Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-05-24

piece Of fooleryF
I'VE will take hand at cards. Nine.
Grandet," said Nine. des Grassins.
But as we are all here. there are
enough of us for two tables. -. :"
LAS to-day is Eugenie's birthday. why
not all play together at lotof" said old
Grandet; these two children could join
in the game. Here, Nanon. move the Ia
bles out"
I'VE will help you. Mademoiselle Ma
non," said Nine. des Grassins. cheerfully;
she was thoroughly pleased because she
had pleased Eugene.
II have never seen anything so pretty
anywhere" the beiress had said to her
Il have never been so happy i'll my life
before"
1T was AdoiPhe who chose it, said
brought it from Paris"
go your ways. scheming woman"
muttered the magistrate to himself IF
you or your husband ever find yourselves
in a court of law. you shall be hard put
to it to gain the day."
Two tables were in readiness by half
past eight O'Clock. Nine. des Grassins.
with her winning ways, had succeeded IN
placing her son next to Eugene. The
old cooper himself eyed the group with
certain self-complacency he looked at
Nine. des Grassins with her pink feath-
era and fresh toilet, at the bankers SOL
diecly face, at Adolphe, at the magis-
trate, at the Able and the notary, and
within himself he said: .'They are all
after my crowns; that is what they are
here for. 1t is for my daughter that they
come to be bored here. Ahal and my
daughter is for none of them. and all
these people are so many harpoons to be
used in my fishing"
Just as Nine. Grandet had won sixteen
sous, the largest amount that had ever
been punted beneath that roof, and big
Nanon was bearing with delight at the
sight of Madame pocketing that splen-
did sum, there was a knock at the house
door. so sudden and so loud that the
women started on their chairs.
mo one in Saumur would knock in
that wayw said the notary.
Nanon took up one of the two can
dies and went to open The door. Gran
det followed her.
"Grandeti Grandet!' cried his wife;
a vague terror seized her, and she hur-
TO lHS uOOT Oh lIlc TOOut. 4ue play
ers all looked at each other.
Suppose we go, tooY said NJ. des
Grassins THAT knock meant no good,
it seemed to me-
But NJ. des Grassins scarcely caught
a glimpse of young mans face and
of a porter who was carrying two huge
trunks and an assortment of carpet
bags, before Grandet turned sharply on
his wife and said:
go back to your lotto. Nine. Grandet,
and leave me to settle with this gentle
man here"
With that he slammed the parlor door.
and the Lotto players sat Gown again,
but they were too much excited to go on
with the game.
rs it any one who lives in Saumur,
NJ. des Grassins?" his wife inquired.
No, n traveller. As a matter of fact, y
said the notary, drawing out heavy an
tique watch, a couple of fingers breadth
in thickness, and not unlike a Dutch
punt in shape, lit is nine o'clock. The
mail coach is not often behind time"
rs he young looking?" put in the
Able Cruchot.
Yes" answered NJ. des Grassins
THE luggage he has with him must
weigh three hundred kilos at least. 1t
must be some relation"
Let MS put down our stakes" said
Nine. Grandet gently. M. Grandet was
vexed, l could tell that by the sound of
his voice, and perhaps he would be dis
pleased if he came in and found us all
discussing his affairs"
"Mademoiselle, Adolphe addressed his
neighbor. 1T will be your cousin Grandet,
no doubt, very nicelooking young fell
low whom | once met at q ball.
Adolphe went no farther: his mother
stamped on his foot under the table
Aloud, she asked him for two sons for
his stake, adding u an undertoRe. meant
only for his ears. "WM you hold your
tongue, YOU great silly'
They could hear the footsteps of Ma
non and the porter on the staircase, but
Grandet returned TO the room almost inn
mediately, and just behind him came
the traveller who had excited so much
curiosity, and doomed so large in the inn
aginations of those assembled: indeed. his
sudden descent into their midst might
be compared to the arrival of snail in
beehive or the entrance of peacock into
some humdrum village poultry yard.
Take seat near the fire. said
Grandet, addressing the stranger
The young man looked round the room
and bowed very gracefully before seat
ing himself. The men rose and bowed
rather tremendously.
You are feeling cold, l expect, sir"
said Nine. Grandet; you have no doubt
come from
Just like the women broke in the
good man, locking up from the letter
which he held in his hand do let the
gentleman have little peace"
But. father, perhaps the gentleman
wants something after his journey" said
Eugene.
He has a tongue in his head" the
vine grower answered severely.
The stranger alone felt any surprise
at this scene, the rest were quite used to
the worthy man and his arbitrary be-
havior. But after the two inquiries had
received these. summary answers the
stranger rose and stood With his back
TO the fire, held out a foot 70 the blaze,
SO as TO warm the Soles of his boots,
and said to EGgenie Thank you. cousin.
| dined at Tours. And do not require
anything" he added glancing at Gran
Diet: II an not in the least tired"
DO you come from PARISH Nine. des
Graseins now put the inquiry.
NJ. Charles, for this was the name
horne by the son OF NJ. Grandet of Paris,
hearing some one question him. took out
an eyeglass that hung suspended from
his neck by cord. fixed il in his eye.
made a deliberate survey of the objects
upon the table and of the people sitting
around il. eyed Nine. des Grassins very
coolly. and said. Yes, madame. You are
playing NJ Lotto. aunt" he added: pray
go on with your game. it is too amusing
TO be broken off,
NJ. des Grassins put down counter
on his wife's card; the lady herself was
not thinking of Lotto he. mind was full
of melancholy forebodingS; she was
watching Eagenie and the cousin from
Paris. She saw how the heiress now
and then stole glance at her cousin.
and the bankers wife could easily dis
cover in those glances a crescende OF
or OF curiosity.