Middletown transcript., 1883-04-13
UNDER THE CONVENT WALLS.
BY CONSTANCE CARY HARRISON.

ID SONCl ANNE SEA1N 4l<h4eAA4SC-Ns
About twelve O'Clock one bright Feb
ruary day in Paris Madame Blanchet
sat waiting for the arrival of her be
lated scholar, Miss Cora Bell, young
American whose habit it was to spend
a couple of hours three times week in
so-called "elegant conversation" in the
French language with that worthy
dame. The little apartment where the
teacher lived had formerly been a garret
over the dependence of a suburban
boarding house, taken under some
stress of circumstances by its present
occupant, and little by little, through
taste and perseverance, it had been
made to 'tbloss0m like the rose" No
wonder merry Miss Cora liked her tri-
weekly French lessons. The walls of
the large room, divided into two smaller
ones by screens, were hung with fluted
chintz, all flowers and leaves of bright
est hue. A tiny porcelain stove diff
fused, when called upon (but that was
not too often, for madame, like all
French women, believed in economy in
wood, a friendly warmth. In both
windows, whose panes Of glass were
polished like the speckless boards of
the flooring, were kept plants and
birds. A great green box Of migno-
nette in flower sent out luscious frag-
rance. Vines were made to start from
behind every picture-frame and out of
every china jar upon the shelves and
somehow or other they grew like Jacks
bean-stalk, strong and green and luXu-
RANT. Best of all, a flood Of genial
sunshine came in on all sides, for the
garret boasted Of various windows.
Where madame slept one could find out
by peeping behind a screen at the tiny
white-curtained bed with the crucifx
above it, but where madame cooked no
one ever guessed ; yet she had fashion
of producing from unknown corners a
series of luncheons that were nectar
and ambrosia to her youthful visitors.
Days there had been in madame's past
when the poor lady had
known what it was to subsist upon the
slenderest Of rations, but now the
fame of her exquisite embroideries in
chenille and silk was noised abroad,
while her occasional scholars, like Cora
Bell and a few liberal Americans of
the same set, made up an income suffi-
cient for the widows wants.
Madame Blanchet, sitting at the open
window overlooking an ivy-covered wall
that just here formed the boundary of
the Bois de Boulogne, felt quite wistful
with regret over the non-appearance of
her favorite scholar. "She will not
come now," the widow said to herself,
as the inevitable mantel clock struck a
cheerful loud-voiced tone" "Truly, |
she has twined herself into my heart,
that chere petite Cora. How she
laughs and dances and sings her life
away Just like that other one-so
many years ago." A shiver ran over
the little woman's frame, and she
closed her eyes as if to Danish some
painful image. My pretty Cora will
never know so sad fate as hers, thank |
lie bon Dieu.'' A light step upon the
stairway, and Cora, blooming with |
health and animation, came into the
room.
Don't scold, dear madame. There |
is time enough yet for chapter of our
book before they send for me. -
The lesson began, but Cora's atten-
tion wandered her thoughts flew off |
at tangent +; her eyes grew dreamy a |
deeper rose-color settled in her cheeks.
At last little white protesting hand |
was laid across madame's page.
Blanchet, dear, want to confess
to somebody. Won't you be my priest ? |
You know that papa is in America at
tending to business always, and that
mamma is forever going out. I've no
body but that stupid Parker Of mine,
and talk must-I must. Oh, Blanchet,
if such thing can be, am too happy! |
All of this dear blessed morning he
has been with me, and mamma has given
her consent, and we are to be married
soon.'
And then, the fiood-gates loosed,
came stream of joyous confidence.
Cora never thought to look up at her
listener until she felt hot tear, then
another, drop upon her hands clasped
in the Widows lap.
"What is it, dear madame ?-what
have l said to pain you ?" the girl
asked, wondering, to be answered by a
fit of bitter sobbing. With kind and
gentle words Cora soothed her friends
and at last Madame Blanchet
was able to speak once more. |