Litchfield enquirer., 1876-11-09

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 Jeanne Tallott was of those..who sympa- thlzed with her in all warm heartedness and candor. With her knitting in her hand ready for action, and with friendly unceremoniousness, she presented herself at the cottage door one morning, nodding and speaking before she had crossed the threshold 'A
 Good day, neighbor Giraud. Any let ,ters from Laure this morning?"
 Mere Giraud, who sat before the win- dow under the swinging cage of her bird, looked up with an air little more serious than usual
 'Ah!" she said, "I am glad it is you, Jeanne. 1 have been wishing to see you. !"
 Jeanne seated herself, smiling. '-
 ''Then," said she, ''it Is we'll I came. y
 But immediately she noticed the absent look of her friend, ,and commented upon it.
 "You do not look at your best this morning, she said. 'sHow does it oc- cur?' ....a- sza.. ... ,,.,,-..,. s.,....
 'I am thinking , said Mere Giraud with some importance of manner; s'I arn thinking of going to Paris" "
 To Paris!'
 II am anxious" shaking her head seri- ously. "I had last night bad dream I wish to see Laure.
 Then she turned and looked at Jeanne almost wistfully. .... .....
 ''It is long time since I have seen her," she said
 "Yes," answered Jeanne in a little doubt; "but Paris is a long way off,"
 "Yes," said Mere Giraud; ''but it ap- pears that all at once realize how long it is since have seen my child. I am get old ,ok when she was born, and, as one grows older, one becomes more uneasy and ob- stinate in ones fancies. This morning feel that l must see my Laure. My heart yearns for her, and''-hastily--"she will undoubtedly be rejoiced to see me. She has often said that she wished she might lay her head upon my breast again. y
 It seemed that she was resolved upon the journey. She was in a singular, un- easy mood, and restless beyond measure. She who had never been twenty miles from St. Croix had made up her mind to leave it at once and confront all the ter TOTS of journey to Paris, flor there were terrors in such journey to the mind of a simple peasant who had so far travelled but in one groove. She would not even wait to consult Monsieur le Cure, who was unfortunately absent. Jeanne dis. covered to her astonishment that she had already made her small preparations, had packed her best garments in little wood en box, laying the silk gown and lace al the top that they might be in readiness.
 1T will not interfere at all, and I shall not remain long," she said. "Only long enough to see my Laure. and spend few days with her quietly. It IS not Paris ] care for, CT the great sights it is that ] must see my child.'
 St. Croix was fairly bewildered at the news it heard the next day. Mere Giraud had gone to Paris to visit Madame Le- grand-had actually gone, sending her little servant home, and shutting up hel small trim cottage.
 ''Let us hope that Madame Legrand ceived," said Annot. "For my part should have preferred to remain in St. Croix., Only yesterday Jeanne Tallott told us that she had no intention of golng.'' ''She will see wonderful things, = said the more simple and amiable. "It is pos sible that she may be invited to the Tuil' cries, and without doubt she will drive to the Bois de Boulogne in Madame Le. grands carriage, with servants in livery to attend her. My uncles sisters son, who is valet dc place in a great family, tells us that the aristocracy drive up and down the Champs Elysees every after noon, and the sight is magnificent.
 But Mere Giraud did not look forward to such splendors as these. ''I shall see my Laure as great lady," she said to herself. 'I shall hold her white hands and kiss her cheeks"
 The roar of vehicles, and the rush and crowd and hustle bewildered her; the brightness and the rolling wheels dazzled her old eyes, but she held herself bravely. People to whom she spoke smiled at her Patois and her innocent questions, but she did not care.
 She found a .facre which took her to her destination; and when, after she had paid the driver, he left her, she entered the wide doors with beating heart, the blood rising on her cheek, and glowing through the withered skin.
 Madame Legrand," she said little proudly to the concierge, and the woman stared at her as she led her up the stair case. She was so eager that she scarcely saw the beauty around her,-the thick soft carpets. the carved balustrades, the superb lamps. But when they stopped before door she touched the concierge upon the arm.
 "Do not say my name," she said. "I am her mother"
 The woman stared at her more than ever
 ''It is not my place to announce you, she said. ''I only came, up because l thought you would not find the way"
 She could not have told why it was or how it happened. but when at last she was ushered into the salon strange sense of oppression fell upon her. The room was long and lofty, and so shadowed by the heavy curtains falling across the win dows that 1t was almost dark.
 For few seconds she saw nobody, and then all at once some one rose from a re- clinlng chair at the farther end of the apartment and advanced few steps to- ward her-a tall and stately figure, mov- ing slowly. .......
 ''Who -" she heard cold soft voice say, and then came sharp cry, and Lau- res white hands were thrown ont in, a strange, desperate gesture. and she stop ped and stood like a statue of stone. 'Mother-mother-- she repeated again and again, as if some indescribable pain shook her.
 If she had been beautiful before, now she was more beautiful still. She was even taller than ever,-she was like a queen. Her long robe was of delicate gray velvet, and her hair and throat and wrists were bound with pearls and gold. She was so lovely and so stately that for a moment Mere Giraud was half awed, but the next it was as if her strong mother heart broke loose.
 ''My Laurel" she cried out. ''Yes, it is l, my child-it is I, Laure;" and she al most fell upon her knees as she embraced her, trembling for very ecstasy F'
 But Laure scarcely spoke. She was white and cold, and at last she gasped forth three words.
 "Where is Vaentin?"
 But Mere Giraud did not know. It was not Valentin she cared to see. Valentin could wait since she had her Laure. She sat down beside her in one of the velvet chairs. and she held the fair hand in her own. It was covered with Jewels, but she did mt notice kham. hor oacaok;or. ~, Ixy