Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-02

. L
monthly meetings of its fathers took
place, at which its future was earnestly
discussed. Constant inquiry had failed
TO discover even the name of the schoon-
er, and there remained no clew to ident-
ify the little one save the blanket in
which it was sleeping when dashed on the
sand. In one corner of this, exquisitely
embroidered, was the word "Delice."
Advertisement was made in the papers,
anxious investigation made everywhere,
but the schooner and her crew were never
known in the old Crescent City.
II ever there was little girl that had
everything her heart could wish for,
Delice was that girl. When she was
year old she possessed thirteen rattles,
six alligator's teeth set in silver, five
coral necklaces, half dozen little gold
shawl pins, four swinging cradles, beau
tiful altar at the end of her little room,
with Madonna looking down upon her
bed. Over the mantel piece, gloomy in
its depth of shadow, was an oil painting
from one of Delice's new fathers, repre-
senting the wave whipped beach of the
ChandeleUrs, with a wreck going TO
pieces half mile off shore and a tub
rising on the crest of great sea.
It was not a little amusing to see how
jealous of feminine attentions to their
charge these Poissons Rouges were. They
told their sisters aud mothers that the lit
tie one was well cared for and needed
none of their time. The old nurse, they
said, was experienced, and they them
selves knew thing or two now about
babies.
Thus the months had crept away, and
dolls and spelling blocks had taken the
place OF rattIes dice could tell the
names of all her fathers, some twenty
two now, for some of them had dropped
off and were carried out upon that road
which the average dead Orcanian must
travel. When she was years old she
could command at least five carriages of
one afternoon, and it was no uncommon
thing to see her out driving with some
six or eight yourg gentlemen, superbly
mounted, riding in attendance. Les
Poissons Rouges were proud of their lit
tie beauty, and great sturdy fellows, with
mustaches that were the observed on
opera nights, would hand the tiny fairy
to the carriage with the grace of d cour
tier, and when she smiled sweetly and
said, 'Merci, Papa Raoul," or YseuIt,"
| they would blush like big boys. Her ex-
penses were so trihing in comparison
with the funds in the exchequer of the
paternal organization thai 1T was resolv-
ed to invest a certain sum annually,
and SO on her fifth birthday, for they had
selected birthday for her, she was as
we'll cared for little girl as any in the
state; and as for beauty, why to ask the
question was TO elevate to the zenith the
eyes of her twenty-five fath,rs and to
bring to their mouth twenty-five right
hands with finger tips punched together,
which they would kiss as if the flavor
were divine, and simultaneously calculate:
"Comme cal" The truth is that her big
black eyes, deIicately chiseled face, sym
metrical limbs and dignified bearing
made her appear as of royal rather thar
| plebeian blood, and she led her followers
by silken cords, young as she was.
They came the day hereinbefore men
toned, the assemblage at the Cafe Bien-
venu, the silence and the anxiety. Four
days before Delice had complained of
feeling ill-her head ached and her eyes
were infamed. Four doctors were at once
sent for, and after consultation it was
announced that Delice had the scarlet
| fever. Her nurse and guardian occupied
large private residence near Miguel's,
and so it was that the cafe was made the
| heada uarters of Les Poisons Rouges,
that news might be received every few
minutes. At first there were no serious
! symptoms, but on the third night she
| grew worse. She asked for Theo phile,
Raul, Jules Henri, and the rest of her
beloved papas. These big bronze fellows
would close the gate gently, walk on tip
| toe down the garden walk between the
| cam elias and cross the veranda so quietly
| the cat ould not hear them.
In the room an angel face looked up
from it's nest of soft pillows and smile
played about the crimson, feverish lips.
She held out her hand, spoke few simple
words, and the silent figure would with
draw and go across the street to Miquel's
with lump in his throat and his eyes
much inflamed. Then matters began to
grow more serious. No vehicles must
pass that way. There should be more
quiet over there at Miguel's, and bulletins
would be sent to the cafe every hour, so
that they might know how DeIice was
progressing.
| About two o'clock that afternoon the
young gentlemen were startled by the
sIamming of window shutters over at Mile.
Delice's. They rose from their tables,
| leaving their orgeat untasted and started
for the side walk. They started over. OLD
Latiche was opening all the windows up
stairs. Why was this? Then little ne
gro girl came running toward Migueis.
Theophile Latrere met her and before
she could speak commanded her silence.
'Mes amis," said he, "the news need not
be told. We know what it is. There is
10 longer need of silence. We are child
less" There we're sobs in the cafe and
! kn
nizing that it was no more under res
traint, gave an Experimental "caramba,"
and finding that it produced no sensation
repeated it.
Two by two they marched across to the
house, with hat in hand. Up the gravel
ly walks the little procession camp and on
into the large chamber. They gathered
about the bedside, and almost unconscious
Iy, they crossed themselves as if in the
presence of an angel. The little bed be.
came shrine, and their waxen beauty
with smile on her white face, their Del
ice, q saint.
Perhaps a mothers face had welcome
the sweet child beyond the breakers, and
: mothers hand had led her up a strand
whittier than the snowy beach of the Chan
deleurs.
''She came from very far whispered
Henre Xavier from the foot of the bed
The Creo'es thus beautiful express the
idea that one has narrowly escaped
death in infancy.
so very, very far" responded Jules
| Vernon.
The sunlight in rare design, with jas
mine leaves, tapestry of shadow on the
wall beside the bed. The little clock on
| the Dantal heats its tic-tac tic-tac So
loudly that each stroke touched the heart.
The wind from the garden below came
softly in, its lap filled with the perfume