St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-25
HER ROMANCE.

Like every other woman. she had had
her romance.
Her father. a mason, was killed fall
ing from a scatfold, her mother died,
hey sister disappeared, farmer took
her to guard his cows in the pasture
Driven from this place for theft of 80
sous, which she never had committed,
she found at another farm q situation
Still more humble.
One evening in August, at a country
fair, a young man, with pipe in his
mouth, invited her TO dance. He paid
for the cider and offered to see her
home. Passing a field of oats they
quarreled. She screamed; he fled.
Another day she encountered him in
the road. Re begged her pardon, laid
the fault 10 drink. She tried to avoid
him. He talked pleasantly, said he
lived on a neighboring farm-that he
wanted wife. The stars came out be-
fore they parted. She gave him kiss.
She gave him rendezvous also. The
young man was brutal, but she had the
instinct of honor. He finally proposed
marriage and swore fidelity.
Shortly after this the young man be-
gan to speak of the army; he feared
being drafted. She took this cOwardice
as proof of his affection. Felicite re-
doubled her tenderness.
One day he announced his intention
of going to the prefecture to make in
quiries; he would meet her next Sun
day between the hours of II and mid
night.
The hour arrived, she went to meet
her lover
She found one of his friends awaiting
her instead.
To guarantee himself against the con-
RaripTIop the T0nnCr man had n1arriaH
some one else-an old woman, ugly, but
''very wealthy"
Felicite threw herself upon the earth,
screaming, calling upon God. There
she lay grooming till break Of day,
alone.
Making up her bundle in handker-
chief. she left the farm, walked to Pont
PEveque and applied Tor situation as
cook. She knew nothing, but was
taken by Nine. Aubain for her good
will and willingness 10 work.
For long time she was In constant
state of trembling. The two children.
Paul and virginia, aged seven and four.
seemed TO her not to be made of common
earth. She carried them on her back
like horse. 1t became actually neces
sary to forbid her to kiss them every
minute-at which prohibition she was
much chagrined.
Some one made the children a pres
ent of pictorial geography. 1t repre-
scented scenes from different parts of
the globe; cannibals with their tall
feathers, a huge ape carrying off a
young lady, Bedouihs of the desert, a
whale being harpooned, etc.
Paul gave an explanation of these
pictures to Felicite. This was the only
literary education she ever received.
pNr1f nd tn al hnr IN fttn bnr
throw stones, catch birds. Virginia fed
the rabbit and ran to gather violets, dis
playing her little embroidered panta-
lettes.
One day Nine. Aubain, with the two
children and Felicite, were returning
home across pasture. Cows were graz
ing. Suddenly an Ominous muffied rum
biiug was heard. 1t is the bull. There
is a fog; he is approaching slowly. The
mother with the two children runs for
life. Felicite turns, faces the monster,
pulling up sodS and throwing them in
his face. The beast lowers his head,
and bellows furfously. Nine. Aubain
reaches the fence, but can hardly climb
1t. Felicite still throwing dirt IN the
eyes of the monster, dries, ''Depechez-
VOus." Make haste, make haStel
The brave girl at last slips through
the stile, against which the horns of the
astOnished animal come with crash.
This adventure was the theme of con-
Versation at Pont fEveque, not for days
only, but for years. Yet Felicite never
had the slightest idea that she had done
anything heroic.
The care of Virginia occupied her.
The child was nervous she coughed.
Paul was sent to the city to school, Vir-
ginla was taken to the seaside, but re-
turned no better.
While at the seaside Felicite discov-
cred one of her sisters, a poor woman
with three children. She bought for
them blanket. chemiseS, etc, wishing
TO give all she had. Nine Aubain saw
that they were imposing on her gener-
Osity and was obliged to interfere, for
the attachment and devotion of Felicite
were Incorporate.