The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-05-09

opitc vi ail cuc lay mere Vlctlm 10
the same vice that urges the brutal
collier to pound his wife to death
and causes the starving charwoman
TO overlie her wretched baby.
did no. like to expose her weak
ness 20 her own servant, so promised
to send round some medicine and to
look in again in the evening.
/ As stood with the door half open.
turning to give the girl some last in
structions, girl passed by me hasti-
ly, not even seeming aware Of my
presence. Before / had time to speak
or even to look at her, she had
thrown herself on her knees beside
the bed and was weeping bitterly
over the unfortunate woman. Her
face as she knelt was hidden from
me, but l could see her hair was
black, and something in the turn of
her graceful figure struck me as be-
ing familiar.
oh, my poor mamma! my poor
mammal she sobbed out. What
shall | do again, again! Oh, my
poor mammal
drew near and said: You need
not be alarmed at your mothers
illness she will soon recover
The girl rose on hearing my voice.
She turned round quickly and look
ed at me. Lo and behold, she was
our long-lost Fleurrttel
Fleurette-and. as could see even
through her sorrow, as beautiful as
ever! | advanced with outstretched
hands; but the girl drew herself up
and waved me aside with the digni-
iy of a diminutive Empress.
And so, as you threatened, you
have intruded upon my privacy.
Col will never speak to you
again"
Miss Dorvaux, / answered, al
most as angry as herself, your SER
want will tell you how | happen to
be here, and you will see it is from
no wish to intrude. / am going now,
but shall return to see my patient
this evening, when | hope, for the
sake of old days, you will give me
few minutes conversation.
Then, as Fleurette returned weep
ing to he mother, departed, revolv-
ing many things in my mind, as the
writers say.
l had found Flerette at last. Act
ually living within a stones throw
of my doorl Perhaps she had lived
there even since she left Dalebury.
Now having found her., what was |
TO do with her guess that / had
also fathomed her mystery. You
see IL was only Il commonplace, vul-
gar little mystery after ala moth
er's drunkenness the sum-total of it.
Yec when | thought the girl giving
up her love and bright prospects for
the sake of keeping her erring moth
ers vice secret, most likely never
complaining ofthe sacrifice, wearing
to the outer world a bright face that
hid from nearly every one the sorrow
OF her heart. it seemed to me that
our little Fleurette was something
very near heroine after all.
My first idea was to telegraph to
John and tell him where to find her,
but upon consideration / thought it
better to wait until after our inter-
view in the evening.
l found Fleurette alone. She was
very pale. very sad, very subdued-
very different, indeed. to the angry
young woman who had walked in
the river three years ago, or the un-
just tyrant who had ordered me from
her presence that afternoon. NV
first inquiry was after her mother.
Poor Fleurette colored as she told
me that lady was now almost conva-
lescent, and she did not think need
trouble to see her again. Then she
held out her hand, and as | took it
said:
please forgive me for my unjust
words to-day but | was so vexed
| scarcely knew what | said"
1--WE are always forgiving each
other, Fleurette. Brothers unto sew
enty times seven-why not sisters
also?"
Fleurette smiled sadly and hope
lessly.
Tell me, Fleurette,' | said, gent
ly, as | sat down beside her, was
this the cause?"
She nodded her pretty head.
Tell me all about it. How long
has it been going on? i can be secret
as you"
And then Fleurette told me. Twill
not give her words. They were too
loving, too lenient, and even framing
affectionate excuses. 1t was pit
eous little tale, even as she told it
a tale of hope growing stronger every
day, till in one hour it was crushed
as a flower is crushed under foot.
Then came penitence, contrition,
shame, and the -ever-recurring VOWS
of amendment. And with them
hope sprang and bloomed for q
while-only to be cut down as ruth
lessly as before. And so on for
years, ever the same weary round,
and although she told me not, ever
the same loving care, the same jeal-
GUS resolve to shield her mothers
sins from the vulgar gaze II was a
hard burden for a girl to bear. For
this she gave up the hope Of being
Johns wife. She would not leave
her mother to perish, and would not
inIure John, as she shrewdly feared
might be the case if she subjected
him to the scandal OF having a moth
er-in-law of Mrs. Dorvaux DISPOSE
ton living with him, and knowing
as | know the delicate SUSCEPTIBLE
ties of patients in place ike Dale
bury, in my hear. | thought that
Fleurette was right.
aAnd why did you leave Dalebu-
nv ?" l asked when she had finished
her recital.
Mamma was-ill-there: 80 I'D
I was frightened, and obliged to send
for q doctor, and | feared people
might learn the cause" So that was
WHY DIV. Bush had been called in in
stead of john
Then we came to London" she
s.--1l