Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-06-07
I turned cold as I finished the peru

l.
door of the salon soon reopened, and a
little figure appeared on the threshold.
A fragile-looking boy, about eleven
years of age, dressed in dark-blue
blouse, which hung loosely about him,
and wearing on his head red knitted
fsherman's cap, which was pulled down
low on his forehead-a boy whose pale
face was lighted up with large dark
eyes, the long dropping lashes sweeping
HE delicate cheeks. He shut the door
softly behind him, and gave a swift
searching glance around the room then
as though abashed by my presence. he
stood with downcast eyes, and his hands
loosely folded before him, awaiting my
questioning.
"My boy" l said, addressing him in
French, scan you conduct me to this
gentleman who is so ill?"
Again his dark eyes wandered about
the room, as though to reassure himself
that we were alone, and then he replied
softly in English, though with foreign
accent,
"Surely. madame, | will but it must
be with all speed, or it will be a lost
journey
Telling him to wait for me where he
was, left the room, and hastened to
prepare for my expedition. My heart
sank within me at the idea of venturing
out into the night with no older protec-
tor than the little child waiting below /;
but nerved myself to perform the duty
l felt had fallen across my path, and
made up my mind to act as became a
soldiers wife-fearlessly. | had about
thirty sovereigns in my possession, as it
happened; and making up the sum re-
quired as nearly as | could in French
money, | placed it carefully in small
bag, which hung on my arm. Dressing
myself in dark bonnet and travelling
cloak, l descended quietly to my apart
ment, 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.
L told him was ready to start, and
walked to the table by which l had
been sitting to get the letter the woman
had written, and which had caused me
so much anxiety.
The boy then approached me, and,
taking my hand in his cold ones, said,
in whisper, as his piteous eyes filled
with tears:
Madame, the gentleman bade me
say to you, for the love of Heaven, and
for the sake of your dead mother, bring
the money"
| showed him the little sack carried
under my cloak, and he was satisfied
we then left the hotel silently, scarcely
noticed by the servants busted about
the entrance-hall. Once out in the
open air, ] seemed to breathe more free
ly; but my heart was too heavy fol
speaking, and we pursued our way il
silence.
The noise of the traffic, the lights O
the shops streaming across our path
and the number of foot-passengers pass
ing and repassing US, bewildered me a
first, all unaccustomed as l was t.
walking through the streets so late
but we pressed steadily on through tn
ever-changing crowd, and people seemed
too intent on their own business to TAX
much heed of two wayfarers like our
selves. After time we turned into
less frequented part of the town, an(
the lights became less brilliant, and tn
streets more deserted. Suddenly tn
boy stopped, and seemed uncertain as t
which road to take. He paused a mo
ment; then, turning to me said:
MADAME. I fear l have missed m,
way little; but my mother told m
sho would give some directions in he
letter; will madame give it to me tha
l may right myself %
Without thinking, handed him hi
mothers letter; and, standing beneat
neighboring lamp, he read over slow
| ly the directions contained in the note
then, holding it still open in his hand
he resumed his walk, referring to
every now and then. as though still i
doubt as to our whereabouts. Their
was certain mysterious quiet abou
the neighborhood we were in that prey
ed upon my spirits-a certain silence
could not fathom; and my courage be
gan to flag strangely as we CONTINUES
our lonely road. | experienced a sen
sation of intense relief, therefore, whe
my young guide stopped suddenly be
fore tall dark house in quiet street
and | listened eagerly for an answer t
his gentle tap at the closed door. /
voice from within asked softly i
French ''How fares it, my son % an
in English, the boy answered: 'Safel
and fairly; open the door" The doc
was then unbarred and opened withou
the least noise, lust wide enough to aO