The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-09-26

door.
"Oh, maman !' she cried, clapping
her hands, "see what we have brought
you And here is Monsieur Jack"
Outside, abashed, blushing, stood
the young man with the basket. Mad
ame appearing on the threshold put
him to utter confusion. She had the
bearing Of duchess.
"What will your" queried she,
haughtily.
Excuse me, ma'am," was the STAN
mering reply, as the intruder DOTTED
his great straw hat, 81 meant did not
mean that is, l promised the little
one a ride"
"And ?" said Madame, sternly.
"And," answered the youth, gather
ing up courage, his honest, kindly eyes
looking straight into hers, "she needs
a little bit of change a ride would
not harm her, madam"
''It is liberty objectionable. In
my country it is not known that ven
dora street vendor-will intrude
himself on lady's apartment. People
know their place, and"
81 beg your pardon, madam. You
are right" interrupted the stranger,
his cheeks flushing hotly. "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. Fihne set up frightful
cry of disappointment. Ah no ride
no pleasure, no delights in prospect
now.
She did not go dancing off to school
next day, singing as he went. She
came back with headache, carrying
it gloomily up to the top floor and the
waiting mother.
Two days, three, passed. Fifne was
really i'll. She chatted incessantly of
the ride and the beautiful country.
She cried to see Monsieur Jack, as she
had named her friend.
One day Madame slipped down
stairs to buy some apples. 1t was the
day for Monsieur's appearance. The
youth bowed when he caught sight of
this princess from the top floor. Should
be carry the apples up stairs for her?
Little Fi6ne, sitting flushed and fe-
verish among heap of pillnws, lit up
radiantiy ut sight of the sunburned
face and the great straw hat.
"Ah maman," she cried, clapping
her hands, "now we shall go in the
country T..
But Fifne was i'll. Not for a day
nor week, but for a long, weary month
the little creature piDed and sickened
in the upper story Of the tenement
house. And it fell out that nearly ev-
cry day the young mans step sounded
on the stairs, and Monsieur Jacks face
became familiar to all the neighbors
as he made his way to the topmost
floor.
He petted Fifne, he chatted to her,
and charmed Madame by stepping
softly in spite Of bis big boots. Fifne
watched hungrily for his coming, and
thus it was, doubtless, that Madame
also found herself sometimes listening
for his foGtstep on the stair.
One sunny afternoon she stood
smoothing her glossy hair before the
cracked looking. glass. The day was "a
hopeful one. The air was clear, the
sun shone, Fifne was better. Madame's
eyes frightened as she stood at
the glass. She adjusted the knot of
ribbon, she touched up the white rutle
about her shapely throat. Without,
there was a creaking of the rickety
stairs. The eyes shone brighter in the
dim little mirror. Madame stopped 10
her toilet suddenly, seeing their ex.
pectant glitter.
"Can it be possible ?" she said to
herself Have | come to this-to sew
ing in garret, to starving, to begging,
almost, for Fifine, and to looking for.
ward every day to the visit of young
man who is an apple.vendor? Is it
that must at heart belong to the
eaaaiHeg Paul-Professor Paul, was
| ever worthy of thee ?"
But when she opened the door, and
Monsieur Jack stood modestly on the
threshold, Madame's eyes did not lose
their sparkle. He brought bunch of
pinks for Fifine.
"Ah| cried FHine clapping her
hands, they came from the country,
ma chere p'aman! When shall we go
oh, when shall we go, Riaman ?"
The mother looked at her tenderly,
pititully. The child had grown 50 thin
with long illness.
"My little one" she said, 81 wish l
was back with thee in my beautiful
Paris, where we should have music aud
flowers and parks, and"
"Fou can have them all here" in
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