Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-08-27

/ 'SNe"uhs 10 the mus as lar as the Scmbre
rampant Of oak.
Mederic saw behind the well a little head
arse and look shyly towards the open blinds.
lie beekoned with his hand and called.
Bon Jony, little one;" but no one answered.
and the little face quickly vanished behind the
well.
Medeuc breakiaSted with his mother. and
as they were about to rise from the table
they heard the heavy voice of the farmer.
somewhat sof;ened, As one speaking TO a
/ child
Come on. little savage; they will not eat
I you.' heavy step was heard outside. three
knocks upon the door, and Mage entered TO
pay his respects, leading by the hand his little
Ftsee, whom Mederic recognized as the child
who had looked at him so curiously from be
hind the we'll
Mage was a man Of about fifty years Of
age. His wife had died in child bed. leaving
IN his arms the new-b born babe In the coun-
Try they indulge in no useless laments; the
tears are soon dried, and the mind quickly
turns 10 labor, leaving no time for idle regrets.
Mage was in every sense Of the word q
peasant. with his robust, healthy figure ana
honest face. He did not marry again. but
lived only for the plough and the field. lie
prIded himself upon his exact payments, and
his chief object in life was to accumulate
properly for the benefit Of his little Fisee.
Come come Fisee" Then, as She
shyly bent her head, the good man said
apologetically:
Pardon her. madame, she is ashamed"
And Of what should she be ashamed-this
litle Norman girl? OF her pretty neck? OF
the brown, healthy skin; the plump, round
hands ? OF the tangled hair, and the deep.
beautiful eyes, which flashed when she
laughed Madame Ferrard looked at her
almost with feeling of envy, and then her
eyes turned from this vision Of fresh, whole
some beauty to the fragile elegance OF her
little son.
kiss her, Mederic. And no~r, Mage, let
Us talk"
They left the children together and seated
themselves al the table 10 discuss business
matters and arrange the future plan of life
Mederic was not as shy as Fisee. He had
all the easy assurance of the city child, who
has rolled the hoop in the public gardens and
chattered on the corners with strangers. He
tried 10 conquer the bashfulness Of his future
companion.
Was she then always so serious, this little
Fisee who, although only nine years Of
age, filled the dignihed position OF house
keeper in her fathers house and as she COW
cred her eyes with the cotton cape, which she
had drawn ovei her blond hair, Mederic
seized her by the waist and kneli before her 10
catch glimpse Of her face
"She laughs, mamma she laughs -
Fisee drew away the small, trembling
hand, and suddenly, like a ray of light shin
ing through the clouds, the bright eyes flashed
forth brilliantly.
The acquaintance was made, and the chill
dren flew through the open door, leaving
silence behind them.
"Yes, my friend, the rent of this farm and
my widows pension is all that remains to Us,
my son and myself As you know, under
stand nothing Of farm life. You will be the
master here, as before. rely entirely upon
you"
Yes, truly, she could rely upon him. lie
was conquered, this sturdy old Norman
touched by this naive ignorance, her sadness,
her desolation. "Yes, truly, she could rely
upon him." and as he had nothing more to
say he left the room.
CHAPTER III.
Mederic knew OF nature only as much as
can be learned by boy of ten years through
the windows Of the barracks, and therefore
his calculations OF surprise highly amused
Fisee, as he accompanied her over the whole
domain. She took a salad dish and told
Mederic to follow her. Their feet sin,.ing in
the clayey ground slackened their steps
Fisee laid the salad dish upon tuft Of box
wood, and said, "Catch me ~
Then. like two unbridled colts, they flew
over the level ground, darling in ard out of
the thickets in wild chase, he painting, she
supple as an eel.
In the evening the village school master
and the priest came to welcome the widow.
They cordially detested each other, and never
met without entering into the most warm
dispute. The one representing in Rollevil lie
the elements of progress and reform; the
other, that Of old customs and traditions.
The Able Breulot interested himself greatly
in archaeology. He carefully preserved four
letters, which he had received fron the
Able Cochet with whom he had exchanged
some correspondence He was good man,
indulgent and charitable He had some mus
ical pretensions, to which he willingly sacri- |
feed his sermons. NJ. Camas was the first |
school-master in Rolleville who had ever re-
fused to sit in the choirister's desk. This i'm |
piety cloaked profound political aspirations. |
He was in favor Of new ideas, quoted |
Farousse, and piofessed great contempt for |
/ attn. because OF Its clerical associations. |
He received regularly journal from Paris,
which fact procured for him much reverence |
and consideration.
These two personages filed the room with |
their importance. They spoke with precision,
and the constrained elaborateness OF two men /
who measure each others words.
The wax candles had been lighted upon |
the mantle piece. Mederic was seated be-
tween his mother and the priest. The hands
of the priest rested upon the boys head, as
though in benediction.
"And when will we make our first com
munion ?"
"Oh, nothing presses. The child has a
life of leisure before him. There Will 'e no |
haste. We will wait a year or two, ana
form and strengthen his mind with |
recular instruction. His lessons have been
terribly neglected OF late"
Then NJ. Camas offered his services. Inc
public school was not suitable Tor ehiio OF
his sphere. lie would there make the ac-
of all the little ragged urchins,
which would not be at all desirable
Nine O'Clock sounded. IL was decided
,bai ne school-masier should come every Gay
10 give Mederic lesson, IN which risee
should share.
Then the two visitors arose to take leave.
IJpon the door sill the Able Breuloi, drawing
his tall figure to its full height, said, as ne
gently tapped Mederic's cheek;
ave win make Christian OF him, mad
anne"
Ill al