The Opelousas courier., 1885-12-12
DOWN HILL AND UP.

thati"
"Oh, Grace, don't talk sol" said
Lonise, tearfully.
81 couldn't before Alfred" said the
elder Miss Fortescue. as she stirred
her cup Of weak tea. and tried to swal-
low a little of the saw-dusty bakers
bread from the little shop at the corner.
aBut facts are facts, and there's no use
trying to blind ourselves to them"
Louise wrung her hands, which, in
spite of DISTINGUISHING and foor-serub-
ing. still remained white and dimpled
at the knuckles, like a baby's.
aOh, Grace r said. she. "why can't /
go out and be a seamstress or some-
thingg
And Louise, feeling the necessity Of
action of some sort, could not but rec
ognize herself as being utterly use
less in this emergency.
She had advertised for a situation in
some school. but no one had answered
the advertisement. She had registered
her name at a p%retentious "employ-
ment agency in the neighborhood, but
as yet no crop Of ladies in need Of gov
ernesses. or children wanting instruc-
tresaes in French, music and German
had sprung up. and now came the
point blank question.
aThe postman r said Grace. sudden
ly starting up. Run, Louise, quick,
before he knocks. Alfred mast be
kept quiet, whatever happens. What
is sta letter for Alfred?
Yes said Louise.
aOpen.it child! See what is in it?''
eOpen Alfred's letter p cried Louise,
Id disnay.
Eyes, of course. Didn't the doctor
say that nothing must excite or dis
turb him It's about some business,
Of course, and perhaps it needs instant
attention"
Thus urged. Louise hesitatingly
tore open the letter.
sits from a Mr.. Townsend" she
said; "a gentleman who IS writing a
book.
writing . book r cried Grace.
aAnd what on earth has that to do
with Alfredo
ssIt's about French literature in the
time Of the first Napoleon" went. on
Louise. ssand the man wants a lot OF
Information from some unheard-of
book Ia the public libraries here. and
he can't come himself because he has
sprained an ankle, and some one has
mentioned to him the name Of Alfred
as. q capable. cultivated and literary
gentleman. whose services in complet-
ing a,thing of this nature would be
Invaluable. And he will be glad TO
remunerate Mr.. Fortescue at the rate
OF dollar d page for all compilations
concerning the Napoleonic age Of lit
erature.
"a dollar q pager' exclaimed Grace.
with cleaning eyes; 'sand for doing
the one thing that ALI likes best in all
The world r
siNhat are we to ID? asked Louise.
sWhat can we do?y sighed poor
Grace. .Write and tell him that Mr.
Tortescue IS confined to his bed, and
that tile doctor thinks he cannot leave
1t for several weeks, even under the
most favorable circumstances. Oh,
dear it seems wicked TO let this high
tide Of fortune goby US unimproved.n
sGrace, said Louise, with d quick
breath, sIt shall not pass Us BY. III
10 II myself
Yonp
ssEVhy not +? Cannot I read French
as well as ALI himself? Isn't my
handwriting big and bold enough for
any man's. lii go to these big public
libraries. III do the compiling for
This man
But, Louise, AZ you believe your
self capable Of It r
Louise drew herself up with mock
dignity.
do IIook like an inlpostor r said
he. Just wait and sea Give me a
eharee to build up my reputation.
And don't breathe q word of this to
Ale Dne dolIarJ Our fortune Is
made
The next day shetook her way to
the IibraFys ana calmly announced her
business % one of The principals at-
Lending sIlVer4haired gentleman
who u once became interested ii her
bslaIf.
He dia his best 70 help her, but II
VA y little pslzzilng just 1T drst.
Ehs waa not certain that she liked ii.
Heg French wass perhaps, i Iiftla rrs.
81 49, SO had neveg especially stud
VA ap what boz correspondent called
es pEImoN apoleozic age ii MIesa