The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-07-15
Three Times a Day

here alone with you, Julietta?"
Little Mary is here; grandpa. playing with
the dog; and Mariana is in the kitchen, getting
dinner ready.
This conversation was held between little
girl about nine years old, and the baron St. An
dres, an old man Of eighty. He was knight
ofthe orderof st. Louis, and had received his
knighthood and insignia from the hands of Lou
is the Sixteenth, king of France He was, how
ever quite blind and consequently almost help
less. Little Mary, child Of six years Of age,
made the third one Of the party
"Julietta' resumed the old man, after short
silence, sdid your sister say any thing to you
when she went out?''
Eyes, grandpa replied Juletta, sshe said
to me-sTake care that little Mary does mt
trouble grandpa, and if he wishes to 90 into the
garden, give him your hand, and take care not
to let him stumble oyer anything, because he
can't see, poor grandpa! and God has given him
to US, his children, TO take care of him, and to
obey, and to make him as happy as we can
Oh, know it all by heart grandpa, because
Adela tells itmcthree times a day; every time
before she goes out
"How! every time before she goes out?-
Does she often go out?'' asked the old man,
whose venerable brow seemed ruhled by some
painful thought.
''Three times every day!' answered Julietta,
in some surprise; fhree times every day; once
in the morning, before you come down, from
Z to 8 o'clock; another, from | 1 till /; and the
third from to 5, when you are asleep. You
see! three times day. Did you think couldn't
reckon9"
"What o'clock is it now9" asked the Baron
rather sharply, doubtless with the hope of find
ing some discrepancy in Juetta's reckoning.
at struck one, just now@' Julietta answer
ed. "And here comes Adela; hear the gar
den gate opening; and she speaking to Mary
and the dog. They have gone to meet her.
In few moments Adela entered. She was
a young and lovely girl; so young, she seemed
as if she had scarcely emerged from childhood,
and yet so serious and SO thoughtful Was the
expression of her countenance, that the prema-
ture care Of life had, as it were, blighted the
flower of youth.
"Adea!'' said the old man, in tone so sad
and serious that it brought the quick color to
the young girls face, "whence come you?' and
stretching forth his hand, he seized that of Ade-
las which she had extended towards him, took
it between both his own, gently stroked it and
at last said in amournful manner, s'Y GU are agi-
tated my child! you are troubled! you tremble!
Whence come you?'
The young girl did not reply.
Obtaining no answer, the baron St. Andres
continued, and the slow, solemn accent with
which he uttered each word showed the sad
feelings of his heart. "In 1914 was widow
er, Adela, and of all my numerous family,
only one was left me, my sainted daughter,
Henrietta, your mother. Your father fell at
Waterloo, you were then only twelve. Adela
Adela! what canI say? By all my past mis-
eries-by my unceasng grief-.by my gray
hairs-I entreat you whence come you? With
Ell go you three times day."
my father, said Adela, II am only seven
teen years old, it is true, yet young as | am,
sorrow and care have already left their impress
on my brow. Three years ago my mother died,
yet that sad scene is still ever present to my
mind, as wildly as if it had been but yester-
day. | still hear the weak voice, regaining mo-
menta1y strength, address me: 'Adela,' she
said, i leave you two daughters be mother
to them. And my poor father | entrust him to
you. Guide the two first in their course through
life; show them its thorns and its danger. Hide
from the second every thing that would pain
him. Such were her words, and I have tried
to obey them. go out three times a day and
that troubles you; but you do not consider that
am the mistress of a family-the housekeeper
and yet more, have to take care of you all.
Are not these duties enough to call me out three
times day? Have confidence in your Adela,
-, fol thor in
s'Tbis is all I desire; it is all my heart wish
es, my daughter! Well, well you have been
out to day-you will not go out again! Am l
right? You do not answer, Adela!"
Adela, as if she had not heard bis last words,
turned to Julietta, and questioned her concern
ing the studies, which she had to recite to her
in the evening, and thus adroitly changed the
conversation. She then remained for some time
with the little party on the piazza, until Mari
anna summoned them to the dinner table. Not
Ethstanding her exertions to please and enter
tain her grandfather, she observed with pain
that his mind was still troubled, and fearing
that he would resume his attempts 10 dissuade
her from again venturing out, she controlled her
own feelings and chatted incessantly with the
little ones-all the time, however, carefully min
istering to the old mans wants. As soon as
the meal was finished, she directed Julietta to
lead her grandfather back to his seat on the
piazza, while she herself remained, as if to at
tend to household duties. At the end of half
an hour, Juletta saw her with her bonnet on
her head and her gloves in her hand, walk
quickly through the garden and pass out Of
the gate, which she closed behind her with the
least possible noise. The old mans fine sense
of hearing, however, had instantly detected,
and if we may so speak, had followed all the
Of his grand daughter, and, when
the gate closed behind her he said, with deep
sigh and as ifspeaking to himself:
"she has gone out again!''
Then probably to divert the solicitude which
was tormenting him, he directed Julietta to go
and tell the servant girl to take little Mary out
for walk, and added, "Bring with you when
you come back, the newspapers that you will
find on the table in the saloon, and come and
read to me the article upon the public rejoic-
ings Of last week That will amuse both YOU
and me-
Julietta obeyed. A short time afterwards Ma
ranne and Mary went out for their walk, and
Julietta returned and seating herself upon stool
near her grand fathers feet, began TO read the
article which he had mentioned Itwas a very
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