Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-03-31
Copyrighted by Short Stories Co., ltd.

round and round a large square in.
closure with grated openings, like
genuine circus horses. This was
termed our recreation. At the end of
these eight years our prison doors had
been opened and brood of bachelors
took their flight. We were free at last
Mussard was the rich boy of the COL
!ege. He went to riding school on
Tuesdays, and quite dazzled us with
his spurs, his patent leather boots, his
gay-colored cravats and his dogskin
gloves. He had his duels, and his
tilbury with little negro for groom.
In fact, he was one Of the glories Of
the Latin Quarter, and when he ap-
peared, followed by his black man, he
was greeted with ''Vive Mustard! Vive
Loulou!" -
Loulou was the name Of the negro.
Ten years afterward I ran across him
In the greenroom of theater, dressed
in the costume of prince of Abys-
sinia. -"
BY the time he was %, Mustard
had received 100000 francs of his in.
heritance from his father Mustard
senior died this same year, 1857, and
his fortune was divided among his
four children. Mussard's share was
half million. ~'}.
At the end of five years he was
penniless, with hundred francs Of
debt. He was compelled to set to
work to do something for living. He
had one fixed idea: To get rich again
so as to be able to amuse himself.
When I met him in 1862 he was on
foot. No more tilbury, no more negro!
He was in the best of spirits, how
ever. He came to see me often after
that, and he always had some scheme
in view; something sure, with mil
lions in it, to be had for the mere
trouble of picking it up. But in the
meantime he was a trif1e embarrassed
five louis would be agreeable to
him. The request was always made
frankly and cheerfully. He was no
shamefaced pauper; on the contrary,
he was a confident, brilliant one.
I gave him five louis twice. thrice,
then l grew discouraged. My friend
was becoming too costly. I lessened
the amount of the gift to one louis He
was not in the least offended at this
He always took the money without
looking at it. He was delicate in his
indelicacy.
II keep an account of it ALL" he
ohon -
back all owe you in a few months, if
my new scheme succeeds. And it is
good one, can assure you"
I met him regularly every six
months. It was always something
new; he was going the next day to
Join Garibaldi in Italy; he was about
to become the manager of a provincial
theater, ana he wanted me, to take a
letter for him to Sardou; he was the
representative of winehouse, the
editor of government paper; he was
going to America to take part in the
civil war, on which side he had not
yet decided, besides, that didn't mat
ter in the least; he was writing a.
play; and so on, ad infinitum 4
He was a veritable knight of labor,
and SO witty, original and merry
withal. = ~%.:sG
On one occasion I met him in Bor-
deaux. He wore. topboots, a red Carl
baldi shirt and a felt hat. He rushed
up to ME as soon as he spied me. 4:
$50 it is you!" he exclaimed Here
t.
you stopping?" .>~..:
AT the Hotel de France" aE
"Have you any clothes with you?"
he asked eagerly. ~ -...
what kind of clothes?"
"A change" ~
"Of course" }.. -
"Come right of, then. We are
about the same height. I know you
will lend me suit"
II took him, or rather he took me,
to my hotel On the way he told me
his story and convinced me how neces-
sary it was for him to get out of his
present garb. He had been offered a
position as secretary to deputy at
a salary of 300 francs a month But
the deputy belonged to the extreme
right, and to present himself in revo-
lutionary costume was a thing not to
be thought Of; hence the urgent need
of conventional clothes.
On reaching my apartment he at
once proceeded to make his toilet, de-
scribing the battle of Dijon as he
proceeded. He donned my suit, and
brushed and combed himself COM
placently before the mirror.
"Upon my word! how well look.
Your coat fits me perfectly. shall
surely get the place.
He borrowed his usual 20 francs,
and, without taking time to thank me,
he was of, leaving his red shirt, gray
hat, sword and boots.
Three months later, we met again.
Mussard carried splendid portfolio
Of red morocco under his arm.
Flows your deputy?" asked. 8
MY Deputy & Say my deputies
rather. have two Of them at pres.
#nnt,u ss