New-York tribune., 1885-01-25

nnder % present Circumstances, to have wished for
me- not ves es"' She said. .Of course war must be
terr;hje Init il is grand toD and the music gives
one such glorious feeling. nave olteh nishou ~
be a soldier. However there Is one 'hihs" pun
s1S So Sa doubt t. yoa pray for them mademoselle
said Charles, rather more politely. IF this war
comes; sa1inr au is no doubt beautiful thing" said
Rarbe: but, as long one is in the world ON, one
mnst work too. For instance. there are the nus
,,;tais | love beyOnd everything else TO nurse tho
psicf 7 have learnt in our hospital here at SAINT
lean The dear Sisters have taught me every tnlns
they know. and we are hoping that Ill IL 'nv WTen Ta
we are nursing them, we shall feel as IL we were
fighting for France go , ~ u.uoo+od
" You. mademoselle. with those hands I" repeateu
Charles who could hardly believe his ears: A..
These hands 2" repeated Barbe, holding them
Mp. @Why noti They are strong. and nave been
taught to use Them . ,. 4ho
"Indeed, mademOiselle. linen you prefer 'no
corporal works of mercy .,,i, prho
al am not worthy of the spiritual. SAID Barne e
gravely "I do not see how one could 1--we with9u'
dong good to somebody. is u not our u"'9'
monsieur, to love everybody
Z" So they say, mademoselle - ,oo
9And how can we poor women SHOW our io'o
except Dy working with our hands -
Charles smiled little. III was becoming aos,lin Mu u
to hear this rich young girl talk as she was poor
t person with @ IDEAS Of
era fraternity and doing good to all mankind: ne
was interested in spite OF himself. heveI aftor
moments thought he went on drawing her out WIN
a condescension that surprised himself. II was @ noI
difficult to draw her out. All her own peoplo Slew ,
that she was silent and talkative by hts Now;
after the long silence in the salon., she chatlerei
with will. and with somewhat pr0vlpclal
interest in her own concerns, told Charies a
her daily life her occupations. her opinions. No
embarrassment ClOuded her sweet face ana open
manner. She seemed TO have forgotten the posi-
ton, the object and meaning OF tns took care
not to remind her of 1t yet cannot say that De
cnoyed ali he heard. Mademosele Duval seen cd
to him to be possessed possessed. VIII, Mers Very so % prmityey
e1hail Chrstlan as to be almost Communstc. She was
ready, indeed, to confess. when Charles limited te
question, that she thought n Republic the lnstest
and most beautiful form OF government. Cnaties
received this horrible confession very quietly.
Aterward Barbe reponted OF her ca4dGT Mt
She thought IN fact. that this grave young man
sympathized with her. and presently asked ,iiin
THesnsF Nsnep n? 0sa sSd Charles. shyerns
ado not you like themf
l detest them;"
an q 4 h.,S' Then what do you do all day"
From morning norm till night"
ais il possible! But what good does that do y
"Good. l don't know Yes it does q great deal
of good to myself mans first duty Is 70 himself Ia
ais itf All, you do not really mean that, SAID
Barbe, with a smile and sigh.
Excuse me- mademoiselle; ! mean 1t most
entirely. 1t was not by my own choice that came
into this world full of mseries. and quite decline
to occupy myself with them. Our views on tins
subject are opposite
" If you mean what you say"
I" | am speaking as truly as you spoke Just now"
Barbe was going TO plunge into a further aren-
ment. when something suddenly reminded her that
she and Charles were supposed TO 9e making up
was the appearance. at the other end OF the alley.
of Madame de Mesnil. the Able. Louis and her
father and mother She caught herself up hesitated.
hin shed scarlet and walked in silence beside her
companion to meet all these people. She did not
look particularly happy, and as for Charles his
at them rather anxiously, but only said. with her
sweetest smile. that she feared it was time 10 go
there was long drive before them.
As soon as the formal farewes were over and tho
party had driven away, NJ. and Madame Duval
both pounced upon their daughter.
Hey little one. how do you like hun, Can he
smile, or is he too much AFRAID OF wrnklng that
handsome face of hlsT
aAh you may joke, papa says Madame Duval;
bn he Is most E,,S HI, A1eG @aher h
is charming Never mind you old father. my little
chicken Do you like him-tei me r
He smiled once said Barbe. smiling herself
'T She looked al her father and mother with eyes
that answered their question quite snihcehtIy
Then she stroed out again alone INTO the alley oi
lines.
That night, her mother, going into her room ns
usual found the child crying; not passlonateiy, hut
tenderly knowing the of these tears, Barbe
whispered into her ear a confidence:
Mamma, like him but ! don't know that he
likes me-"
" Ha, ha. haw Madame Duvnls peals Of laughter
made the room ring. " Put such fancies away. and
go u sleep, my little one. NJ. de Mesni! is young
man of very good sense-the thing is all arranged
No doubt of his adnirng my beautiful child. only
think she is too good for him.
Under this consolation Barbe presently fell
asleep, with tears Oh her face.
II.
Poor Mademoiselle Barbe, She had. after ALL rs
the old nurses say, something 10 cry for.
AT Mesnil, late that evening the COintes5e was
sitting at her tapestry work entertaining the Abbc
who was staying in the house, when Charles and
his brother came in from the smOkinS-room.
but with an air of something between alarm and
amusement His brother had been talking 10 him
for the last hour. I'D now began, with more
ceremony and mildcr language, to talk in the same
strain to the elders.
II am sorry 20 yex YOU" he said to his mother
" but IS there no way Of escaping from this mar
riagcP
NV dear son Impossible" :" cried Madame de
Mademoiselie Duvals Now. ! was agreeaby
surprised. assure you she Will look well when
she is properly dressed"
handsome" said Charles. But cannot marry her.
! know it: ! feel 1t. Ny mother. you have not
talked TO her as have. Her ideas are mOnstrous.
She loves nothing 80 much as dressing wounds. !
trcmble when think Of her"
" She is very good. charitable young grl,' said
the Abb6.
"Very well, monsieur believe YOU. did not
say she was vic ked. But her opinions those of
the JacOiins. She prefers Republic She talks Of
hospitals and sick-beds and all the horrors III the
world. She thinks such subjects agreeable. What
is 10 be done with n person So terribly brought up"
"Dld she talk hike that TO Won. my poor child 7
Not Ngat1 Ia