Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1904-08-19
ONE FOURTH
OF JULY
By r. II. LANCASTER
Copyright, i2oi, by Daily story Pub. Cob

OIIsh MAR 'ItIIlt NdIlbtuTS was
the n person talked a.iout the
whole length of Bayou des Aicadiens.
Marsuerite-and lie chapeau de haut-
forme. Indeed the high hat was the
cause of Margucritc's prominence. But
let me tell you that story, mon ami.
It happened-or, as We say more
musically along the bayou, II arrive
that Margueritc's papa, NJ. Mandeurs,
became bitten by the gold bug, and went
money mad. Not suddenly, after the
manner of your precipitate American,
but with all due consideration and calm
delibcration. Not until he had smoked
many cigarettes with madam in the
moonlight; not until all his ncighbors
had assured him-oh, times innumcra-
bic: "Das right, vas. Das right, sho,"
did monsieur yield to the symptoms and
open a store. But after he did yield
eh, bicn, it was all the same. Monsieur
might as well have been an American.
VOLTA! His store was 20 feet wide. He
planned night and day, and schemed in
~cessantly TO make II 40 feet wide. II IL
true that AZ first, when his friends said
TO him: "Das nice store you got" he
was content to reply with pardonable
pride: Right nice yas," but before
long the modist admission was followed
by an uneasy "Mais," significant Of the
schemes at work within. Dame. II
was after monsieur began to say:
Right nice, vas; mais," that our story
begins.
MnTyIIGpItG NNyC "a Cftn nj "a uirl i,tCI
turning II. She was well educated. too.
Knew all the multiplication tables
mails certainment. Could write a clear,
bold hand-which was well, seeing that
monsieur could neither write nor "cal-
culate"
Madam shook her head. but there vas
no help for II. Marguerite must go in
the store. And so mUnsieur's store got
all the younT mems trade? But yes!
Aristidc Oregon bought more handker-
chiefs than he could possibly use, and
more tobacco thar he could smoke-be
he ever so generous. All the boys
bought blue shirts and bclts-becausc
Marguerite told them, gayly, that 1t was
the style. Bien. The store grew TO be
40 feet wide. and did much business.
And always Marguerite. smiling, behind
the counter. And then the big day M
that brought the drummer. lie came
in "A hired hack with many cases, and
he wore "a high SILK hat. 50 high, 50 SILK,
so altogether 10 be wondered at-Mar.
gucrito forgot waiting customers; wait
iHH customers forgot Marguerite. They
stared at the high hat. But monsieur
came forward, FrcnChman, mon ami,
not 10 be checked or posed. He gavethe
drummer his hand and gracious greet
ing: Glad TO see you. glad TO soc yOu,
sho! Walk cen" He introduced Mar
pucrlte with easy grace: my daughter.
She help me in the store" VOLTA, II
IA the drummer's turn t. stare. He
swept the high hat from his hcad and
laid II carclcssly upon the counter. He
talked TO monsieur and looked at mon
sicur's daughter. The waiting custom
ers edged their way down the counter.
lie chapcan Gu haut-forme," they said
under their breath. They stared their
Ill. then the holder ones turned their
eyes-vcry bright, all seeing eyes
upon the drummer. They noted his pink
cheeks and yellow mustach, his pale
blue eyes and filled teeth also: they
noted the pink tip to his nose. His
clothes and watch fob came in for gen
erous attention, but In vain, all mnrvcls
paled In the presence of the high hat
For weeks It was the talk OF the neigh
borhood, and then Just as the theme was
beginning to grow t~hreadbarc, came the
startling news hat le chapcau du haut--
formebad been again in transformations.
and then that II had been 10 monsters
house. Had taken dinner there. And Mt
last. as though all this was not enough
to set a dreamy. drowsy world ago le
chapeau du haut-forme was seen calm
~ walking into church with Marguerite
Mandcurs. lie wore "A respondent lie
and a broad smile, and he carried Mar
gueritc's prayer book,
Mere de Dieu." said the mothers, I'M
der their breath.
lie chapeau Gu haut-iorme."
breathed the girls.
'Sacre," said Aristide.
The priest intoned mass to deaf ears.
Marguerite alone was Gala. Demure.
d.n:ractingly pretty. she Ignored the
stare cf the eAvious; the touch OF the
drunmer's fingers holding half her
book: the gloom Of Aristide. VOLTA!
She ignored everything, did monsieur's
petite fllc, who knew the multiplication
table ana also how To cOquette with half
a dozen lovers AT once.
why di;n' you come last Sunday"
she asked Aristide. when they met out
eide the church