Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-06-07

house."
As madame pleascs. My mother is bet
ter this week, and can leave her through
the day to Blanche
Very well then. Come tomorrow"
The young girl came the next day. Her
day lengthened into week, aud then into
two. Her grace and naivete, her perfect pro-
priety Of department, and manner far above
her station, interested me more aud more, and
made me pity her also, for it is misfortune
to be forced into any sphere of life, high or
low, where VIC do not Of right belong.
| sometimes noticed the same intense sad
ness on her face that had before observed.
Her manner at such times was distraite, and
her fingers trembed nervously over her sew
ing One day she came in looking pale as
marble, and oh with such melancholy look
in the tender brown eyes.
As She fitted a robe over my shoulders,
felt the touch of her fingers like ice upon me.
| turned impulsiycly, and took the cold hand
in my own.
Annette, you are in trouble know you
are. viii you tell me what it all means ?
will help you, if | can. Don't be afraid to
trust me. promise that | will be your
friend"
Oh, madame and with that she sank
ON a sofa, and broke into sobs.
What is it, Annette2 Come, there is no
sorrow without a remedy, though the one that
suffers cannot always perceive it,"
We are so poor, madame, so poor :" she
sobbed out, despairingly; " and my mother is
an invalid, and she and the children must
live by my work My father has been dead
three years, aud it has been my care to sup
port them since then"
Good Heaven, Annette and have you
none to assist you2"
None, madame; but, somehow, we have
got along. We French can live on SO little.
A cup of coffee, little soup, an onion or two,
bit of fruit. The saints be praised, we have
never yet suffered from cold or hunger. except
one Sunday--shall ever forget it My
mother had been too sick all the week for me
to do any thing but nurse her, and work was
scarce, anyway. 1t was cold, dark, dreary
Sunday, and the rain kept pattering down, but
it did not fall faster than our tears. But after
a while Gabriel came, like good angel, and
it was all right then. My mother don't like
Gabriel, but she was glad to see him that time,
for he brought us fire, and food, and warmth"
And Gabriel, is he the young man who
sings La Refine dAmour with you ?"
She blushed, but answered, with simple
iaukness "Ile is the man love, madame"
And, saying this she took from the pocket Of
her neat little muslin apron photograph and
handed it to me-
| | looked at it. 1t was the face Of a man Of
the people, with no very fine lines, or great
expression Of intellect in it, but round and
good -humored, and with certain energy in
it, too. Judging from that glance, he was the
very sort Of man to succeed in country like
| this
This is your lover, Annette?'
"Yes, madame, and that is my worst trouble
Of all, she replied, breaking into fresh tears.
why so? Have you quarrelled2'
! "Ye--yes. es.-we--we have"
"Is it only this Why, lovers quarrel
every day and are reunited. He will come
back You can recall him"
"Ohl No, madame, cannot. My moth.
err
"Your mother whatW
"She will not let me marry Gabriel. She
says he is good-for- nothing Besides, there
is another, who is mechanic, who has plenty
Of work, and who says he will keep me like q
lady and take care Of my mother, and per-
haps | ought to marry him. sometimes
think so-but / do love Gabriel So"
What does Gabriel do for living
She hesitated, but finally answered.
o." He was on the police-force, but-but--
indeed, madame, am ashamed to tell you
and yet it is comfort, too. The fact is, my
mother made me slight Gabriel, and be grew
very jealous of-of the other one, and it
drove him wild, you see."
He has been dismissed, then"
Alas yes"
, " For what particular offence ~
Oh, madame, he-he-was found intoxi
> Gated on his beat, and they broke him a
once"
Annette, | know it is painful to you tc
answer but am asking these questions fol
a good purpose to you. Is he habituall,
, dissipated y
"Oh! No, madame. He says he woul,
never drink, only for the way treat him.
a could not help smiling wonder i
there ever was man who did not lay hi
own imprudence and excesses at some woman
, door,
4 However, it was no smiling matter.
+ Between her struggles for life against win
> and tide, the care Of her invalid mother an,
, her separation from the man she loved, An
nette's cup was full.
q | will 60 and see your mother, Annett
sec if there is anything l can do for her
i any little necessaries that can provide; an
! as for Gabriel if he is of any account,
a can support himself and you too Brights
: days will come. Cheer up, and be Of goC
I courage
S, The next day, in pursuance Of my desie
a, Of helping Annette in her trouble, l weI
r. over and assailed her mother. found her
2. thin, dark, little Frenchwoman, with kee
70 black eyes, and a hard look about her fac
d On her head was neat French cap, Al
as everything about the clean, deftly-arrange
;" room showed the marks Of Annettes tastefI
fingers. In one corner Of the room was
shrine covered with spotless white, aud su
k mounted by o plaster statue Of the Virgi
RS before which burned two wax candles, al
- bloomed few fresh flowers from the boxes
1T the window. Here the young girl told
ii. beads, and sent up her guileless orisons
he Heaven.
". Under cover of bottle Of old sherry q
a pound or two of butter-craekers, united
the tenderest expression of regard for /
health | made my approaches to the ,
woman, listening sympathetically to her 10
d. account of one of those cases Of woma
rh suffering which seemed to battle the skill Q
knowledge of those men who call themsel
physicians. She repeated to me how AnneI
rle during three years, had been her sole suppt
When alluded to the heavy burd
he thrown on Annette's young life, the mot
Ter shed no tears she had grown hard in
of worlds hardest school-poverty, and l .
eat that Annettes youth, energy, and talent, "
regarded, by the mother who bore her, sim
$ a as so much stock in trade, to be turned to
zen best advantage.
An She could marry, madame, and throw
ces these burdens that you speak OF. Thers
Up one fine young man, good, industrious,
me will marry Annette and take care Of me.
Al / Al n