Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-05-31
CHAPTER Iv-tContinued.)

one heu, hknlly as Dlru 10 ma nef
purse, and drew thence the FIVE francs
which she had received for the months
expenses.
Here, Nanon, be quick"
"but what will your father sayf'
This dreadful objection was raised by
Nine. Grandet when she saw her daugh-
ter with an old Sevres china sugar basin
which Grandet had brought back with
him from the chateau at Froidfond.
And where is the sugar to come
FROM she went on. Are you mad?'
Nanon can easily buy it when she
goes for the candle, mamma. Is it a
right thing that his nephew should not
have sugar if he happens to want itf
Besides, he will Rot notice il"
Your father always notices things"
said Nine. Grandet, shaking her head.
While Eugene and her mother were
doing their best TO adorn the room which
M. Grandet had allotted to his nephew.
Nine. des Grassins was bestowing her
attention on Charles, and making album
dant use OF her eyes as she did so.
"You are very brave" she said, ito
leave the pleasures of the capital in
winter in order to come to stay IN Sau-
muir. But If you are not frightened away
at first sight of US, you shall see that
even here we can amuse ourselves" And
she gave him a languishing glance, in
true provincial style.
Women in the provinces are wont to
affect q denure and staid demeanor,
which gives furtive and eager eloquence
to their eyes. Charles was so thorough
ly out of his element in this room, it was
all so far removed from the great cha
teau and the splendid surroundings in
which he had thought to find his uncle
that, On paying closer attention to Nine
des Grassins, she almost reminded him
OF Partisan faces half obliterated already
by these strange, new impressions He
responded graciously to the advances
which had been made to him. and nat
urally they fell into conversation.
Nine des Grassins gradually lowered
her voice 10 tones suited to the nature
of her condolences. Both she and Charles
Grandet felt a need of mutual conf
dence, of explanations and an under
standing so after a few minutes spent in
coquettish chatter and jests that covered
a serious purpose, the willy provincial
dame felt free to converse without fear
of being overheard, under cover of a
conversation on the sale of the vintage,
the one all-absorbing topic at that mo-
ment in Saumur.
'If you will honor us with a visit, y
abe said, you will certainly do us a
pleasures my husband and l shall be very
glad to see you. Our salon is the only
one in Saumur, where you will meet both
the wealthy merchant society and the
noblesse. We ourselves belong in a man
ner TO both. My husband, l am proud to
say, is very highly thought of in both
circles So we will do our best TO be
guile the tedium of your stay. If you
are going to remain with the Grandets,
what will become of youl Your uncle is
a miser, his mind runs on nothing but
his vine cuttings; your aunt is a saint
who cannot put two ideas together; and
your cousin is silly little thing. a com
mon sort of girl, who spends her life i'll
mending dishcloths,'
at seems to me that you mean to
monopolize the gentleman" said the big
banker, laughing. TO his wife, an unlucky
observation, followed by remarks more
or less spiteful from the notary and the
president; but the Able gave them a
shrewd glance, while he gave expression
to their thoughts. Where could the gen
tleman have found any one better quail
fed to do the honors of Saumur?' he
said.
AdOlphe DIES Grassins spoke at last,
with what was meant to be an offhand
manner Il do not know" he said, ad-
dressing Charles, whether you have any
recollection of me; l once had the pleas
ure of dancing in the same quadrille at
ball given by NJ. lie Baron de Nuvigen. y
II remember il perfectly" answered
Charles surprised TO find himself the OBJ
ject of general attention. us this gen.
tleman your SOM" he asked of Nine. des
Grassins.
''Yes / am his mother" she answered.
"You must have been very young when
you came 10 Parish Charles went on,
speaking to Adolphe.
I'VE cannot help ourselves, sir" said
the Able. Our babes are scarcely wean-
ed before we send them to Babylon. You
must go into the country if you want TO
find women not much on the other side
of thirty, with a grown-up son a licen-
tate of law, who look as fresh and
youthful as Nine. des Grassins. 1t only
seems like the other day when the young
men and the ladies stood on chairs TO see
you dance, madame" the Able added
turning toward his fair antagonist; 'youI
triumphs are as fresh in my memory as
if they had happened yesterday"
1T looks as though / should have a
great success in Saumur," thought
Charles. He unbuttoned his overcoat
and stood with his hand in his waistcoat
pocket, gazing into space, striking the
attitude which Chantrey thought fit &c
give to Byron in his statue of that poet
IL ~ doff ION
during the reading of his letter had es-
capped neither the notary nor the magis-
trate. Both of them tried to guess at
the contents by watching the almost i'm
perceptible changes in the worthy mans
face. The vine grower was hard put to
II to preserve HIS wonted composure. His
expression must be left TO the imagina-
ton, but here is the fatal letter:
my Brother-It is nearly twenty.
three years now since we saw each other
The last time we met it was to make ar
rangements for my marriage, and we
parted in high spirits. Little did l theI
think. when you were congrat=!ating
yourself on our prosperity. that ore day
Won would be the sole hope and stay OF
our family. BY the time that thiS lefta,
reaches your hands, shall be no more
IN NV nNSfllOu. L NOAAN AoN euANANC Xix
disgrace of bankruptcy; l have held VI
NV head above the surface till the las'
moment. hoping TO weather the storm; i
is all of no use. must siA now. JUS
after the failuIe on my stock broker
came the failure of my notary; my las
resources have been swept away, and
have nothing left. II is my heavy ms
fortune TO owe nearly four millions.
.,l-- 81 Na~sn. an 4
the abundance and good quality OF You
yintages. they have fallen ruinously II
value. In th.sa days time all Pari:
will say M. Grandet was a rogue. anc
l, honest though l am. shall lie wrapped
In n winding sheet of infamy. ] have
deSpoiled my own son of his mother
fortunes and OF the spotless name OF
which ! have brought disgrace. H.
knows nothing Of all this-the unhappy
child whom have idolized. Happily fol
him. he did not know when we babe eacl