The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-07-28

The lady had a face that touched me
at once. She was pale and timid, but
there was that in her face that made me
take off my hat while I talked to her.
/ don't know how to express it; but it
was as if stood in the presence of
death, and the natural reverence-of that
great mystery commanded my respect.
s'What can / do for you, madame l
asked.
She had been looking all around her,
as if seeking something.
'.You sell the goods, do you not?"
she said, eagerly.
Eyes, madam"
ssYou would know the articles sent
here?'
Probably"
She looked about her again, and the
color came and went in her face nerv
ously
II have just come from Clutchem e.
Keep" she began, in hurried tones, as
if ashamed of admitting her knowledge
of these gentlemen. "They-had-some
things-Iwas forced--to--partw with"
Here she paused for moment; then
looked mp at me with faint smile.
ssYou hear this said so often that / will
only weary you"
Somehow or other, it seemed to me /
had only then understood the possibility
of heart sorrow being attached to the
exchange of goods such as l had that day
sold.
II am anxious to help you, madam"
And was! believe l was growing
superstitious, too; for it seemed to me
as if ghostly pageantwas crossing and
recrossing that dim mirror, and the old
screen shook as if signs or sobs were
coming from it.
Thank you! l am looking for a
cedar cabinet" said the lady, gently,
(which was among the articles parted
with to Clutchem 4 Keep, and am told
it was sent here for sale. l wish to re-
deem it any price"
She stopped suddenly as she saw my
face change.
A cedar cabinet
remembered it at once. The hurt
on my hand recalled it, also that it had
been labeled for that days sale.
She grew frightened at my hesitation.
..Do not say that it is gone" she
cried, rising quickly and grasping my
arm. 20, God would not so afilict me!
Look, look everywhere for it, beg, l
pray you"
Her hands shook so on my arm that l
could feel the quivering of her thin
fingers.
I tried to think to whom / had sold
cabinet that day; then il flashed upon
me that there had not been one in the
catalogue.
Had made mistake and sent it
west with the bric-a-brac lot? If so, it
could be recovered. l felt glad for my
error, but the poor little woman mistook
my silence and broke down completely,
sobbing so pitifully that l knew then
that some great cause was hidden be-
meath her desire to reclaim the old cabi-
net.
g 1t is more to me than life or death,'
she cried out passionately, looking
straight before her. at means my
children's honor. Listen, and you will
be influenced by my great need to find
this cabinet for me. believe it con-
tains the certificate of my marriage and
my children's baptism, without which /
cannot lay claim to my husband s estate
in France. 1t is not the money want, T"
she added, with proud spirit; II cannot
bear to touch that, but my children
shall not be robbed of the right to their
fathers name.'
She paused to look at me. I felt as
il severe tension upon her nerves had
given way at last, and, crushed by her
fear of the cabinet being lost to her, her
silence and reserve had broken down
and then she appealed to me uncon-
sciously in her need.
The shadowy pageant passed to and
fro across the mirror, and as she went
on passionately with her story it seemed
to me | saw the whole sad episode pass
in review ON the dim surface.
/" Fifteen years ago my husband de-
serted me. Evil influence led him
astray, and while, for my chi!dren's
sake, / would have pardoned him,
never saw him again or heard one word
of him until learned through the pa
per that he was dead and had left an
estate to his wife and children.
Is could not grieve except that he
had died in his sin, unforgiven by me.
was poor, for he left me only the
furniture, and have toiled all
these years to maintain my children.
So, for their sakes, Iapplied to law
yer to obtain possession of the estate.
20, the shame, the despair, of find
ing another claimant in France to nv
name and honor.
:. 4 must prove our claim as wife and
children, said the careful French law
yer, by the production of the marriage
and baptismal certificates!'
"And l knew not where they were!
''The minister was dead, and the wit |
nesses gone, l know not where.
IL felt as if my carelessness had dis
my children, and for DAYS
could get no relief from my horrible |
anxiety until, by a flash. as il from |