The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29
The Greed of the French Peasant
Of q Free
Dying. Made 500 Francs

The muscles refused to sustain him. faint
ness lodged in his once powerful arms. and
his backbone was like a straw in the wind
Confound ii, his hands, moist with sweat.
were powerless TO grasp the sides OF
the chair: His tongue. too. refused service
We're turning around In a circle, the chiffon
ner, the tables, the cupboard, assumed fan
tastic shapes. They seemed like phantoms.
ghosts. A small, red flame rose In his eyes:
ii frightened him and danced about.
The old farmer moaned. His throat was
dry and breath scant; II guess ! am done
Don't talk nonsense" replied Josepha,
but she was scared.
Yes. ! am dying. wife. Death is in my
will suffocate."
Josepha did as she was hidden. putting
a pillow under Cormeau's head. In stretch
ing out his legs she felt that they were coad.
1t was true, then.
Listen said Cormeau. in a voice grow
ing fainter and fainter. Listen, In order
that every word I say may be well under
stood. Nearer. Josepha. still nearer"
The woman bent low over the face Of the
Art thou all ears?'
II am; not a breath escapes me-"
We'll, the town cemetery is too small.
too small. Do'st understand woman? I
knew long ago that il too small"
Il thought of that myself"
"on Friday last the Common Council. In
ing Rsmy's acre"
"Remy didn't know: the fool never knows
anything. Now, hear what / have done
Remy's acre Is no good; all stone and rub
Dish. l bought 1t from him for two hundred
Two hundred francs. man, thou art rob-
bling thy poor wife. But I will swear that
thou art not In thy senses and recind the
contract"
Hold thy tongue" interrupted Cormeau.
savagely, II did not buy IL for thee but TO
give TO the town. to the Common Council"
Give away my land? Now ] am con-
homestead, the stable and the cattle. too.
and send me TO the poorhouse? All. that
should have married a harebrained scamp.
bringing him five thousand francs dowry.
Shame on thee, Cormeau. God will punish
thee for robbing thine own wife" Josepha
was Wild with Indignation. She felt like
throttling the dying man.
"Josepha. stupid woman. do not make IL
| so hard for me to die Listen closely and
| thou wilt understand. wilt perceive the neat
| trick L am playing on the Common Coun-
| Gil"
AT the word trick" Josepha looked
up and the expression on her face changed
| IL was now all eagerness, covetness; but
wrath still lurked in her knitted brows-
Go on, go on, quicker. Cormeau," she
urged, bending over him.
AS l said. thou cedeth Remy's acre TO
| the Common Council condition-on con-
d-it-i-on, L say-that IL turn over TO our
family burial lot of fifteen square feet
five hundred francs, and will steadily rise
in value. Now do'st understand? / paid
two hundred francs and FIVE hundred francs
or more, will come back to thee Good
business, Is IL not? But things must be
settled at once. Don't wait till l am dead.
Go TO the notary now Thou are as good
as widow"
Three hundred francs. three hundred
francs" Josepha could hardly credit the
sudden rice in her fortunes, the acquisition
of vast sum without turning finger.
Not a bit of work demanded for this tight
| little sum- Three hundred francs, marvel
Gus profits. such as one reads about In the
newspapers"
These and similar thoughts were hitting
| through Josepha's brain. She was unaware
| that Cormeau had ceased talking. Even
| the death rattle In the old mans throat
| as loud as the noise OF an alarm clock
escaped her notice. Three hundred francs.
stroke of work completely absorbed her.
The light OF the lamp fell upon the body
| of the man with whom she lived in GOOD and
evil days these fifty years and more. She
| gazed at the figure, but did not see that
his fingers had contracted eonvulsively.
only the whi.e OF . ms Eyes WAS s visible h,
| dred francs. the sudden addition 20 the
Cormeau fortunes, TO see anything All.
| how the neighbors would envy her and par
tlcularly the estranged portion Of the FAM
| iy would burst with venom. but none OF
them shall lie In my plot, no. not IL the
whole gang dies tomorrow"
Suddenly IL occurred TO her: What ~
| the Council rejects the donation, Cormeau."
| she cried loudly. harshly
But Cormeau answered not
Josepha bent over the figure OF her hus-
band. grabbed his shoulders with two bony.
| claw-like hands and shook him: "Cormeau.
| one more question. Cormeau.'
When all efforts TO make him hear failed.
she let the body fall hard on the stone
pavement. IT must be or TO the notary's
at once. The sooner It's settled, tho bet
ter" she said az she donned her black
silk dress.