Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-10-17

her hands. 'see what we have brought
you. And here is Monsieur Jack"
Outside, abashed, blushing. stood the
young man with the basket. Madam
appearing on the threshold put him to
utter confusion. She had the bearing
ofa duchess.
"what will you?" queried she,
haughtily.
Excuse me, ma am" was the stam-
mering reply, as the speaker doffed his
great straw hat. Il mean-I did not
mean-that is, promised the little one
a ride"
'And:" said madame sternly.
"And," said the youth, gathering up
courage, his honest, kindly eyes look
ing straight into hers, ''she needs lit
tie change: ride would not harm her.
madame"
at is liberty unpardGnable. In my
country il is not known that a vendor
a street vendor-will intrude himself on
lady's apartment. People know their
place, and
Il beg your pardon. madam. You
are right" interrupted the stranger.
his cheek flushing hotly. "But this is
America. ''But this is America, not
Paris. Good-day."
He was gone. The place was blank
and desolate. The apples lay on the
floor. The sunlight had faded from the
window. Fifine SET up frightful cry
of disappointment. All. no ride, no
pleasure, no delights in prospect now.
She did not 60 dancing off to school
next day, singing as she went. She
came back with headache, carrying il
gloomily up to the top floor and to the
waiting mother.
Two days. three, passed. Fifne was
really i'll. She chatted necessarily about
the ride and the beautiful country.
She cried to see Monsieur Jack. as she
had named her friend
One day madam slipped down stairs
TO buy some apples. 1t was the day for
Monsieur Jacks appearance. The young
man bowed when he caught sight Of this
Princess from the top floor. Should he
carry the apples up stairs for her?
Little Fifine, sitting flushed and fe-
verish among heap of pillows, lit up
radiantly at sight of the sunburned face
and the great straw hat.
"Ah, maman," she cried. clapping
her hands, ''R0v We shall go i'm the
country"
But Fifine was i'll. Not for day nor
a week. but for long, weary month
the little creature pined and sickened
in the upper story of the tenement
house. And it fell out that nearly
every day the young mans step sounded
on the stair. and Monsieur Jacks face
became familiar to all the neighbors as
he made his way to the topmost floor.
He petted Fiiine, and chatted TO her,
and charmed madam by stepping softly |
in spite of his big boots. Fifine watched |
for his coming, and thus il !
was, doubtless. that madame also found |
herself listening for his footstep on the |
stair.
One sunny afternoon she stood |
her hair in front of the |
,racked looking glass. The day was a
hopeful one. The day was clear, the |
,un shone, Fifine was better. Madam's
yves frightened Is she stood at the
,lass. She adjusted her knot of ribbon.
he touched mp the white rufile about
ler shapely throat. Without there was
creaking of the rickety stair. The
yes shone brighter in the dim little
mirror. Madam stopped i'm her toilet
seeing their eXpectant gilt
er.
..Can il be possible - she said to her.
elf. ''Have | come to this-to sewing
II garret, To starving, to begging,
.lmost, for Fifine, and TO looking for
ward to the visit of 4 young man who
: an apple vendors Is il that must at
ieart belong to the caaddie? Paul
Professor Paul. was | ever worthy of
hee:',
But when she opened the door, and
Monsieur Jack stood modestly on the
hreshold. madam's eyes did not lose
heir sparkle He brought bunch of
inks for Fifine
"Ahr' cried Fifine, clapping her
ands. ''they came from the country,
"a chere. namon, When shall tre GO
h, ,uhea shall we go, maman?'
The mother looked at her tenderly,
itifully. The child had grown so thin
nth long illness.
MY little one,'' said she, II wish
was back with thee in my beautiful
'aris, where we should have music and
overs and parks, and
lyon can have them all here" in
,rrupted Monsieur Jack, quietly.
There were tears in Madam's eyes, but
he turned upon him hotly:
''What will you?" she said. ''Shall
take shame to myself that | am poor?
was poor in Paris, but named it not
,. In my own country have pleasant,
emile life. Ny Paul is very wise, very
uiet. He will not have touched him
IF with what is rude and rough. The
eighbors say he will never be rich. III
a pas inrente Ia poudre,' they say and
lugh-she was not the inventor of gum
owder.' But we also laugh and are
Apply. have my pot of flowers; l
ave my fete days. 1t costs but few
,us to be happy. All, why did we ever
,me away, my petite, to be reminded
lat we are beggars?"
Madam caught up her white hand
erchief and wiped her eyes. There
as an awkward pause. Monsieur Jack L