The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1910-03-03
A YiCOunte'S
Vagary


his younger days made no small pre-
tensions to being Sad dog" He par
ticularly enjoyed firtations. which Is
not to be wondered at; but he prefer.
red them complicated. which, to my
mind. is mistake. In love, as in
cookery, the simplest is the best, and,
moreover, does not pail so quickly.
He was forever dreaming Of in.
trigues. DISCUSSES, and mysteries. II
he had had the task of reconstructinS
the old legends, he would have made
Romeo scale Juliet's balcony as
telegraph-line repairer
One day after a luncheon which
would have been a dinner if the sun
had not still been up. so much cham.
payne had he consumed at it-Gaston
de Banyillc laid a wager that before
six o'clock that eyening-it was then
nearly four-he would return with at
least three francs collected by singing
in the streets.
Twenty minutes later, an unkenpt,
tattered, and generally suspicous-'oo'l.
ing individual emerged from the ia.
nous restaurant where the party lad
been dining, and stopped at a larsa
house in an adjacent street. /, vas
Ga ton, who lacked nothing for lis
role of street-singcr IN hour lItcr.
his companions behcld him ro-or'cr
the room whore they wee G-.ir.la
him with the best patience IN The
world.
There you are" he announced
tossing on the table a louis ard
voluminous package. 81 have Won
my bet, and stand fair chance ol
winning a very pretty little wom90."
Tn so short a ume!' they cried.
but what is the trophy?-thc hus.
bands head?"
NO" said CASTOR, only his troGs.
ers. But l can say no more, the tale
Involves the honor OF lady of high
degree"
IN vain did his friends endeayor to
extract anything more from him. TIP
sy as he was, the hero OF the after
moons adventure was dumb as an
oyster. Less discreet than he, | shall
recount his adventures.
When De Banville entered the court
of No. 70, Rue Duphot the Baro1ne
de Pompinet was leaning out of win
dow, watching the movements of her
pet fox-terrier, which was playing in
the court. Evidently the dog had no
ear for music, for no sooner did the
pretended beggar open his mouth to
sing-at the same time, from force OF
habit, directing an admirlng glance
at the fair lady before him-than
Punch trotted up to him, and, on a
hostile demonstration from the singer,
flew at the latter and planted his
teeth in an undefended portion OF his
ana tony.
The baroness uttered shrek, and
CASTOR, foreseeing his inability to
collect the stipulated sum, and his
parting, furious, to repair his ward.
robe, when a trim little maid came
running after him.
Here" she said, slipping a frame
into his hand here is something the
baroness sends you. Is it enough?"
Enough" cried De Banville, with
a disgust that was not all stimulated
"wty, my pants is all tore, to say
nothing Of my wounds"
We'll, you can come and settle the
matter with my mistress. 1t would be
better than going to the police"
Miss Annette could have added that
her mistress had already been defend
ant in a dozen suits for assaults oi
this kind committed by Punch, and
had lost every one of them.
Half an hour later, Castor took
leave OF the baroness. bearing away
beside his twenty francs, a collect Oh
of delicious smiles, worn pair of the
baron's trousers in place of his own
which had suffered heavy losses il
the encounter with the dog, and ever
a letter of credit on the druggist a.
the corner. But the pretended beg
gar had no need of liniments anC
salyes, for Punch, for once In his
life had leaped too short and Gaston''
hide was whCle.
AS he was going down the servants
stairway, the pretended invalid gal
lantly saluted Mile Annette on hel
blooming cheek. The girl did not Sc
angry for the yiscount was not 81
badly grimed that he was not still ;
good-looking young fellow.
What do you mean, sir??" sh,
cried; ARE you crazy?"
Yes" replied Punch's victim
'your dog has given me hydrophobia
and that's the way | bite"
But De Banville was revolving il
his brain a machiavellian scheme d
rected against the peace of the bare
ness, who pleased him prodigiously
That very evening he sent her anony
mously handsome bouquet. The mex
day he appeared beneath her windoy
again, wearing the baron's trousers,
particularly delicate attention. Nine
de Pompinet appeared again, and be
slowed on him franc and a smile
on which latter he set very high va
uation. The following day, anothe
smile and another niece of money hu