The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-29

make himself believe tina. he spoke the
truth.
Grandet had brother in Paris, who
like himself, had been successful amid
the opportunities afforded by the Revo-
luton. This Paris Grandet was mayor
of one of the ACCOMPLISHMENTS of the
capital. colonel of the national guard
and judge of the commercial courts He
held himself as being well on the way to
become an aristocrat-a species OF being
now come rather into favor again-and
had nothing to do with his misery
brother of Saumur. His brother, on the
other hand, did not concern himself
about his Paris relative, and considered
him fool, in spite Of his business sue
cess, for his aspirations toward gentility.
Still the Paris Grandet had not only
wealth. but a son, Charles, now young
man of %, handsome fellow and one of
the greatest handles in France.
Some of the older people in Saumur
nodded their heads wisely and declared
that old Grandet would never let his
money go out of the family and that in
seen each other but twice In thirty years.
they would not be surprised IL some day
the elegant Charles should come to Sau-
muir and carry off the prize from beneath
the noses of both Cruchots and Des Gras-
sins. Eugene dreamed as other girls
dream, and the thought of her Paris
cousin, perhaps, came occasionally into
her dreary life, so that she pictured what
he was like and asked herself whether
she would love him or not.
Eugenie's birthday was in the middle of
November, and as Grandet loved his
daughter as much as 1t was possible for
him to love anything but money, he cele-
brated IT in a manner which was, for
him. extravagant. To begin with, the fire
in the living room was lighted for the
first time since 1t had been allowed to go
out early in the previous spring. Then
he went to his daughters bedside early
IN the morning and gave her real gold
piece, with instructions to hoard it care
fully. In the evening the Cruchots and
the Des Grassins were invited In after
dinner, and the living room was illuni-
mated with two handles. So the years
cherries and comfortless, until revolving
time brought around Eugende's twenty
third birthday The father ea--s her the
customary piece of gold in the morning
and the mother gave her a winter and
summer dress. Two dresses a year. pre-
sented on her birthday, were considered
quite enough for the girl. In the evening
the usual company assembled There
were Nine. and M. des Grassins and the
young Adolphe. looking his best and put
ting on his most agreeable manners.
There were the Cruchots, the notary the
able and the talented nephew, M. de Bon
fons.
Each and every one Of them exerted
himself to his utmost to pay court to the
miser and his family, the Des Grassins
being especially obsequious in order to
offset recent advantage gained by the
Cruchots in the warfare by>reason of a
little skill in manipulation on the part of
M. de Bonfons the president of the civil
courts, whereby, through the advantages
afforded by his official position, he had
been enabled, with the help of his uncle
and able, to secure to NJ Grandet the
purchase, at great bargain, of the
large estate of the Marquis de Froidfond.
who had got into financial difficulties.
The company played at lotto-all except
Grandet, who sat and watched them with
grim smile. saying all the while to
himself that he saw through his guests
and their obsequiousness. 'They all want
my money" said he to himself, but they
will be fooled. Yet they are useful TO me
and like to see them grovel / use them
for my own purposes-and the fools think
to use me-" The stakes were small In the
lotto game, but when Nine Grandet won
a pool of 16 sous her husband was al
most kind to her.
AS they sat there the old cynic gloating
over them and madame joyful at her win
nings, there suddenly came knock upon
the door which made all the women
With growl the old man told Nanon to
take one of the candles and accompany
him to the door. Madame sure that II
must be a robber who knocked so loud
called and ran after her husband. But he
roughly told her to go back to her lotto
and continue winning. But the company
could no longer put their minds upon the
game; the noise of heavy luggage being
carried upstairs SO excited their curiosity.
Finally Grandet returned to the room,
ushering In handsome young man. rich