The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-04-08

will. do very we'll as name, !" the cir
continued, turning TO Stella, "until W,
know something more Of each other.
suppose you are we'll acquainted will
the person whom you representY"
"Oertainly, or / shouid not be here.
"You know the persons family con.
nections. in that case, and you can say
for certain whether they are French con.
nections or notg"
IL can say for certain" Stella an
swered, "that they are English con-
nections. I represent friend who
feels kindly toward Madame Marillac
nothing more"
"You see. mother, you were mistaken.
Bear it as bravely, dear, as You have
borne other trials" Saying this very
tenderly, she addressed herself once
more to Stella, without attempting to
conceal the accompanying change in hen
manner TO coldness and distrust. zone
of us must speak plainly" she said.
"Our few friends are nearly as poor
as we are, and they are all French. I
tell you positively that we have no
English friends. How has this anony-
nous benefactor been informed of our
poverty? You are stranger to us
you cannot have given the information"
Stella's eyes were now opened to the
awkward position in which she had
placed herself. She met the difficulty
boldly, still upheld by the conviction
that she was serving a purpose cher
ished by Romayne. Ia
"You had good reasons no doubt,
mademoiselle, when you advised your
mother to conceal her true name," she
rejoined. "Be just enough to believe
that your anonymous benefactor' has
good reasons for concealment, too."
1t was well said, and il encouraged
Madame Marillac to take Stella's part.
"My dear Blanche you speak rather
harshly to this good young LADY," she
said to her daughter. "You have only
to look at her to see that she means
WE'LL"
Blanche took up her needle again
with dogged submission.
"If we are to accept charity, mother,
I should like to know the hand that
gives it," she answered. at will say
"When you are as old as I am, my
DEAR" reioined Madame Marillac, "you
will not think quite so positive as you
think now. I have learnt some hard
lessons" she proceeded, turning to
Stella, "and I hope I am the better for
them. My life has not been happy
one"
"Your life has been q martyrdom |"
said the girl, breaking ont again in
spite of herself. "Oh, my father my
fatlier!" she pushed aside the work
and hid her face in her hands.
The gentle mother spoke severely for
the first time.
"Respect your fathers memory |"
she said. Blanche trembled and kept
silence. "I have no false PRIDE"
Madame Marillac continued. az own
that we are miserably poor and I thank
you, my dear young lady, for your kind
intentions toward us, without embar-
rassing you by any inquiries. We man.
age to live. While my eyes last our
work helps to support us. My good
eldest daughter has some employment
as teacher of music, and contributes
her little share to assist our poor house,
hold. I don't distrust you; I only say,
let us try little longer il We cannot
hslp ourselves"
She had barely pronounced the last
words when o startling interruption
led to consequences which the persons
present had not forseen. A shrill, wall
ing voice suddenly pierced through the
flimsy partition which divided the front
room and the back room.
To be C0ntinued.)