The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-09-03

brothers. signature. which saw at once
was genuine.
! turned cold as finished the perusal of
this letter. but, commanding my voice as
well as was able | bade the servant send I
the bearer to me at once. | was not left /
long in suspense the door of the salon /
soon -eopened aud little figure appeared |
on the threshold A fragile-looking boy |
about eleven years of age, dressed in a |
dark-bIue blouse, which hung loosely about |
him. and wearing on his head a red knit
ted fl>herman's s cap, which was pulled down
low on his toreheafI-a boy whose pale face
was lighted up with large dark eyes, their
long dropping lasfes sweeping his delicate
cheeks. He slIuI the door softly behind
him and gave a swift searching glance
around the room j; then. as though abashcd
by my presence, lie s'ood with downcast
eyes and his hands loosely folded before
him. awaiting my questioning.
My boy,''I said addressing him in
French, lean you conduct NE to this gen
tlelnan who is SO i'll ?''
Again his dark eyes wandered about the
room as though to reazsure himself chat we
were alone, ard then replied softly in Eng
lish. though with foreign accent:
'sSurely, madame, will, but it must be
with all speed. or it win be a lost Journey
Telling him to wait for me where lie
was, left the room. and fastened to pre-
pare for my expedition. My heart sank
within me at the idea of venturing out in
TO the night with no other protector than
| the little child waiting below; but nerved
myself TO perform the duty l felt had fall
len across my path, and made up my mind
to act as became soldiers wife-fearless-
| IL. l had about thirty soyereigns in my
possession, as it happened and making
up the amount required as nearly as
could i'll French money. | placed it care
| fully in small bag, which hung on my
arm. Dressing myself in a dark bonnet
and travelling cloak. | descended quietly to
my apartment. without giving intimation
/ of my departure to any one. The child
| stood precisely as had left him. with the
| light falling on his pale face, and his hands
| loosely locked in one another. / told him
! I ready to start. aud walked to the ta-
bic bv which had been sitting TO get the
! letter the woman had written, and which
! had caused me so much anxiety.
The bov then approached me, and, TAX
I ing my hand in lis cold ones, said in a
whisper. as his pteous eyes filled with
! tears:
Madame. the gentleman bale me say
i to you for the love OF heaven, and for the
/
| ey''
/ showed him the little sack carried un-
der my cloak, and he was satisfied VIC
then LETT the hotel silently, scarcely noticed
by the servants busted about the entrance
hall Once out in the open air, l seemed
to- breathe more freely but my heart was
too heavy tor speaking. and we pursued
our wav in silence.
Tie noise OF the traffic. the lights OF tlle
shops streaming across our path. and the
number of foot passengers passing and re-
passing us. bewildered me at first, all un
accustomed as was 10 walking through The
streets so late hut we pressed on through
the ever-changing crowd. and people seem
ell too intent on their own business to take
much heed of two wavfarers like ourselves
After time we turned into a less frequent
ed part of the town and the lights becam.
/ less brilliant and more deserted. Sudden
/ ly The boy stopped aud seemed uncertain
as to which road he shonld take. He paus
cd moment then, turning to me said
MADAME fear have missed my wa.
: little but my mother told me size woult
give some directions in her letter; viii
madame give it me that may right my
self ?''
without thinking | handed him hi
mother's letter. aud. standing beneath
, neighboring lamp. he read over slowly til
directions contained in the note; then
holding it still open in his hand, he resun
ed his walk, referring to it every now an
then. rs though still In doubt as to on
Whereabouts. There was certain mys
terious quiet about the neighborhood w
Were in that preyed upon my spirits
certain silence could not tathom an
my courage began to flag strangely as W
continued our lonely road [ experience
: a sensation of intense relief, theretor'
: when my young guide stopped suddenly b
: fore tall. dark house in a quiet stree
I and listened eagerly for an answer to h
: gentle tap at the closed door. Il voit
/ from within asked softly, in French: ''Ho
fares it, my son 20 and in English the ho
: answered Safely and fairly open Il
door, The door was then unbarred al
: opened without the least noise. just wit
e enough to admit us. and we entered a ha
e lighted by "a small lamp held by a tall w
h man poorly clad. The fiickering fan
If of the lamp gave forth so dim light tn
is / could not distinguish her features, al
= she spoke in voice scarcely above viii
is per. | inquired eagerly Tor my brotbe
u and begged her to conduct me to him
W once. She shook her head sadly, and the
a said
N ..Ah. madame, your coming may
$ great thugs for him you will be able
IS ease the poor mind that runs on nothil
TO but money, money, day and night, wit
Ia ont ceasing. !"
10 She barred the door by which We entt