Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-07-19
CHAPTER xv.-fcontinnsd.l

CHATTER AR.-tCOntlnued.)
In every situation a woman is bound
to suffer in many ways that a man does
not, and to feel her troubles more acuteIy
than he can; for a mans vigor and en-
ergy is constantly brought into play; he
thinks and acts, comes and gees, busies
himself in the present, and looks to the
future for consolation. This was what
Charles was doing But a woman cam
not help herself-hers is a passive part;
she is left face to face, with her trouble
and has nothing to divert her mind from
IT, she sounds the depths of the abyss
OF sorrow, and its dark places are filed
with her prayers and tears. So ii was
with Eugene. She was beginning to I'M
derstand that the web of woman's life
will always be woven of love and sorrow
and hope and fear and self-sacrifce; hers
was to be a woman's lot in all things
without woman's consultations, and her
moments of happiness were to be like
the scattered nails driven into the wall,
when all collected together they scarcely
filled the hollow of the hap j. Troubles
seldom keep us waiting for hem. and for
Eugene they were gathering thick and
fast.
On New Years morning, when Gran
Diet entered the dining room, Nine. Gran
Diet and Eugene wished him a prosper
Gus New Year, each in her own way
Mime. Grandet was grave and ceremoni-
GUS, but his daughter put her arms round
his neck and kissed him. "Ahai child"
he said, II am thinking and working for
you, you see. / want you to be
happy, and if you are to be happy, you
must have money, for You won't get any
thing without it. Look here is a grand
new napoleon, / sent to Paris on purpose
for it There is not a speck of gold in
the house. except yours, you are the one
who has the gold. Let me see your gold,
little girl"
1T is too cold, let us have breakfast"
Engenie answered
We'll. then, after breakfast we will
have a look at it, Ell? 1t will be good
for our digestions. That great des
Grassins sent us this, all the same" he
went on, so get your breakfast, children,
for it costs us nothing. Des Grassins
is going on nicely; | am pleased with
him; the old fish is doing Charles a ser
vice, and all free gratis. Really, he is
managing poor Grandet's affairs very
cleverly"
By II o'clock they had finished break
fast. Clear everything away" Grandet
told Nanon, but leave us the table We
can look over your little treasure more
comfortably So" he said, with his eyes
on Eugene. Little, said L? IT'S not so
small, though, upon my word. Your coins
altogether are actually worth 5,945
francs, then with forty more this morn
ing, that makes 5000 francs all but one.
Well, 1 will give you another franc to
make mp the sum. Listen, Eugene, you
must let me have your gold. You will
not refuse to let your papa have it? Eth,
little daughter?''
Neither of the women spoke.
II myself have no gold left. l had
some once. but have none now | will
give you 5000 francs in silver for it, and
you shall invest it; will show you how.
There is really no need to think of
dowry. When you are married | will
find husband for you who will give
you the handsomest dowry that has ever
been heard OF hereabouts There is a
splendid opportunity just now; you can
invest your 5000 francs in government
stock, and every six months when divi-
dends are due you will have about 200
francs coming in, all clear of taxes. You
don't like TO part with your gold. Ell? lie
that it, little girl? Never mind, LEI me
have it all the same. l will look out
for gold coins for you, ducats from Hol
land, and genoviues and Portuguese moi
dores and rupees, the Mogul's rupees;
and what with the coins l shall give you
on your birthday and so forth, you will
have half your little hoard again in three
years time, besides the six thousand
francs in the funds. What do you say,
little girl? Look up, child! There
There bring it here, my pet. You owe
me a good kiss for telling you business
secrets and the mysteries of the life and
death of fve-franc pieces Yes indeed,
the coins live and CAD about just like
men do; they go and come and sweat and
multiply"