Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-05-31
ALICE'S FORTUNE.


the bedside.
The diving man was Hector Moritz, a
carpenter, who had fallen from house
which he was building, few days be-
fore, and so injured himself that he could
not recover. He lived just outside the
village of st. Barbe, with his little girl,
Alice, now years old. His wife had
died three years before, but Alice, child
as she was, could make coffee and cook
an omelet as skillfully as if she were
twice as old, and had acted as her IA
theirs little housekeeper. So it happened
that, being alone, an unusual affection
had sprung up between Alice and her
father.
The Sister of Charity approached the
bedside. The sick mans face expressed
anxiety, and his eye turned from the
nurse to his little girl, who was pale and
grief stricken, yet had self-control enough
not to betray her emotion lest it should
distress her father in his last moments.
"What can l do for you, NJ. Moritz?"
asked Sister Theodosia, in a gentle voice.
His glance wandered to his little girl
once more.
"Alice," he gasped, provided for"
"Do you mean that you wish Alice
provided for?' asked the sister, striving
to interpret his broken words.
ALREADY provided for-money there"
and he pointed vaguely downwards.
Poor man! He is wandering in mind"
thought the sister-for he was pointing
10 the floor; but she thought it best to
appear to have understood him.
Eyes, she said gently, "have no anxi-
ety."
He looked at her wistfully, and then,
seeming to think he was understood, he
fell back upon the pillow from which he
had lifted his head, and moment after
expired.
When Alice realized that her father
was really dead she gave way to excess
i've grief-so excessive that it soon wore
itself out, leaving her pale and sorrow
full. Sister Theodosia took her into her
lap and pressed her head against her
bosom in sad compassion, for little Alice
was now without father or mother.
In due time Hector Moritz was buried.
and the next thing to be considered was,
how should Alice be disposed of?
Hector Moritz left two near relatives,
both cousins. One of these was a thriv-
ing tradesman in the next town, a man
who had prospered, partly through his
selfshness, which was excessive. The
other, also residing in the next town,
was poor shoemaker with large fam
ily, who found it hard enough to make
both ends meet, but was, withal, kind
and cheerful, beloved by his children,
for whom he could do so little, and pop
ular in the village.
These two cousins met at the funeral
of Hector Moritz.
Il suppose Hector died poor" said NJ.
Ponchard, the tradesman, little uneas-
lily.
"This house is all he owned, SO far as
know" said the notary, land it is
mortgaged for nearly its value"
"Humph! that is bad for the child"
said NJ. Ponchard.
81 suppose you will take her home,
NJ. Ponchard?' said the notary, bluntly.
1--WE all know that you are prosperous
man."
Inc tr2deSman drew back.
IF / am prosperous" he said, 81 have
had to work for my money. 1t is all
can do to provide for my own family. l
can't support other peoples children"
'Then you won't do anything for the
childg"
81 didn't say that. I'll give her TWEEN
ty-fve-nay, fffty-francs. That's all
ought to do"
"And how long will fifty francs sup
port herr said the notary, disdainfully,
for he detested the meanness Of the rich
tadesman.
"That is not my affair. She need not
Harve. She can go to the almshouse.
"Who speaks of the almshouse?' spoke
up NJ. Corbet, the poor shoemaker.
IN. Ponchard suggests that Alice go to
the almshouse," said the notary.
mot while l have home to offer her."
said the poor cousin warmly.
But, NJ Corbet," said the notary,
you are poor. Can you afford, with
your many children, to undertake an
additional bufden?"
Il never look on them as burdens
they are my JOY and comfort" said NJ.
Corbet Il can't give Alice a luxurious
home, but such as have she is welcome
to. | am sure the good God will not let
me starve if l undertake the care of my
little orphan cousin"
He's a fool!' thought NJ. Ponchard
contemptuously. He will always be
miserably poor"
But the notary grasped his hand, and
said:
M Corbet, respect you. If you are
not rich in money, you are rich in good
heart, and that is the best kind of riches"
So, no opposition being made, the little
Alice went home with the poor shoe
maker. As for the cottage, that was left
IN the hands of the notary to sell. AS
already intimated, there was mortgage
upon it to nearly its full value, so that 1t
was not likely to bring much over.
What little there should be would, of
course, go to Alice.
Several months passed without any
opportunity TO sell the cottage. During
that time Alice remaiRed at the mouse O.
NJ. Corbet, treated, / was about to say,
like one of the family. This, however,
would not be strictly correct. She was
Tot treated like one OF the family, but
better than one of the family; in short,
like favored guest, for whom nothing
was too good.
But unfortunately at this juncture, NJ.
Corbet fellsick, and having always been
compelled to live to the limit of his small
income, had nothing saved up for the