The Morning herald., 1876-08-10

1
care you alsne~
"Yes, am alone"
The answer seemed to satisfy La Fro
chard, for she Immediately unfastened the
door, saying:
"Well, if you are alone, you may come
in"
s,~"fiette entered, and bat single look
at the squalid place frightened her. The
whole house looked a fit abode for murder
ers and thieves, and the appearance of the
old woman seemed to heighten that i'm
preston.
"Great Heavens can this be the place ?"
she asked herself, in astonishment
As she stoed in the center of the room,
gazing with fear and trembling upon every
object, Mother Frochard was favoring her
with suspicious looks.
"Well, young woman" she said, after
waiting few moments for Henriette to
speak, "you want to see madame Frochard,
what have you got to say to herr?
Still Henriette hesitated, and placed her
hand upon her heart to still its tumultu-
Gus beatings.
"Come, what is it ?" again asked the old
woman, impatiently. "What are you
looking for? Do you expect to find any
one here?" ..'t
Shis question aroused Benriette to the
sense of the mission which had brought her
to this fearful place, and she answered,
quickly.
"Yes-yes. l am looking for the per-
son who lives here with you."
"What person?" and Mother Frochard's
metallic voice was harder and shriller than
ever
"a young GIRL" asked Henriette.
"Ah, ha," thought the old woman, "lhis
must be the sister," Then she said, in an
Indifferent voice: 81 don't know anything
about any young grip
"You don't know her {" asked Henri
tie, in aston ishment.
"Now ....
Gam mistaken? This house answers
the description, and your name is Froch-
ard, is it not ?"
"Elphremie Frochard. What then?"
"You beg in the streets with a young
girl who sings, do you not %
me beg in the streets !" replied the old
woman, in highly indignant tone, as if
the idea of such thing was an insult to
her. "Why should beg? Haven't l two
sons who work for me? One of them is a
knife-grinder-look, there is his wheel,
and the other one is-oh, if he were only
here now"
"You must be the one," said Henriette
half to herself. ''the doctor told me that he
knew you, and" ~.
Henriette stopped talking, and gave ut
terance to scream, expressive of surprise
and fear. -
She had noticed the shawl and scarf
which the old woman had taken from
Louise, and fastened upon herself.
"What is the matter?' asked the old hag,
in no little surprise.
"That shawl know it! 1t is hers-it is
hers, l tell you" screamed Henriette, as
thousand fears for her sisters safety pre-
sented themselves TO her mind.
Not bit of it, it is mine," boldly as
serted La Frochard, thinking she could
make the young girl believe her.
"And this scarf around your neck"
"Well, what of it?' =,
"It was made for herby my own hands'
exclaimed Henriette, tearing it from the
old woman's neck. "Oh, wretch! you have
lied to mev'
For an instant La Frochard was aston
ished. She had thought to persuade Hen
riette that she knew nothing Of her sister;
but it was impossible.
Her round, wicked face grew perfectly
fiendish with rage, as she hisscd, through
her clenched teeth, the single word:
"Caught!'
Then, after a moments thought, she
turned to Henriette with a smile that was
intended to be smpathizing. i
"Well-well," she said, in sorrowfu!
voice, eff you must know the truth, Plltell
you. When you came in. you were so ex-
cited and frightened, I'didn't dare to tell
you all" -.
"All-all what% interrupted Henriette,
in an agony of apprehension speak
quickly" -
Zone evening about three months ago."
continued Mother Frochard, 81 met the
girl you are looking for, wandering about
the streets. had psty on her, and brought
her home with me, where took good care
Of her."
The old woman stopped to wipe away
tears, but the agonized girl ex-
claimed: ~
"Go on. for Heavens sake, 60 on!'
"Well." whined the old hag, "she knew
I was poor and couldn't afford to keep her
for nothing, 20 she sang sometimes in the
streets-just to help me-and she sang Ike
a little bird"
Again the old woman's feelings over