The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-01-05


"Monsieur, / am not French, but En-
glish, like you"
"Then do have one!" and in my haste to
press them on her | gave a little jerk for
ward, which sent the whole half-dozen roll
ing on the floor. Well, by the time we
picked them up, crawled under the carriage
seat, bumped our heads together, and were
reseated little the worse for dust, we had
become friends and laughed honestly and
openly each in the face of the other. 1t
did me good to see her plunge her little
pearly teeth into that pear, the skin of
which vainly entreated to be permitted
to remove.
sit is so good" said she, "for 1 feel
hungry now. There was breakfast for
me, but couldn't eat before came away"
and the culver in her voice supplied the
reason.
"Are you going to SCHOOL," ventured to
say:
"Well, yes and no; 1 am going to a
school, but to teach as well as to learn
there" l was silent; and after minute
she added: "At home it isn't as it used to
be. Papa has married another wife. |
have lost my mother-she died when was
a baby"
"Ah" l said, by way of consolation,
''that is sad loss to anybody"
She nodded her head atfirmatively.
"She-the other one-knows that l have
IpDOuN DuJ pupds ~ - NluSl VI hSl3 ouo
said, "to send me away"
40 but you must not take it like that''-
it seemed to me that any excuse that re-
moved her from that shady-looking fathers
influence ought to be counted fortunate
circumstance-"I dare say they thought 60
ing to school again might be good for you"
The rosy button was pursed up to show
that it's owner did not share my opinion.
81 do not believe that l speak English
with such bad accent" she said, pouting-
ly; edo you find that l do, monsieur?-
what do you Think"
Because | laughed she turned away her
head vexedly, the truth being that what |
did think was that this was the most be-
witching little monkey l had ever in my
life come across. 1t was my first expert
ence of innocent, childish coquetry, and
the fascination was irresistible.
"You laugh at me-" she said, reproach-
fully, "and that is what they will all do. l
told papa so, and he said no. He likes the
English; that is why got into this carriage
with you; he thought perhaps YOU might
be going the whole way-are YOUR
eyes, l am going to London"
$50 am l."
"Then we shall cross together"
"Cross the seal" She clasped her hands
tightly. so! am So frightened of the sea
the thought of being alone on the water
territies me-"
"But," said, 'you won't be alone-that
is if you will permit me to take the charge
of you"
She shook her head doubtfully. so,
thanks but | should not dare to trouble
you. Papa himself always gets angry with
me, | cannot help it. say to myself, this
time | will be brave; but my foot on the
ship, ahN-her face expressed how her
courage melted-"if l cannot find some
body whom | can hold on to tight, feel l
must die"
''You shall hold on to me like grim
deathr' [ said, laughing encouragingly.
"We are due at Dieppe by two O'Clock;
that gives us plenty of time for good
luncheon before we start" Something in
her look made me add: so! you must
eat: besides, you tell me you have had no
breakfast-that you are hungry"
eyes, am; only papa said l was to go
on board immediately"
every likely he forgot about your want
ing something after this journey"
mo, don't think it was that" she said,
with sly hesitation; shut, frankly, mon
sieur, we are not rich, and before saying
yes, think / must count my money"
Already | had closed my hand over hers
and the shabby little purse it held, which,
while speaking, she had drawn out of her
pocket. "Now," l said in return for the
care mean to take of you, you must do
me a favor. / am an old bachelor, you
must know, and very seldom get the chance
of young lady's society; whenever l do
always make it a point that she shall have
luncheon with me-"
'Really! but that is very nice of you"
90! Pm despot in that respectw
"But it's very fortunate for me that you
are so''-and she clapped her hands gaily-
''for do you know that | could eat you, and
| have nothing but packet of bOn-bons in
my pocket to satisfy me-" and Owed her
Of rt,nE
did | do with my money%' she exclaimed
suddenly. "Ah! here it is; get into such
a fright because L think l have lost it.
Papa told me to be very careful, and so L
am; but don't know where to put it,"
SIT often strikes me that ladies are very
badly off for pockets" said.
''But, no! !" and she pointed to the sides of
her jacket. 81 have one there, one there
and one in the skirt of my dress-how
many have youD
90! the number of mine is legion" and
pointed to my outer coat; mot that |
should think of carrying money about with
me there
"Wouldn't you? Where would you put
it, thenr
1 took out some of the loose coin 1 had
and held it in my hand to show her.
"What, without any purse~
81 never carry purse with me-"
And all the money you have you carry
like that?"
eyes, all that I want for daily use 1 do.
OF course, in travelling one is forced to have
more about one, but that keep in place
of safety"
"0ut of sight-hidden away" she said,
confidentially. Eyes, that is what l ought
to have-a pocket that no one could get at I;
and it might he done in this lining, should
say"-and unbuttoned her jacket so that
l might give an opinion.
Perfectly; you have only to stitch a
stout piece of stuff on that-don't you see?'
"Yes-it would bulge out, though"
"Not if done properly"
doesn't yours?"
"No--mine seems fiat enough;" and fur
Their turned open the flap of my coat, lit
tie amused at her curiosity. The little
nimble fingers had half drawn out my
pocket-book; and then, looking up, she sud
denly recollected herself. so, pardon
pray excuse me for the moment 1 forgot
l am so accustomed to papa that" She
hesitated, and found nothing to say. Pos
itively for the first time in my life the
thorn that | was no longer young ran its
point into me. OF course, girl of that age
would look upon me as her father-why
shouldn't she?
Fearing that my silence would make her
think that she had offended me, | pulled
the note case out and opened it wide.
"You see," l said, "that mine is a more
portable form of money~ and l unfolded
the roll of crisp notes that had been given
at the exchange office. But her propriety
had evidently taken fright, and though she
smiled at me, she cast no more than q
glance in the direction of the money.
What an unaccountable being is man
full of strange surprises for himself as
well as for other people. Here had L been