The Red Cloud chief., 1875-09-30

across the counter With . brutal leer, and
catching the poor creature by the hand,
wfspered something in her ear; she
struggled 10 free herself from bis grasp,
and. ~ he turned, revealed the counten-
auce Of . girl about seventeen years Of
age, with wondrcus violet eyes, dilatcd
with fear and despair, and checks from
which every vestige Of color had de-
parted, II Ma the long lost beauty Of
the flower market; but o, how sadly
changed.
To send the man Keeling back behind
The counter with one blow and to lead
the almost faintipg girl into the street
was for Clinton Vaughn tie work Of Q
few moments. A facre wss passing and
he hailed il.
"Msdemoiselle," be said, with as much
respect as il be had been addressing .
duchess, ":he rain has sbsted, and you
are not in . condition to walk. l will
not presume to ask your address, but
here is my sisters; call on her, and you
will find friends ready and willing to
assist you"
He assisted her into the 6scre and laid
in her lap . card sod II amply filled
pocket-book, raised his hat, and was
gone before the poor girl could thank
him for his generous kindness.
"Msdemoiselle," said the driver, 1.-THE
gentleman gave me the two francs, but
did not tell me where you wished to CO."
"Drive to the Rue Bergere, No. So
Fsubourg POissonniere.'
Meantime Clinton fastened to the
hotel, having promised to accompany his
father and sister to the opera.
'Csn We speak with the concierge. with
Mr.. Fauchet?' asked Minnie Vaughn.
as she alighted, the following day. from
her carriage, drawn up in front OF No.
80 Rue Bergere.
"With Monsieur Fouchet?" repeated
q red -fsced woman, who appeared to be
acting as janitress to the old house.
"Yes-FOuchet, the shoemaker has
he movea9" asked Mr.. Vaughn and Clin-
ton, who had both accompanied Minnie.
Ma fol, Oui, where monsieur would
hp oOprv IN tollow him.
"Where? Please give we his address,"
said Minnie impatiently; ~ must see
him"
"See him! helss! he's dead aud buried
these six weeks"
"Dcad! poor, poor Florine."
"Oui, mademOiselle. He died quite
sudden like. The doctors called it gas
trio fever just the day before his
daughter came hack from boarding
school,"
"And she2 Florine?"
swell, you see, mademoiselle, the man
had no money to speak of-there wal
the funeral and the rent and the doctor.
when they were paid there was nothing
left, but just the bed he died on and the
ladder he used for twining his vines.
They were put up in the grenier, and the
proprietors let the girl stay there; and"
she continued. turning to Mr.. Vaughn.
"you gertle folks mayn't think it much
but let me tell you when We have
nothing, q bed and a ladder in the garnet
Of a respectable house like this are not
to be despised."
20! this is too terrible! Where is
she now2"
"Up stairs. I guess. May be she's
sick. I did not see her pass out to-day.
Minnie fastened up stairs, closely fol-
lowed by her fa'her and brother. At
last they reached the garnet; the door of
the room they sought was sjar, and they
paused not for the ceremony of knock
ing, for a moaning voice within told all
too plainly of sickness and suffering.
FlOrine was extended on the miserable
mattress or which her father had breathed
his last, and on which she, too. would
probably lave died but for the timely
arrival of her friends. Feverish and de.
lirious she did not recognize them. Her
hair hung in golden brown mas ses
around a face whose CLASSY eyes and
burning cheeks were fearful to look
upon. Clinton started in amazement,
Tor one glance at the unconscious girl
sufficed to show him that he had found
Florine, the beauty of the Madeleine
The embro;dercss of the Rue Neuve St.
Tender hands removed the sufferer:
owing faces bent W her pillow, and
when their care and the skill of the phy.
stefan had restored her to ~convalescence,
he poor orphan found that the darkest
hours Of her life were ovcr and that in
new ties and fresh scenes there was yet
much hsppincs in store for her.
In Mr.. Vaughn Florine found at once
mother father, in Minaie an effecticnste
lister, in Clinton q devoted friend. As
'oon - she Wa able e bear the voyage
hey sailed for America. Mt many
months later there was a wedding in
Madison avenue, which was very fash.
onably attended, although the fastidi.
Clinton Vaughn had selected for his
NO heiress o. Fifth avenue belle.
,ut Florine Foucher, the daughter of