The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-12


worked like four men; and every Sunday
I went to see her. They were not at all
pleased with her. She was always MAX
ing the Sisters mad, and turning the
convent upside down. Then when We
would be alone, she would fling her
arms around my neck and look into my
eyes, so that it seemed to me l saw mil
lions of stars. And she would say to me
between two kisses:
"Take me away from here; want to
live with you, don't like it here"
1t was hard to refuse her; for be.
longed to her body and soul, the little
wretchl-and she knew it. Still / re-
manned firm.
"When you can read, write and count
we'll" said, you can leave here-not
before"
where shall 1 go them
Just wherever you like"
And she would always answer:
Il want to go with you, and to your
home; want to be your wife,"
She was there three years. At last one
morning the Superioress sent for me.
She said they could not keep the little
one any longer. She was insolent to
everybody, passionate as a cat, and in
durable as an itch.
And when told the Superioress that
was going to marry the girl she lifted
her eyes to heaven and cried:
MAY God help you!-may God watch
over you"
The little one did not know much; she
would never study. But she had grown
tall and beautiful. At that hour she was
lovely as an angel. And I-great clumsy
brute that was-I was crazy about her.
married her, and was happy-mad-
ly happy. Even now, in spite of all she
has done, when think OF that bliss, 1t
makes me tremble in every limb. I had
worked so hard, so constantly, that even
while paying her board, had beer able
to lay something aside. All! dame! 1
had no high living in those days; and I
ate more bread than I did anything else.
But when she left the church she found
waiting for her complete housekeeping
set-a neat, clean, cheerful home. I had
done the best could.
And when we went out on Sundays,
she leaning upon my arm-Lordl how
proud of her I was! How everybody
turned round to look at us! But. then,
you have no idea how beautiful she was
All! she was wonder-a marvel Of God s
creation-I could not describe her!
My friends knew of her already, while
she was with the Sisters. l could not
keep my adventure to myself; I told
every body, like the big fool was.
She had kept her Gypsy name. Her
skin was golden as mandarines. Some
fools called her black. Then they ended
by nicknaming her La Tarpiaude on &C.
the first to laugh when my friends called
her by that name.
How happy I was!
But, L tell you, paid dearly for that
happiness; for l had terrible time of it
afterwards. Need tell you that kept
on working as hard as ever-yea, working
bevond my strengthen order to pet her,
to spoil her. to get her everything she
wanted? There was one thing which
always fretted me in the midst of my
Joy. She was as lazy as dormouse;-
had no idea of putting her ten fingers to
the least good use,-doipg nothing all
day but reading trashy books, without
even taking the trouble to mend her own
dresses. And greedy!-and liar 1t
was no use trying not to see lt-no use
having a web over your eyes! Though
was really drunk with love-blind drunk,
though she could make me see stars at
midday, still could not help seeing how
disorderly her life was. But used to
say to myself: she will change for the
better as she grows older. And used to
think if the good God should send US q
child, she would have to take charge of
it, and that would make her q better
woman. Luckily for me we never had q
child! What would such q child have
been? 0 misery
That happiness lasted two years-two
years that passed as quickly as two days.
Now it is the hours that drag along as
slowly as if they were years.
Already several times, when l came
home. l had not found her there. No
dinner ready-the house all dismal, and
empty, and cold. 1t was very trying. A
moment later she would como in, all out
Of breath, and excuse herself by saying
she had been taking a walk with some of
her girl-friends. Still didn't say any
thing. You see, whenever found fault
with her, she would pout. snd then it
was l who was in the wrong, and ! had to
beg her pardon.
But one evening she was out much
later than usual; and 1 was at the win
dow watching for her to come. Al last /
saw her shape at the corner Of the street;
but, at the same time, fancied that she
Was not alone. thought l saw q man
with her knew that mani A man thew