The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-02-12


| Grated by strings on which tapped
ancient clothes to dry. The house
had slate roofs rising to an enormous
height. In front it faced the road, OF
rather cart track, which determined
there, and a wide green or small
field, evidently a clearing, stretched
to the edge of the forest, a distance
of perhaps a quarter of a mile. Be.
hind the old chateau there was a gar
den, surrounded by high stone walls
In 70 direction was there any sign
of other habitation.
AT home again! Safe again!" said
the old miser as he crossed the
threshold. "Come, come, Battiste,
Nanon, are you not glad to see your
old master back again, safe from the
| dangers of the evil world?"
Monsieur is welcome, doubly well
comel" said old Battiste, rubbing his
stiff hands. Monsieur has been a
long time away"
Yes, a long time; and no changes
udfS ldhCu ploSC, SA
What changes should there be?"
said the old servant. do stones
change? The only change see is
in Monsieur himself"
"I?" very hastily. I'm what way?"
I'VE all get older" said Nanon.
"Monsieur looks much older than he
did"
BAIL" said Monsieur Rigaud.
That Is the wear and tear of life.
I come here to get young again; one
goes back centuries here; one fossil
ICES. 1t is good to be fossil"
Monsieur has but to consult his
own wishes said Battiste. What
will he eat?"
EGGS, Battiste, eggs! Eggs cost
nothing, they are nourishing, they
taste of the sweet, fresh country, and
the food that costs nothing nourishes
you doubly."
Il go to prepare them," said Bat
tiste, hurrying out.
While he was preparing his mas
ter's frugal supper, Nanon stood
about hesitatingly; then making up
her mind she said quickly:
Has Monsieur seen not demoi-
selle?"
Not this time, Nanon. She lives
some way off. My business did not
take me there; but she is we'll, she
grows up. Ha! What are you doing
with that?" he shouted, as old Nanon
moved aside the black leather case
he had under his feet. Leave it
alone, 1 say! How dare you touch
it?"
His face was quite livid with anger.
Nanon looked at him with amaze
ment. Dame! Monsieur quite
frightened mel" she exclaimed.
There, take the old box; but I
thought Monsieur would like to draw
up to the table"
Bring the table to me-" he
snarled.
She obeyed, and seeing 1t was no
time to pursue her questions, she be-
gan to lay clean napkin on the table
for his meal.
Will Monsieur have wine or
cider?" she said.
What is the price of the cider
now?"
Three sous, Monsieur; that is the
PRICE" said Nanon, smoothing the
napkin.
Then get ne litre of cider. And
stay. Were my directions about that
door carried out?"
"Yes, Monsieur, to the letter. My
brother-in-law himself did it, and
they laughed over it, can tell you. /"
Laughed? What did the fools
find to laugh at?"
Dame! Monsieur. At such pre-
cautions against thieves, when there
is nothing to steal"
"Ha! Hal" chuckled old Monsieur
Rigaud. Nothing to lose. Yes, yes,
they are right there; but, after all,
everyone values his own life, and
mine is a valuable life. I would not
lose it lightly"
1T would hardly be worth anyone's
while to attempt it, Monsieur" said
Nanol.
How? Not worth while?"
"Not worth the galleys, eh? Bah!
These precautions have cost money,
and for what? Monsieur is as safe at
Mon Repos as the tower of Notre
Dame"
They have cost money, eh?" said
Monsieur Rigaud, uneasily. How
much"
IL cannot say; but one cannot have
double doors of the best wood, with
new locks, for nothing, to ones
room"
And the dog! Have you bought
the dog?"
"Battiste has seen a dog that he
thinks would suit Monsieur, but it is
dear, it is three francs; but Battiste
thinks he could get it for two-ffty.
On the other hand, I can have a
puppy from Goucy for nothing. 1t
will grow big and fierce, but before
it is grown Monsieur will be con-
vinced that man is safe with open
doors when poverty is as well known
as it is with US.
How old is the puppy for moth
ing?"
1T opens its eyes, Monsieur"
Bah What is the use of that
And the cther?"
"A villainous brute, Monsieur;
large, fierce, chep, as it has lost one