The Lay Figure

Tho Paris correspondent of a London paper tolla this story of oue of the huuiors of the siege : Thero wa? a cert&in old gentleman - a barou, wlio lived in one of tho westoud -uburbs. líe had a deligbtful villa in a garden with high walltf. Ho was very ïuucl) of au iuvalid, aod had to bo wheeled about is bis chair. He got up late ; he was dreesed with all due caro by his servauts; he had his breakfast butwoen 11 and 12 ; Uien he was wheeled out irto lii.s veraudah, or to eorae sunny grass plot, to read the paperej oud theu again ut a eertain hour ;n ttie afternoon he was wheeled bck into the house, und he wm seun no moro. Tho peoplo who ovorlooked his grounds new hÍ3 hnbits, and ho was as good as a dock to them. He had a wouderful dintier in the evening, for which the neighboring butcher had to provide witb uwful solicitudo. When tbc Mego drew near, the baron wa8 torn in piecea between a deíire to ?et away and fear for tho safety of hie precious abode, in whioh everything had been arrunged for his comfort. "I do not know what is to be done," 30 faid to his most trusted servan t, l'ulix ; "the peoplo will say tbat I ain s coward if 1 go away ; that I fly from dsnger; and they will destroy my house. No. I ouunot go awny." "Pcople are so uureasonable," said Felix ; "they oannot expeut M. lo Baron :o figtit, conüued as he is to his chair, and yot if he leaves Paris they will be very angry - they will be jealous. Surey, we eau urraue soirotlnnir. " "No, Felix, do," said the baron- "I must stay." if vAnd, sure enongh, wJcVit che siego bojan, tUero waá tho bar to.be eefin s ■Usual reading his paper' after breakfast in ' pleaaot garden. '■'i'here's a true patriot," said the neighbors. "Ho does not turn his back du Paris, liko so niany others. He can do uothiug for us, but at loast he oan suffer with us. Ho is a hero." "But how he eats," said another. 'The butcher tells mo that sinoe the siega he cats more than ever, and is always sending Felix to complain ot the meat. These invalida - what appetites thty have !" "Ah !" thoy all ngreed, "I should be sorry if anytluug liappeoed to the baron - he ia a good fellow ; and as for eating, let liim eat. There is plenty to e&t, and it is his only amusement." Oue day, howover, it was observed that the baron read his paper Jonger than usual. Tho afternoon wa far advanoei], and still he read. No doubt ho wiis waiting for aome one. Perhps Felix had forgotten him. Tho gun set ; the dinucr hour drew near ; aud s'.illi the twiligiit tho baron oould bo seen reariing. "Ah! what has bappened to the barou ?" said the ntighbors. "Ho will ;'atch his death of cold. The dews of tho cvening are very dangeroua. But they did nothiug. No doubt they discovercd sorae satisfactory explauation of whal they had seeu. In the tnorning they looked out of tbeir wiudows - and, oh, horror ! the baron was still in bis cbair, imarovable, reading the papor. No doubt he was dead. Ho had men soized with a, fit, and tbat wicked Felix had neglected hiin. They rushed into tio garden to see for themselves, .uid tbev found - a lay figure. The aaroD had, in fact, left at tho head of his ittle villa in the suburbs a wooclen idol, deckod out in hid clothes, to receive all the outward observances whiuh were usually paid to himself. Tho trick was diecovered one day hen the sorvaut orgot themselves; and the neighbori aughod 6o much at thu joke thut they spared the house.