Evening star., 1927-09-19
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
The Notary of Perigueux.
BY HENRY w. LONGFELLOW.

Henri wadsworth Longfellow was chiefly
kn9Wn n Tor his popHlar poetry: He was born
of John and Priscilla Alden. His prose con
sists of sketches OF travel and some short
stories. His better known works are II
verse. including ''Evangeline." THE Court
ship of Miles Standlsh.,, "Hiawatha' anc
There lived some years ago in the
city of Perigueux an honest notary
public, a man Of unoffending, quiet
disposition. He was the father of a
family, though not the head of it; for
you must know, he was henpecked
Finding no peace at home, he sought
it elsewhere, and at length discovered
an inn where he might rest, smoke
his pipe, drink sugar-water and play
dominoes. He had for a bosom friend
wine dealer who lived about three
miles from the city and passed his
evenings at this same inn. The bad
practices Of this wine dealer finally
influenced the notary, who became
addicted to wine. Thus these two
were often drunk together.
The nervous system of the notary
at last gave way under the strain OF
the liquors, to which he was not used
He began to see strange things, but
the worse he grew the more he smoked
stormed, demonstrated. entreated, but
all in vain. She made the house toe
hot for him. He retreated to the inn
She broke his long-stemmed pipes
He substituted a short-stemmed one
which he carried in his vest pocket.
Thus the unhappy notary ran grad
ually down at the heel. What with
his bad habits and his domestic griev
hn fn1
He imagined that he was going to die
and suffered in quick succession al
the diseases that ever beset morta
man. Every shooting pain was ar
alarming symptom, every uneasy feel
ing after dinner a sure prognoStica
ton Of some mortal disease.
Then one December afternoon when
the notary sat moping in his office a
carriage stopped at the door and a
loud knocking aroused him. 1t was q
message from his friend, the wine
dealer, who had been suddenly at
tackled with violent fever, and, grow
ing worse, had now sent in great
haste for the notary to draw up his
last will and testament. The case was
urgent and admitted neither excuse
nor delay.
Arriving at the wine Dealers house
the notary saw there was no time tC
lose. Papers were got in readiness
and the notary was finally able tC
guide the sick mans hand as he
scrawled his signature at the bottom
Of his will. Later that evening the
wine dealer passed away.
The doctor spoke to the notary as
he was leaving.
Dreadful sickly time this"" he ex
claimed. 1.-THE disorder seems to be
spreading. Two died yesterday and
three today. 1t Is scarlet fever. You
should be careful, my friend"
Scarlet fever" said the alarmed
notary. Then I am a dead man
Tell me, what are the symptoms?" he
asked, putting his pipe hastily into his
vest pocket.
"a sharp burning pain in the right
side" said the doctor.
"Oh, what a fool I was to come
here! moaned the poor notary.
And nothing could pacify the
| wretched man. He was sure he was
going to die from scarlet fever
There was nothing to do but take
| the doctors horse to return to the
| city, for the carriage in which the
notary came had returned long ago
| So the notary mounted this raw.boned
steed and set forth upon his home
| ward Journey. The night was colo
and gusty and the wind right in his
| teeth. Overhead leaden clouds were
beating to and fro, the trees by the
| roadside groaned with evil omen ant
the notary was filled with symptoms
Of disease and dire presentments OF
| death.
Suddenly. after a mile or so, anG
just as the apprehensions Of the no