Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-06-19
MARGUERITE.

Latin Quarter, which, as everybody
knows, is the rendezvous of students
artists and Bohemians of whatever
degree and class. In it spent three
of the happiest, most Independent
years of my life. There had the
coziest,, sunniest rooms in the world
away up in the third story, where
Victor brought nae every morning a
delicious bowl of hot coffee from the
cremerie around the corner where
my friends, the German: students
went trampling past my room at all
hours of the night, home from Mabille
or. the Closerie de Lilas; where my
window looked across the street into
the work-room of flock of industri.
GUS, tidy grisettes, who chatted and
laughed all day long as merrily as il
thor destiny was NOT first the streets,
and then the commune: fosse7poor
soulsl There got to see somewhat
Of the life Of this vast Paris. 80 bril-
liant, SO fascinating on the surface
saeh q mass Of iesteriag horrorfatthe
bottom. And there, too, I saw Mar
guerite.
She lived on the thi:d floor, back
she and her old rheumatic mother
and from the earliest red. of dawn till
the night was far spent, the pretty,
patient little creature worked at her
trade of making artificial flowers.
She was little thing, just rounded
out of her teens-slight, fair as one
of her own lilies, curling dark hair
cropped close to her pretty head-it
was so much less trouble, so she saii
and pair of the loveliest, most
swonderful eyes that ever pure soul
shone out of-pellucid, blue and soft
ever smiling-poor child, her life
was so hard, but full of that divine
tenderness which Raphael paints in
the eyes of his Madonnas.
I used to hear her blithe little
voice singing at her work. She had
a canary, too, which sang louder than
she, but not half so sweetly, and a
pot of mignonette, which Sc. tended
with touching faithfulness. And these
were her pets-with her old mother,
her only friends. No lover-that
prime necessity of the French girl
as yet. I fancy the garcons of the
neighboring cafe, or the rough Ger
man students, could not have been
much to her taste. And so she wa.
alone-a little, pure white flower in
the heart of great city, where wick
edness is so much easier than virtue.
When 1 first came to understand this
said in my heart, God help poor
little Marguerite
Ihad bee, her neig ighborpix months,
when one night 1 heard a low tapping
at my door, and on opening it, found
this pretty creature there. Her VIC
let eyes were strained with alarm.
and her cheeks paler than the lilies
as she told me, bravely choking back
her sobs, that Victor had said that
Monsieur was doctor, and her moth
er was very ill-bien .aalade-wiping
her eyes; and would l, in my great
goodness, come and see her?
OF course 1 would, ind. did. I
found the poor wonan suffering Sc
verely. her disease having attacked
the heart, and before it Was efectu
ally relieved, Marguerite and l had
become great friends and allies.
The relief was only reprievei at
best. Another attack was immineaa.
and it was not probable she could
survive it / told. Marguerite thisone
day, my own heart aching as I saw
hes whitening cheeks.
And then. my poor child, what
will you do? You will be all ,ione
then.
You too, Monsieur! Are you go
ing also? :,
aAh, Margaerite My stules will
soon be ended, and there is a dark
eyed maiden in my own land WHO is
waiting. Tor me.
If l had any fancy-but I had not
that l had touched Marguerites
innocent heart, it died there and then.
Her delicate cheeks flushed. with a
tender rose.
"Oh, Monsicurl You never told
me that. All. ciel But how beau
tiful that is !"
Dear heart! She made me tell her
all about our wooirg, and our hoped
for wedding; and l believe the small
cottage where we expected to set up
housekeeping was as visible to her
mind 's.eye as to mine.
We got on iamously after this con.
ference. Tie old mother got better
as the warm spring came on, and
when l had a slight Illness, Mar
guerite was able to come and sit in
my room, with her roses and violets
and daisies about her, and chat as
she worked. We got it all arranged
that I was to send for. her some day,
If she should be left alone in. the
world-and she was to set up her
Aower-making in New York.
By and by the sweet days grew
longer and sweeter; and not only by
Marguerites pot of mignoaette, bst
by a thousand signs in earth and sky,
we knew that the gracious summer
was about to visit the earth with
blessing.
I had made hard winter of it,
working at ply professional studies,
. and 1 &as tired and worn. So, as
the summer. drew nigh, entered into
an alliance with big, bloude-naired
Teusoh,S wffo'hved on The next foor,'
for the purpose -of-a psdest rian tour
through tha Befasss oMlarA II
was to be gone three months Tears
. came to Marguerite's eyes when l
told her. Nevertheless, when, on the,
morning of.oar departure, Igran7ip tes
bid her gooa-By; she-was aSttle pa
ler than usual, but quite cheerful.
"Take good care Of your heart.
little Marguerite !" said, play
r.11