Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1888-11-02
all to do Pity she hadr't broken her

neck ut onccl"
g You ought to 30 ashamed OF your
sell, Madame PoirDnm cried, indig
nantly. "If you do not intend sending
help to the poor child, will do so."
And where does madame think car
get hclp2 Call the mon out Of the field
at this hour, and lUsc so much timer No
II anyone goes, / mustr'
She strodc Off, and followed her, fol
somehow the idea of dove in u vulture's
claws pursued me when I thought oil
poor, trembling little Nathalie borne in
the arms of tho unfceling giantess.
When reached them, she had the glrl
by the arm, and had lifted her to he,
feet.
None of your airs" she cried. "II
you try to walk, YOU can. You are pre-
tending. Stand upi''
caught the child rs she fell back,
and ut that moment saw man whom
| Knew well coming down the road in
his cart.
"Ah, here +, Pierre lagrange" l
cried, ioyfully. ~ know he will take
The child home"
Pierre was good, humane fellow,
more than wi ling to do kind act, and
lifted Nathalie into his cart ut once.
Madame Poiron, growing like bear.
had taken herself off with the baby in
her arms, and the Dutch dolls toddlips
after.
"But then this is bad business for
you, Nathalie" Pierre said, rs he logged
along. THAT old firc-cat is going to
give you hard times"
81 never have easy times, Monsieur
Pierre" she answered, with her pntient
voice, the tears rolling down her white
face. 81 would wish 10 he dead, and
with mamma if it was not for the chill
dren, but love the IL. and they love me. {"
love you! Just listen TO hcrl The
little vampires TINT suck her life blood.
The tyrants that get her more bcatings
than | can count. And. madame, you
hear her say she loves thcm2"
eyes, they do love me-" she sighed.
"Alonsieur Pierre, they are all have In
the world. Tantc Poiron is not always
cross. She has good days, you know,
aud is kind, but then, you see, she has
so nnny children, she has no love TO
spare for me-"
''rha,'s certain and surc.n Pierre
multcrc;l in his heavy beard, but We had
reached the farmhouse, and he lifted
Nathalie out ,cnderly.
Farewell. madame, and thank you,"
She said, us he bore her into the house.
thought often of Nathalie during
the next few weeks. l heard her ankle
WAS spraincd, but that she was doing
well. did not venture to call, for it
was evident that Madame Poiron had
taken an invcteratc dislike To me. But
was glad to see the little girl walking
out one morning with the baby in her
arms. hurried forward aud inter
ccptcd them. Nathalie was thinner
than ever, but her cycs-lovcly eyes
they wc,c-brightcncd at sight of me.
Are you quite well, Nathalie" 1
asked.
"My foot hurts me little, madam,
but | can walk. 1t is the first time |
could curry Bcbc-swcet Bcbc." kissing
Enthusiastically the pasty- faced infant.
We are going to have a tc,o in the woods,
licbc and ], - showing me little package
she held i'll one hand. "Thcrc is n slice
of pic and a pice Of cake, and Oh.
madame, will You not como to our f6 e."
said would, but must run home
for something. That something was m
addition to the tca-party in the shape
OF some fruit had lust received 1t
was good TO see The delight in Nathales
eyes when laid my contribution before
her.
ooh. Bcbc. Rebe." she screamed, clap
ping her hands. "l'ananas, Bebc !.
Oranges and lovely white grapes! Oh,
they are too beautiful to eat"
When the rcpast was over, Nathalie
wrapped what remained in her apron for
BE and the twins.
'lou look quite happy, Nathalie" I
Happy all, yes, madame, there is no
one happier Than am to day. Only
think, can walk again and nurse Bcbe.
love all children, but Bcbe is n real
angel of hcavcnw
sat there wondering over that starved
young le whose only modicum OF sun
light was putty faced Bcbc. What was
Happiness after all! a poor, ill-trcated
waii, whose daily b cad was favored BY
harsh words, sat there undc. Gods
Blessed sunlight and called herself
happy. gave up the problem
Several weeks passed, and although
was often OH the watch, | saw nothing
of Nathalie. The house where nv friend
and boarded, commanded a full view
or the Poiron farm; for some days none
OF tho men had been working in the
fields, and the loud voice of Madame
Poiron w IS silent.
''What is the matter ovcrat Poiron's:"
asked our land!ady, Mrs. Blake.
Mrs. Blake turned very rcd, and looked
confused.
"Wc!l, the truth is. didn't like to
tell you, ladies, for thought you might
get scared, and there amt bit of dan.
ger, for there's no communication be-
tween the farm and any house in town.
They've got smallpox there bad. Nearly
all the family arc down with it. CID
Poiron caught it from tramp Two OF
the children will die tonight, and they
say the old madame can't live. There
is no one 10 attend them but one of the
boys and little Nathalie"
"She is not sick, them" said, re-
lievcd.
nathalie? no. Old Dargan, who has
been thcrc-hc's had smallpox himself
told Mr.. Blake, the child goes from
one to the other, with Bebe in her arms.
Bebe has smallpox too, and she never
puts il down"
l cannot express all 1 felt when the
next day saw the funerals leave the
A