Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-11-13
fConcluded Hom first page. !

M mere she said, at is our Kind
lady again She is so good as to come tc
bid you goodbye
One oil the stablemon had been looking
sloomily at me He came up now and
raised his cap.
IF Madame stands there" he said sui
kily. "she will DC knocked down by the
borses--they are coming out. She can
get into the coach if she wishes lie
nodded toward the Dol diligence.
1--WE will put you in" | said to Madame
Robillard, ''and you and ], Jeanne, can
walk up and down. -,
And when we had settled the poor blind
woman in the furthest corner, and
Jeanne's basket and bundle beside her to
secure seat, led the way into the little
street beyond the yard.
Jeanne began at once, for | was
afraid of being interrupted, and was de.
termined to know what had SO changed
nv old acquaintance, ''are you glad or
sorry to leave Wire and your work there =
Jeanne's eyes dropped. She looked q
little uneasy, but presently she glanced
up again brightly.
81 am not quite sure, Madame. am
sorry to 60 away from Wire; every one
was so good there but she'--she looked
necessary she should 60 to Dol"
l remembered the old expression, at
is my life," but it was said 50 differently
now.
but suppose that, if you had gone on
working at the factory, you could have
lived quite well, Jeanne, without this
money!
She did not answer at once. She
seemed to be trying my words.
"Perhaps," she said at last. MADAME
1 do believe now"-she gave me such a
glad, loving look-''that everything is
possible. 1t is not my own awkwardness
or shortcoming must think Of. but what
le bon Dieu has set me to do. Perhaps"
she added, doubtingly, Il might have
gone on at the factory without doing mis-
chief
l smiled, and she smiled back and shook
her head.
.Yes, yes; Madame thinks this is not
practicing what I say. but Madame can
not quite know how it feels to have such
troublesome hands and feet which will
get where they should mother eyes
had filed with tears. but sudden little
laugh came to help her. Ibid not Mad
anne see how nearly l upset her with my
foot yesterday? If Madame had not been
adroit and observant, she would had a
fall over my awkward foot. But. indeed.
there is another reason for going to
Dol-a reason which l cannot speak in
the hearing of la bonnie mere, Another
Jerk Of Jeanne's head toward the yard.
1T is better for her that give up the fac
tory
Here Jeanne blushed so deeply that l
prepared myself for love story, and lis
tened more attentively. Yes, | might
have known only love could have trans
formed the child.
"Why is it better, Jeanne"
Swell Madame, she-she loves me so,
sue said simply, land she frets when am
away from her; it is surprising but it is
true"
She looked to see the effect of this an
nouncement, and it was plain that my face
disappointed her.
'Ah! Madame is not surprised. Well,
it is fortunately the same as the awkward
ness. No doubt it is not strange for Mad
anne to be loved; but to me it is much
cannot tell Madame how much, "-she
clasped her hands, and tears rolled down
her cheeks. "For this, she is perhaps
happier since she has been blind. She
cannot see, Madame, that | am ugly and
awkward, and unlike the other girls; and
it is easy to do things for her when know
that my awkward ways cannot vex. But,
Madame. it is so sad to be alone when
you are blind; the time must seem SC
slow and tedious. Often when am work
ing with the other girls in the valley, and
we are gay and merry together, have
shut my eyes TO try how it feels, and Mad
anne, it must be dreadful"
but it came suddenly, this blindness P''
at has been an illness, Madame. 1t
was soon after Madame was at Wire. 60
home one day, and find her on the floor.
She cannot speak, or move, and put her
on the bed; and then 60 to find the doc
tor, and, by good fortune, see him when
! reach the Grande Place. Well, Mad
anne, he has come, and he has told me
what to do, and then he has sent one of
the good sisters-and she has been, OH so
good lit is the Seur Genevieve. 1t
seemed to me strange that Madame R0bil-
lard should be so helpless. and she stared
often in very unusual manner; she was
very sad, too, but then she was often
grievin e, for she has had much sorrow in
her life. But at last there came a day
when she could leave her bed, and sit up
in her chair again, and the Sour had sent
some dinner, and was quite gay at the
thought that Madame would now be
well.
''She sat up in her chair, and she stared
at the wall, and then she sighed. All!
but it was terrible to hear that sigh -
Jeanne put her hand over her eyes.
II thought she was looking at her
wheel. No. no. said. you will not be
able to spin just yet, and there is no need,
and then told her how l had gone and
got engaged at the factory, while Sour
Genevieve sat with her, and how ! was
going to work as soon as she could spare
me.
'sAt first she did not answer, and
thought she was vexed.
:. Come here she said, after while.
Jeanne. shall never spin again. or see
the sunshine, should like to have seen
thee once more to thank thee for all thou
hast DONE have lost my eyes, Jeanne,
but have gained child. Kiss thy poor
molherr All, Madame, was not she good ?
She who has a husband and five tall sons ;
that she should care for the love of poor
unlucky JeanneH
.sPnt vn, ara not luckv NOW nv good