The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-07-19

chill of fear to her heart.
 "Ceil. But how III the child looks 1" The exclamation broke from her involun- tarily. Then, the sudden, swift move ments of the mother, the terror ip her eyes as she sank down by the child and caught him in her arms, made her wish she had bitten out her tongue before she had uttered such a speech.
 slt is air he wants,n ns she went on. try- ing to undo the effect ot her words, as the young mother still did not speak, but bent over the child, who dropped his toys, and flung his arms round her neck with little sob ot delight and weariness, that showed how he had been yeaning for his mothers arms. But she had told him to play with his toys, and by-and-by, when she had finished that piece of work, she would take him and pet him; and with patience pitiful in such baby, he had tried to obey.
 Cannot you spare few hours 10 take him into the country! See, little hour in the night will make up again your work, and as for the money, it costs very little. It is not good you have not taken one holiday since you came The little one ought to go out from the walls and streets. Has not he a fete like other children:'
 "A fete:' The other turned upon her with sudden passion. Did not tell you that he has no birthday"
 She spoke French with faint English accent, and as, after the passionate out, burst, she bent over her child again, she murmured in her own tongue:
 My darling. my darling."
 The gcod Frenchwoman looked on pityingly, not understanding the words, but knowing that they were termr of en- deament
 Estelle looked up suddenly again The listless languor of the child as he lay Tn her arms, perfectly contented now that his little aching head rested on her breast, sent chill through her own limbs.
 Would II do him good-a day in the country!"
 Good. It would give him fresh life, i, answered madame. Then she diyed into a capacious pocket and brought out few coins. See, will lend them another day you will return them. Decidedly the child must go."
 A scarlet flush dyed the younger wo- mans face a face whose firm lines of mouth and chin betrayed a pride that made it bitterly hard to accept a charity. But the child. The mouth quiyered tremulously, and sudden mist dimmed the beautiful eyes.
 " Madame, you have been very good to us, and yet you know we cannot repay you"
 ct Bah. give me back the money when you can. See, will help you dress the little one; he is beautiful boy, but it is a great pity that you will always speak to him in English he would make a brave Frenchman-le peti, Basil"
 A sudden shudder ran through the girls frame from head to foot, while a look Of almost loathing came into her eyes. But madame did not see it. She had lifted the child in her arms, and was telling him in her own tongue of all the beautiful things he was going to see.
 Look, then :" she exclaimed in triumph. l" He smiles already al the thought of the sunshine and the flowers"
 The two women dressed him together there was little change to be made in his clothes, for he had but the dress he was wearing-laughing over him with that woman's laughter which is so near to tears where child is concerned, ca ressing and talking to him in the baby language he used himself. Then the work was folded, the chairs put back into their place. the few little toys gathered up from the floor, the tiny slippers, that had just been taken of the baby feet, beside the white pinafore ready for him the next morning, and then, with many inlunctions from madame as to how they were to go, and admonitions against keeping the boy out too late, they started.
 Madame, who had accompanied them down stairs, stood at the deor and watched them down the street.
 When she reached the end of it, the young mother turned, and made the child look too. They both nodded and laughed back to the good landlady, the child kissing his hand, the thought of the country seeming to bring back some light into the mothers face as well. Madame nodded and smiled in return. Then something shut them out from her view either the houses at the turn of the street or curious mist that had come into her own eyes.
 CHAPTER II.
 Gu, in the country far away from the great city, with its sun-scorched pave ments and glaring houses. from its noise and dust, and the wearying, ceaseless toil of its workers, new life and strength came back to the child. A faint color tinged his cheeks, his eyes danced and sparkled as they looked on the wonder fal new world he had entered, and the soft west wind, as it played around him and tossed his brown curls, made him laugh aloud with delight. They had de- scended at little station some distance from Paris, and then walked on as far as they could go, Estelle sometimes carry ing the child, sometimes letting him run by her side
 They came at last to the green fields, with shady groups of trees, where not a soul save they two was to be seen. Then began the real delight of the day. She gave the boy the milk and food she had hroxs hi knv him and as~ . rsn~> .S A-.