River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-08-19
FELICIE BRENARD.

''Fclicic, Felicic Brovard! Come here
directly"
The soft French name had a queer
sound, coming from Mrs. Monson's
thin lips and acrid voice.
Felicie came slowly up the stairs to
where Mrs MOnson stood talking yolu-
bly, with her lodger. Mr.. Thornton.
.Fclicie. walk little faster" said
Mrs. Monson. sharply. Here is MIR.
Thornton. that has missed his finest
cameo. You were in his room busting.
yesterday.
1t was head of Apollo, said Mr.
Thornton. II bought it in Naples.
Could you have swept it behind the
furniture2"
At the first mention of the cameo.
Felicie put her hand in her pocket. she
turned deadly pale and half cry eS-
capped her.
Have YOU got it?'' cried Mrs Mon
son shrilly. IF you have. out of these
doors you shall pack. Trouble enough
have had with YOU already and all
your relations s.
She seized her by the shoulders. and
attempted to put her hand into her
pocket. Felicie resisted desperately.
She was white as a ghost
Come. come. Mrs Monson, The
cameo is not worth all that, said Mr..
Thornton.
Ii was nearly worth enough 10 have
made Fel'cie open her innocent eyes
wider .han they had ever opened be-
fore.
Mr. Thornton had often noticed Fe-
licir. He believed her 10 be honest,
AID he saw that she was much terri
fled by Mrs Monsoon violence.
but mean 10 ret 10 the bottom Of
IT, I" said Mrs. Monson.
Thornton caught her by the wrist
and forced her TO uuloose Felicie. He
gave her look before which the
shrewdncss vanished like smoke.
You had better 20 down stairs. ="
said he. quietly. Il will settle this
with Felicic.
Mrs. MonSOn walked submiSsivcly
down stairs. and left Thornton and the
frightened girl alone.
Now. said Thornton. kindly. but
with determination in his voice, tell
me how this happened.
Fclicie put her hand in her pocket
and took cut the cameo.
Il suppose YOU won't believe me,
she said. bursting into tears, but |
did not steal il.
II do believe YOU. said Mr.. Thorn
ton. go on.
i WAS busting your room. | put
mv handkerchief OF the mantlc-pieco.
When / took il up did not notice that
| took ANYTHING with il. When ! got
down stairs | felt il in my pocket. /
was hurrying To put il back when |
found yuu and Mrs Munson here.
She was very pretty when she cried.
She had delicate beauty very differ
cnt from Mrs. MonSon'> buNom daugh-
ghtcrS He wondered how two types
50 different could bc produced in the
same family
Are You Mrs. Monson's niece p he
asked her.
No. she answered with a ring Of
Indignation. "Mv mother was Mr.
Monson's sister. and a lady. MY
mother was French.
And how came YOU here
wv father and mother died, and /
had nowhere else To 20.
She began to cry again.
Thornton had never felt so bad for
anv human being in hIs life.
s.Aui Won have never been educa-
ted p" he inquired, after a pause.
"A little. I can read and write, and
can speak French. Nv father was n
French teacher. aud he used to say to
me when | was little thing. 'Felicie,
you must study hard some of these
DAYS. and YOU must learn to play and
sing but cannot play, and | have
not the heart 10 sing.
Thornton looked at her in silence for
some time
Il have never benefited others much,
but this Is a chance / will not let slip.
Felicie. how would yOu ike to 90 to
school. and then learn some business
that would make you independent
such as ilOwer-making?'
..Or dress-making. responded the
practical Eelicie.
VERY we'll" said Thornton. Il
know Of respectable place where you
can live. Let me see-you are about
1872
Nearly Is. said felicie.
Thornton stared.
She was. then. quite a woman, and
uncommonly pretty one, too, he
aid to himself.
You are quite sure You Will not re-
pent2 But perhaps l am dong wrong
IN taking you away from your natural
guardians in this manner.
You may take me away or not,
said Felitie. cody. But if some one
does not take me away | shall take my
self away ! am going now to get
everything | have, and nothing will in
ducc me to sleep another night under
this roof
That settled H. Thornton took q
card and wrote an address upon it.
and in less than an hour Felicie pre-
. 7ented berscIf 20 her new friend with 3
E basket containing al her worldly
F possessions.
Mrs M8us0n came nome 70 fad Fe
+ 1ir-e gone. and no clHe "a her, while
Felicig was being sHuglV euscopsed ia
sunny little room sc Miss Shepard :
+ Miss Shepard nad been sn humble
friend and dependent Of Russell Thorn
ton ; mother. snd was only too glad Z
+ have it in her power 20 do anything fo
Mr. Russell
Thornton appeared in the evening
and fixed upon plan for Felicie's IN
+ ure arrangements.
You shall have certain amount :
month. " said he, '.above your board
With that You may do as you please
You may 90 TO school. or learn dress
making. or anything else you like
+ / leave for New York tomorrow eve
ming. and in week | sail for London
{ shall be in Europe certainly three
years. and at the end of that time
shall look you MP. TO see what yol
have made of yourself.
Felicie looked up 70 him with he
pretty dark ewes trimming over witt
Tears. She had learned 10 dread an,
fear strangers. These two-Russel
Thornton and Miss Shepard tn
only two who had ever been kind q
her in all her life.
II will try. l win tryl' was all sh
could say
Thornton rose 10 say go0d-by.
s.When | come back l expect to b
dazzled with your requirements.
He shook hands with her Is he spoke
and then with Miss Shepard, and th