The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-05

to desist, but she replied: Gould ind
another task more nreaial even than this,
l would do it." Influenced by her example,
AnPelique. who was formerly angry when
obliged to do any cleaning in the kitchen,
now tried to invent some extremely dlsa-
greeable- task wren she felt nervous and in
need of control.
But more than Catherine, more than
Elizabeth, far nearer aud dearer to her than
all the other saints, waS Agnes, the child
MARTYR and her heart leaped with JOY on
retiGding i'll the golden legend this virgin,
clothed with her own hair, who had pro
tected her under tho catheral portal. What
ardor of pure love, as she repealed the son
of the governor when he accosted her on
her way from school. "Go-leave me, min
lister of death, commencement of sin, and
child of treason" How exquisitely she des-
cribed her beloved II love the one whose
mother was Virgin, and whose father was
faithful to her, at whose beauty the sun and
moon marveiled, and at whose touch the
do9d were made alive" And when As
pasian commanded that cher throat should
be cut by the sword,n she assembled into
Paradise to be united to her "betrothed,
whittier and purer than silver gilt"
Always, when weary or disturbed An
gelique called upon and implored her, and
it seemed as il peace came to her at once.
She saw her constantly near her, and often
she regretted having done or Jeought of
things which would have displeased her.
One evening as she was kissing her hands,
habit which she still at times INDUCED in,
she suddenly b ushed and turned away, al
though she was quite alone, for it seemed
as if the little saint must have seen her.
Agnes was her guardian angel.
Thus. at 10, Angelique was an adorable
child. Certainly, neither the quiet, labor-
GUS life, nor the soothing shadows of the
cathedral, nor the legends of the beautiful
saints, had made her an angel, a creature
of absolute perfection. She was ofton an
cry. and certain weaknesses of character
showed themselves, which had never been
sufficiently guarded against. But she was
always ashamed and penitent if she had
done wrong, for she wished so much to be
perfect! And she was SO human, so full of
life, so ignorant, and withal so pure in re-
atty!
One day, on returning from a long ex-
cursion which the Huberts allowed her to
take twice year, on Pentecost Monday
and on Assumption day, she took home
with her a sweet briar bush, and then
amused herself by replanting it in the mar
row garden. She trimmed it and watered
it well; it grew and sent out long branches,
filled with odor. With her usual intensity,
she watched it daily, but was unwilling to
have it grated, as she wished to see if, by
some miracle, il could not be made to bear
roses She danced around it, she repeated
constantly: This bush is like me; it is like
meln And if one joked her upon her great
wild rose bush, she joined them in their
laughter although little pale, and with
tears almost ready to fall. Her violet-col-
ored eyes were softer than ever, her half
opened lips revealed little white teeth, and
her oval face had golden aureole from her
light wavy hair. She had grown tall with
out being too light; her chest was full, her
waist flexible; and gay, healthy, of a rare
beauty. she had an infinite charm, arising
from the innocence and purity of her soul
Every day the affection of the Huberts
for her increased. They often talked to-
gether of their mutual wish to adopt her.
Yet they took no active measures in that
way, lest they,might have cause to regret it,
One morning wien the husband announced
his final decision, his wife suddenly began
to weep bitterly. To adopt child! Was
not that the same as giving up all hope of
having one of their own? Yet it was use
less for them to expect one now after SO
many years of waiting, and she gave her
consent, i'll reality delighted that she could
call her her daughter. When Angelique
was spoken to on the subject, she threw her
arms around their necks, kissed them
both, and was almost choked with tears of
joy.
So it was agreed upon that she was al
ways to remain with them in this house,
which now seemed to be filled with her
presence, reiuvenated by her youth and
penetrated by her laughter. But an unex-
pected obstacle was met with at the first
step. The justice of the peace, Monsieur
Grandsire, on being consulted, explained to
them the radical imposSibility of adoption,
since by law the adopted must be 'of age"
Then, seeing their disappointment, he sug-
geSted the expedient of a legal guardian
snip; any individual over so years of age
can attach to himself a minor of Is years
or less by legal claim, on becoming their
official protector. The ages were all right,
SO they were delighted and accepted. IL
was even arranged that they should after
ward confer the title OF adoption upon their
ward by way of their united last will and
testament, as sucn a thing would be per-
mitted by the code. Monsieur Grandsire,
furnished with the demand of the husband
and the authorization of the wife, then put
himself in communication with the director
of public aid, the general guardian of all
abandoned children, whose consent it was
necessary to have. Great inquiries were
made, and at last the necessary papers were
placed in Paris with certain Justice of
the peace chosen for the purpose, and all
was ready except the official report which
constitutes the legality of guardianship,
WHICH, tne 1uDertS buuuenly were taken WIN
certain scruples.
Before receiving Angelique into their
family, ought not they to ascertain if she
had any relatives on her sides Was her
mother still alives Had they the right to
dispose of the daughter without being alb
solutely sure that she had willingly boon
given up and deserteds Then, in reality,
the unknown origin of the child, which
had troubled them long ago, came back to
them now and made them hesitate They
wore so tormented by this anxiety that they
could not sleep.
Without any more talk Hubert unexpect.
eddy announced that he was going to Paris
Such journey seemed like a catastrophe in
his calm existence. He explained the necos-
siity of it to Angelique, by speaking of the
guardianship. lie hoped to arrange every
thing in twenty-fours. But once in the
city, days passed; obstacles arose on every
side. He spent week there, sent from one
to another, really dong nothing, and quite
discouraged. In the first place, he was re-
ceived very colby at the Office of public
assistance. The rule of the administration
is that children shall not be told of their
parents until they are of age. SO for two
mornings in succession he was sent away
from the office. He persisted, however, ex-
planned the matter to three secretaries, made
himself hoarse in talking to an under officer,
who wished to counsel him that he had no
official papers The administration were
quite ignorant. A nurse had left the child
there, "Angelique Marie" without naming
the mother In despair he was about to re-
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