The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-06-19
spirited away from his view.

smilingly, "sit down beside me and
let me say something to YOU"
The young husband obeyed, but did
not quit her hand. She began, "Once
on time'-Frederic started, and
half seriously exclaimed, Heavens! it
is a fairy tale !" "Listen to me, fool
ish boy" resumed the lady. "There
was once young girl, the daughter of
parents well-born, and at one time
rich, but who had declined sadly in
circumstances. Until her fifteenth
year the family lived in Lyons, depen-
ding entirely for subsistence upon the
! labor other father. Some better hopes
sprung up and induced them to come
to Paris but it is difficult to stop in
the descent down the the path of mis-
fortune. For three years the father
struggled hard against poverty, and at
last died in the hospital. The mother
soon followed and the young girl was
left alone, the occupant of a garret of
| which the rent was not paid. If there
were any fairy connected with the
story this was the moment for her
appearance but none came. The
young girl remained alone, without
friends or protectors, harassed by debts
which she could not pay, and seeking
in vain for some species of employ
ment. She found none; still if was
necessary for her to have food. One
/ dav passed on which she tasted moth
ing. The night that followed was
sleepless. Next day was again passed
without food, and the poor girl was
forced into the resolution of begging.
! She covered her head with her moth
er's veil, the only heritage she had
received, and stopping so to simulate
age, she went out into the street.
When there, she held out her hand.
Alas the hand was white, and youth
full. and delicate. She felt the necessi-
| ty of covering it up in the folds of the
veil, as if it had been leprosiad. Thus
concealed, the poor girl held out her
hand to young woman who passed
one more happy than herself-and
asked, y sou--a single sou-to get
bread' The petition was unheeded.
/ An old man passed. The mendicant
thought that experience of the distreS-
ses of life might have softened one
like him, but she was in error. EX-
perience had only hardened, not sof-
tened, his heart.
"The night was cold and rainy, and
/ the hour had come when the night pO-
lice appeared to keep the streets clear
of all mendicants and suspicious char
acters. At this period the shrinking
girl took courage once more to hold
out her hand to a passer by. 1t was
a young man. He stopped at the silent
appeal, and diving into his pockets
pulled out piece Of money, which he
threw to her, being apparently afraid
to touch a thing 50 miserable. Just as
he did this, one of the police said to
the girl:
"Ah, I have caught you, have I?-
you are begging. To the office with
you! Come alOug!"
"The young man intersposed. He
took hold hastily of the mendicant, OF
her whom he had before seemed afraid
to touch, and, addressing himself to
thepolicemen, said reprovingly: This
woman is not beggar. No; she is
she is one whom | know But, sir,
said the officer. Il tell you that
she is an acquaintance of mime re-
peated the young stranger. Then
turning 70 the girl, whom he took for
an old and feeble woman, he contin-
ued:
"Come along, my good dame, and
permit me to see you safely to the
end of the street. Giving his arm to
the unfortunate girl, he then led her
away, saying: Here is a piece of a
hundred sous. 1t is all | have-take
! it, poor woman."'
"The crown of hundred sous passed
from your hand to mine," continued
the lady, "and as you walked along,
supporting my steps, then, through
my veil, distinctly saw your face and
figure"-
"My figure" :" said Frederic, in a
mazement.
eyes, my friend, your figure" re-
turned his wife, cit was me that you
gave aims on that night. 1t was my
life-my honor, perhaps-that you then
saved ~
"You a mendicant-you. so young,
so beautiful, and now 50 rich,' cried
Frederic.
Eyes, my dearest husband" replied
the lady, Il have in my life received
alms-once only-and from yOu; and
those aims have decided my fate for
life.
son the day following that miserable
night an old woman, in whom [ had
inspired some sentiments of pity, ena-
| bled me to enter as seamstresS in re-
spectacle house. Cheerfulness returned
to me with labor. | had the good
! fortune to become favOrite with
| the mistress whom | served, and,
indeed, did my best, by unWearied
diligence and care, to merit her favor.
She was often visited by people in high