across the beC
and bdried his face in the bedclothes