Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-02-22
CHAPTER V

CdAT1Eh "
 "f I could save centime day, could buy pair of stockings this time next year, " thought Bebee, locking her shoes with her other treasures in her drawer the next morn. ing, and taking her broom and pail to wash down her little palace.
 But centime a day is great deal in Bra bant, when one has not always enough for bare bread, and when, in long chill winter one must weave thread lace all through the short daylight for next to nothing at all for there are so many women in Brabant, and every one of them, young or old, can make lace, and if one do not like the pitiful wage, one may leave it and go and die, for what the master lace makers care or know; there will always be enough, many more than enough, to twist the thread round the bobbins, and weave the bridal veils and the trains for the courts.
 And besides if l can save centime the Varnhart children ought to have 1t, ," thought Bebee, as she swept the dust together It was so selfish of her to be dreaming about a pair of stockings when those little things often went for days on a stew of nettles.
 So she looked at her own pretty feet pretty, and slender, and arched, rosy and fair, and uncramped by the pressure of leather-and resigned her day dream with a brave heart, as she put up her broom and went out to weed, and hoe, and trim, and prune the garden that had been for once neg lected the night before.
 "One could not move half so easily in stockings" she thought with true philosophy, as she worked among the black, fresh, sweet smelling mold, and kissed 8 rose now and then as she passed one.
 When she got into the city that day, her rush bottomed chair, which was always left in roir cbo fon i,, <Lo night, was set ready for her, and on its seat was a gay, gilded box, such as rich people give away full of bonbons
 Bebee stood and looked from the box to the Broodhuis, from the Broodhuis to the box. she glanced around, but no one had come there so early as she, except the tinker, who was busy quarreling with his wife and let ting his smelting fire burn hole in his brooches.
 "The box was certainly for her, since it was set upon her chairr'-Bebee pondered a moment; then little by little opened the lid
 Within, on 8 nest of rose satin, were two pair of silk stockingsl-Real silk with the prettiest clocks worked up their sides In colorl
 Bebee gave little scream, and stood still, the blood hot in her cheeks; no one heard her, the tinker's wife, who alone was near, having just wished heaven to send a judgment on her husband, was busy putting out his smoking small clothes. It is way that women and wives have, and they never see the bathoe of It. "
 The place filled gradually.
 The customary crowds gathered. The busi ness of the day began underneath the multi. tudinous tones of the chiming bells Bebeeh business began, too; she put the box behind her with a beating heart and tied up her flowers
 It was the fairies, of coursel-but they had never set u rush bottomed chair on its legs be- fore. and this action of theirs frightened her.
 It was rather an empty morning. She sold little, and there was the moro time to think.
 About an hour after noon a voice addressed her:
 Have you more moss roses for mel"
 Bebee looked up with a snile, and found some. Itwas her companion of the cathedral. She had thought much of the red shoes and the silver clasps, but she had thought nothing at all of him.
 "You are not too proud to be paid today1n he said, giving her @ silver franc-he would not alarm her with any more gold, she thanked him, and slipped it In her little leathern pouch. and went on sorting some clove pinks