The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-03-21

The children, however, were soon for
gotten. But her words fingered in Vic
tors mind.
Marie" he said, as they hurried
home, a" the pretty lady said she would
give a hundred dollars for my eye
lashesw
"Did sheF' cried Marie, her eyes
growing large. "Oh, what pile on
pile of money! We could live on it for
ever, couldn't weP
az think SO; and poor mamma
wouldn't cry so much. l mean to do it,
Marie"
Mamma won't let you, Victor"
at is best not to tell her,"
So the two babies plotted together.
Poor innocents They had been bred
in so hard school that they could not
understand Jest. Smiles had come but
rarely to their sad little faces.
From their birth, almost, misfortune
had followed their parents. Two years
before, their father had been drowned
in that beautiful sea; and since then
the mother had tried, with failing
health, to provide for them. Seven
months passed; terrible storm had
swept over the island, and then their
little home had hoated out to sea, they
barely escaping with their lives.
The mother was French woman of
good birth and education; but no way
to earn money seemed to open to her
but washing and mending delicate laces,
or doing fine needlework that tried her
eyes, and for which she was but poorly
paid. She was too proud to appeal to
the town for help; but now for weeks
she had been too ill to work regularly,
and little by little her money had melted
away.
She looked up as the children entered
the wretched home, like some wild
creature brought to bay. They kindled
fire with their bits of wood, and she
toasted them johnny-cake. 1t was
the last cup of corn-meal in the house.
With despairing thoughts whirling
through her poor distracted brain, she
sat the evening through in heavy
silence, while the children whispered in
the corner.
Mamma" said little Victor once,
timidly, would you give your eyelashes
for hundred dollarsT'
Gay, child" said she, bitterly, az
would give my eyesW
The children looked meaningly at each
other.
And in the night, while her babies
slept, the breaking mothers heart re,
lieved itself in wild tears and prayers.
Standing above them, her hands out
stretched, her broken voice faltered its
appeal to the all-pitying Father above
God Himself may have listened, fol
over her worn soul there stole deer
languor, through which a voice seemed
to reach her soul with touch of peace
"And it shall come to pass that the
Lord shall give thee rest from thy sor
row, and from thy fear, and from thu
hard bondage wherein thou vast mad,
long to serve"
She threw herself on the bed anc
slept; slept SO soundly that she did no
know when her children rose and stol,
softly out of the room.
Both little faces were bright. Mari,
had her mammals scissors in her hand.
They spread an old French newspape
on the ground, and Victor lay down ant
closed his eyes. The morning sun crep
up and turned his curious face full
upon them. Then, clip, clip, clip, wen
through the long, dark, curled lashe
that the mother had kissed so man
times. Any mother must have screame
to see Marie cutting so recklessly. !
her hand had slipped, or Victor ha
moved, never again might those deer
dark eyes have looked on the world
beauty. But the little hand was guided
it may be, by one who takes heed of th
sparrows as they fall.
Now it was donel Sleeps ange
pressed the mother close in his arms
that she might not know when, hand i
hand, her children ran off to the gres
house in the beach.
Lefty and Mr.. Kimball were at breal
| fast in cool, latticed room. Lefty WE
, dainty and fresh as the morning, in
cool white wrapper, all ruffles and blu
. ribbons. The table gGttered with he
wedding gifts of china and silver. He
husband was glancing over the pape
Venus, the dusky maid, entered wit
hot waffies.
&" Dere's two funny little Frenc
children AKIN for you, Miss Lefty" sl
) said. Gone of ems got sompen wrappe
up in passel, dat he says he's brung
| you. Dunno what it is, douten it's
> sof' shell crab," and Venus giggled.
? ooh, it's my little French friend
Send them in, Venus"
4 The children came in, more pitifu
looking than ever, in this lovely roor
Victor walked up to young MI
g Kimball. "Here are the eyelashes
t he said, holding out bundle lar,
enough to hold an actors wig.
What do you mean?' and Let
/ | OqVn ano1ad frIonoa o4 oI,1J
face. "Oh, Adrian, see what this lit
+ goose has donew
You said you would give one hu
," and here they are"
It Adrian burst into a peal of Taught
d as Lefty turned her perplexed fa
from him to the child.
what was your mother thinking
TO let you do such crazy thingT sa
le she, sharply.
a, Mamma didn't know; but she sa
'e she would give her eyes for one hundr
IT dollars-and there was nothing more
ID eat" Here Victor, who had not look
for such reception, broke into lo1
" sobs, in which he was joined by Mar
|" There, there, little ones, don't cry
sad Lefty, the tears starting to h
a own eyes. Venus, bring plates for t
children. You shall take breakfast wi
re me, and then will go with you to
Ks your mother"
Id Mrs. loreli has just begun to wode
lg where the children were when she hea
te their voices. They rushed in, talki
tn both at once, and very fast. Behi
IN them was gracious vision; beamir
pitiful face, wreathed in golden hair
n, light young figure that crossed the roc
er and held out her hand to the wonderi
s.! woman, who, looking into the gen