The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1888-11-16

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4.None Of your airs. she cried. iii
yoa TT &c walk. you car You are pre-
tending. Stand up
! casght the child as she fell back,
and A. that moment saw 3 man whom
I knew vel coming dovE the road in
his cart.
.iAh, here is Pisrre Lagrange" !
cried. joyfally. Il know he will take
the child home
Pierre xas = good, humane fellow,
more than wiling 10 do kind act, and
Lifted Nathalie into his cart al once
Maaane Poiron. growing Ike a bear,
had taken herself of with the baby in
her arms. aud the Dutch dolls todding
after.
But then this IS a bad business for
you. Nathalie, 20 Pierre said. as be logged
alorg. That old fre-eat IS going TO
give sou hard times"
Il never have easy times, Monsieur
Pierre. - she answered. with her patient
voice. the tears rolling down her white
face Il would wish 10 be dead, and
with mamma. Il il was not for the cnii-
dren. but Lore then. and they love me. ~
Il 0Te YOU Just listen 10 herr The
little vampires that suck her life blood-
The frraufs that get her mole beatings
fhaa / can count And, madame, you
hear her say she loves themf
Yes. they do love me. she sighed
Monsieur Pierre, they are all ! have IN
the world. Tante P0iron i not always
eros. she has good days. you know,
and Is kind. but then. you see, she has
50 mEny ;hildren, she has no love 10
spare for ne
That's certain and sure" Pierre
Inuitered 10 his heavy beard. but We had
reached the farmhouse, and he lifted
Nathalie out tendeTiy.
-FaTewell, madame, and thank you,
she said, IS be bore her into The house.
Thought often o. Nathalie during
the next few weeks heard her ankle
was spsained. but that she was doing
Eeil Ibid not venture 70 call, for i
was evident that Madame Poiron had
taken ~ inse,erate dislike 10 me. But
was glsd 10 see the little girl walking
ont one morning with the baby in her
arms. / hurried forward aud inter
oep;ed them. Nathalie Was thinner
than ever, but her eyes-lovely eyes
ineT e-brighfgned at sight Of me.
Are you quite well, Nathalie, !
asked.
.My foot hurts me q little, madam.
but can wax Il is the first time l
could carry Bebe-sTeet Bebe +" kissing
enthusiastically the pasty -faced infant
We sre going 10 have fsfs in the woods,
Bebe a0d I, showing me little package
she held in one hand. There Is slice
OF Ilse and a piice OF cake, and oh,
medaine, viii yea not come 20 our te'e.'
! SAID I would, but must run home
for something. That something was m
addition 70 the tea party in the shape
u some fruit had Just received It
zas good 10 see tie del.a Al in Nathalie
eses when laid my contribution before
her
s.Oh. Bebei Bebes' she screamed, clap
ping her hands. bananas, Bebe
Oranges and lovely white grapesl Oh,
they are too beautiful 70 eat I"
When ;hs Tepast was over, Nathalie
wrapped 4hat remained In her apron for
Be E and the twins.
-Yoa look quite happy, Nathalie
said.
Happy ah. yes. madame, there is no
one happier than ] am to-day Only
fhink. can walk again and nurse Bebe.
love ali children, but Bebe is real
angel Of heaven"
sat there wondering over that starved
roaDg lie whose only modicuni OF sun
light vas putfy-faced Belle. What wa:
happiness after alll A poor, ll-treated
val. whose daily bread was favored by
hars.s words. sat there under God.
b essed sunlight and called herself
happy. gave up the problem
Several weeks passed, and although
Was often on the watch, | saw nothing
Of Nathalie. The house where my friend
ana boarded, commanded a full view
or the Poiron farm; for some days mono
Of the men had been working in the
field. aud the load voice Of Madame
poiron WAS silent
What Is the matter over az Poiron'sF
I asked our laudladg, Mrs. Blake
Ny. Blake turned very red, and looked
confused
..Nel. the truth is. / didn't like Il
tel you. Ladies, for / thought you NIGH
get scared. aud there amt bit OF dan
ser Tor there's no communication be
tween the farm and any house IN town
Theg've got smallpox there bad Nearly
AL the farily are down with It. Old
Poiron caught il from tramp. Two o
the children will die tonight, and thel
SAY the old madame can't live There
& no one 10 attend them but one Of the
bows and little Nathalie"
i.she Is not sick, them" / said, re
HeFed-
..Nathaliel no. Old Dargan, who ha
been fhere-he's had smallpox himself
told Mr.. Bake, the child goes from
one TO the other. with Bebe in her arms
Bsbe has smallpox, too, and she nevei
puts Il down"
I cannot express all ! felt when tn
next dar saw the funerals leave tn
cotface-one Of the sons and one Of the
mai er children, Mrs Blake did no
know which Then 4 few days after
ward the hearse stopped again, and i've
small white collins were brought out
They hello the poor little Dutch dolls.
After that heard Of the gradual re
corery Of the other patients and tina
Nathalie did not take the disease
Nearly month elapsed. aud | was pre-
nariug 10 leave Mapleton when, in on
OF nv walks. ! came suddenly upol
Nathalie leading her aunt by the hand
''Oh. Pm so glad TO see you. madame /.
she cried I'VE are takinga little walk,
Tante Poiron and J. She IS gettins
quite strong again F"
Il am glad 10 see you out, | said
Il heard how III you were
as il the American lady, Thaiia!
she asked. u am blind, madame
live, yes. but never 10 see again Help
less. useless, ahin With a groan sh
threw up her gannt arms, and her face
torn ard ploughed by the dread disease
was full Of despair
sOh. hush, Tanter' Nathalie cried
IAN rot here to help you and do a
you Wan.i"
..Yes. it is So" the woman cried
quietly. The one 10 whom | was cruz
AID unkind. God has given me as m
sole stay. tell her TO 60 and be happy
She shall have money 10 live where 81
chooses. but she says: NO MOI"
Leave you and Bebe." Nathali
cried; 'sNeverl With you IS my HON
a. long as you want me-
The woman, still weak and nervous
burst into tears and her little niece le