St. Landry democrat., 1879-03-08

W
She was never seen speaking to any
Other woman, and no song cheered her
esr.et. She worked without interest
and without relaxation a depressing
gloom seemed to envelop her like a
siroud. Her detection affected Maurice;
he attempted to speak to her; she re.
p2i:d mildly, but in few words. 1t was
easy to see that she preferred her silence
and her solitude to the little hunch-
backs good will; he perceived it, and
SKID nc more.
But Toinctte's needle was hardly suf>
fcient for her support: and presently
work failed her. Maurice learned that
the poor girl was in want of everything,
and that the trsdesmen refused to give
her credit. He Immediately went to
them and privately engaged to pay them
for what they supplied Toinette with.
Things went on in this way for several
months. The young dress>maker con-
tinued out OF work, until she was at last
frightened at the bills she had contracted
with the shopkeepers. When she came
to ALI explanation with them everything
was discovered. Her first impulse was
to run to Uncle Maurice and thank him
on her knees. Her habitual reserve had
given way to burst of deepest feeling.
1t seemed as if gratitude had melted all
the ice of that numbed heart.
Being now no longer embarrassed with
a secret, the little hunchback could give
greater efficacy to his good offices.
Tuinette became to him sister, for
whose wants he had right to provide.
It was the first time since the death of
his mother that he had been able to
share his life with another. The young
woman received his attentions with feel
ing, but with reserve. All Maurice's
efforts were insufficient to dispel her
gloom. She seemed touched by his
kindness, and sometimes expressed her
sense of it with warmth: but there she
stopped. Her heart was a closed book,
which the little hunchback might bend
over but could not read. In truth, he
cared little to do SO ; he gave himself up
to the happiness of being no longer alone,
and took Toinette as her long trials had
made her he loved her as she was, and
wished for nothing else but still to enjoy
her company.
This thought insensibly took posses
sion of his mind, to the exclusion of
every thing else. The poor girl was as
forlorn as himself; she hads1eeome
accustomed to the deformjes Or the
hunchback, and she seemed to look upon
him with an afectionate sympathy.
What more could he wish for ? Until
then, the hopes of making himself accept
able to helpmate had been repealed by
Maurice as dream but chance seemed
willing to make it reality.
After much hesitation he took courage,
and decided to speak to her,
1t was evening; the little hunchback,
in much agitation; directed his steps
toward the workman's garnet. Just IS
he was about to enter, he thought he
he srd a strange voice pronouncing the
maiden's name. He quickly pushed
open the door, and perceived Toinette
weeping and leaning on the shoulder Of
q young man in the dress of sailor.
At the sight of my uncle she disen~
gagged herself quickly, and ran to him,
crying out, "Ah, come in come in 1t
is ne that I thought was dead; it is
JULIEN; it is my betrothed!"
Maurice tottered and drew back. A
single word had told him all.
It seemed to him as if the ground
shook and his heart was going to break !;
but the same voice that he had heard by
his mothers death bed again sounded in
his ears, and he soon recovered himself.
God was still his friend.
He himself accompanied the newly
married pair on the road when they went
away, and after having wished them all
the happiness which was denied to him,
he returned with resignation to the old
house in the suburb.
It WAS there that he ended his life,
torsaken by men, but not, as he said, by
the Father which is in heaven. He telt
bis presence everywhere; it was to him
in the place of all else. When he died,
it was with a smile, and like an exile
setting out for his own country. e
who had consoled him in poverty
ill>health, when he was suffering II N
injustice and forsaken by all, had made
death gain and blessing to him.
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