Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-07-30
THE EVICTION
OF MONSIEUR
By
J. G.. PLUMMER
Copyright. 1904. by Daily Story Pub. Col

"OUT on the street he goes, bag and
" baggage" said Mrs. Raggstt, "un-
less he pays me what he owes me. And
tomorrow morning, too"
Il think Musseer Grande means all
right" demonstrated Capt. Gaggett
somewhat feebly.
'You are nice judge of people, yos
are" retorted his wife, scornfully
= there's not rVm-sucking old sailor
about the wharves who hasn't borrowed
money from you, and they all mean we'll
You'd think the Old Boy meant well, ]
suppose, il he stuck you on his fork"
Capt Raggett, guiltily conscious OF
having loaned Capt. Simon Bond dol
lar. that very morning, held his peace.
For a whole month that old French.
man has been promising me my money
continued Mrs. Raggett. "says he's .
letter coming from France with a lot OF
money in il. Where's the letter, &c
like to know? won't be made a fool OF
no more"
Wait until tomorrow night" pleaded
Capt. Raggett, the letter may come to-
morrow"
Letter from the MOON" shifted his
wife, there's no letter, you ninny; he's
only playing off on me for time"
IF you please" said a gentle voice
from the staircase. lis it that the post
has come not YETI"
"Yes, he's come, gone and forgot it.
replied Mrs. Raggett. roughly.
And no letter." cried Monsieur
Grande, with a gesture of despair. az am
desolated. Madame Raggett. Again ]
cannot fulfil my promise. But patience
Madame, it must come, it must come"
There may have been gales at sea-
put in Capt. Raggett.
Eyes, yes" exclaimed the Monsieur
"and held the ships ahead, no aback;
patience, Madame. patience"
The old man assembled the stairs to his
room, supperless, for Mrs Raggett had
made no hospitable sign.
Monsieur Grande was the sole boardeI
at the Raggett mansion. The tall, thin
old Frenchman, with the oval of his face
accentuated by the grey imperial at his
chin, with his gentle manners and per-
petual struggle with the idioms of the
English language, had made many
friends in the neighborhood, but he had
never made favorable impression on
Mrs. Raggett. That strenuous lady de-
nounced his gentleness as weakness
and his mistakes in language, stupidity.
AT first the Monsieur made a meagre
living, writing for some Franch news
paper, but, latterly, his contributions
seemed unwelcome and he became back
In his board. Then letter came from
France, and the Monsieur came to Mrs
Raggett, his face as radiant as sunny
DAY in June. In his excited manner he
read that legal matter had been settled
In France, and that remittance of 3 600
trans would be made the monsieur by
the next mail. Monsieur trod on the
air He invited both the captain and
his wife TO dinner at French restau-
rant, and to the theatre afterwards. He
promised treats, galore, to the neigh
bors, and presents TO the dirty children.
who loved TO play tricks on the old
Erenchman
But day succeeded day, and the letter
came not. Day by Gay the irony of Mrs.
hasgett changed to insulting nockery,
and the gentle old man was over
Whelmed with shame. Wistfully he
watched for the postman each day. and
sadly he bowed his head, as he passed
the house, without leaving the expected
missive.
/, Capt. Rasgett, entering his room.
sfealthily, found the old man sitting
with his face on his hands
Alloy, muss en-" said the captain,
softly, here's bit of bread and am |
hooked from the safe. Eat it."
i am desolated." eroaned the mon
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