The Morning herald., 1876-07-22
THE TWO ORPHANS.
|VHE DEPTHS OF A SISTERS LOVE
A thrilling Story Of Partisan Life.
CHAPTER XVII.
CHARITY AND PITY.

The blind girls question. "do you pity
ME. madame?' aroused all the great flood
Of sympathy that the countess was so we'll
known 10 have, and it was with evident
emotion, that SHE answered:
"pitv you? indeed do, my child"
These words fell with a sweet sound
appn the poor girls eager ears, and she
strpped nearer the kind lady, regardless
of the proximity of the old has, who was
doing all she could to make the poor
yoang life wretched.
You pity me because Tam blind" she
said, in Il touching voice. "Alas, mad
llne, that is not my greatest misfortune"
"What do you mean?" asked the kind
hearted lady, in surprise. Speak, child,
am rich, perhaps | can-"
"Ah! if | darew exclaimed Louise,
bracng hcrselfto tell her story to this lady
who spoke to her in such plying accents:
and who could do so much towards aiding
her to find her sister.
But Mother Frochard, who had heard
Lonise's words, had no intention of allow
Ing the conversation to proceed any fur
tier, and she grasped the blind girls ten.
der arm between her hard and wicked fin
gers, nilicting hurt which caused the
poor girl to cry out with pain.
"Eh, eh? what is it?' asked the old hag,
as she pressed her fat, dirty face close TO
the ar-tocratic features of the countess,
while her small grey eyes watched the
loays lace as if to find out what Louise
ua! already told.
"Nou have relative-a mother?" ask
ed t he countess, of Louise, utterly ignoring
l@ frochard's impertinent interruption.
"Nother" exclaimed the blind girl, in
tones Of deepest despair.
IN that one word all the wretchedness
of her hard lot was embodied, and he1
very soul seemed to 60 out with the word
Louise bad spoken before her tormento1
coH'! prevent her, but the old woman
avenged herself by another wicked pinch
au at Ike same time speaking quickly, as
li!o prevent the lady from noticing the
blind girls tone.
Yes, my beautiful lady," she said, in
!"r shrII, coarse tones, while she screwed
her 3c2 mp into what she intended as a
most humble snI!pectiull|has a good moth
cr, il DO say andents,
81. this your daR'gdif99,l' asked the coun-
@1ss in great surprise, as she gazed at the
40, now side by side, and compared the
slight, drinking beautiful girl with the
'~nog fat ana coarse old woman who
hn' '''imel 10 be the mother of one who
r@ScmbIed her as little as do the angels
resemble those imps of Satan that torment
list sts1HIs.
"lho youngest Of seven that Heaven
Sa' blessed me with, my LADY," replied
'ne oI'' woman as she dropped IA stiff cour-
V'y, a"d tried TO put on a resigned and
g1a'en;ed look. "That is what the dar-
'"s vas going to tell you--isn't it deary?'
\ herre sly blow in the back warned
me t,'e"'bios Louise what her fate would
'2 jShe did not answer as the old hse
.l'o hcF to- but in spite Of the old woman's
greats, the poor girl conld not thus tell Il
,,..'snooa, and in addition, destroy the
''''' hopes of seeing her sister that the
''Hnte',' kind words had caused to spring
up IN her bosom.
-" she stammered, in her attempt
!" reply, but another vicious blow from
LII Ia fr'chald caused her to reel, and al.
most lose her breath.
AS II she was afflicted with an excess o
m2iherIy love, the old woman went tow.
a.!'' the trembling girl, and under pre-
tense OF supporting, took her by the arm in
u a'h"nncr WHICH caused Louise the mos
intense pain, and at the same time allnos,
pryr"ted her from speaking.
!. lhen, with her false smile, and affecta
I I'" Of tenderness, she asked-or, it woulc
~ more proper to say, answered fol
.C',erlainly. Isn't it so, my dearT
;, one seems to be i'll and suffering" sale
sle , countess, as she saw how badly the
r. po'f girl trembled, and attributing it tt
~; .3c physical weakness, rather than emo
J"n, Io, leared that she was sick, and conelu
ne'i neI lhat that wa, the reason why Louis'
''''l not answered her question.
J., An! good, charitable aouls like you, my
,ao:%' have pity on her." replied the olt
"'n'"n, in her whining voice, that gratet
W. "l h1'l'se's ears, and even caused her tt
aa''nk away, as if with pain. "She has
due J'%cs, ,,, good home. Haven't you, my
"A: the old hag asked this question o
- louise, she clutched her more firmly b,
nsni1 ,ne arm, and in low, hoarse voice, whis
Speak out!' IA
teakfnl lest the countaua Shos,lsl ~ 4,