The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-31
A LITTLE
CHAPTER OF LIFE.
BY ACTON DAVIES.

NyEIO one knew where she had come
fSsH from or anything about her beyond
k5HS the fact that the stage which brought
the weekly mail over the mountain to Rouge
mont late on Saturday night had dropped
her and her tiny burden at the door of the
little French inn. ale wanted a room, she
told the old woman who came in answer to
her knock-not the best one, she could
scarcely afford that. and she shouldn't mind
how small it was so long as she and her
babv might have it quite to themselves.
Old Marie mumbied as she hobbled along
before
Mon D;eu, but what child it is! And
so pretty, toe! Where's her husband?"
Then, as she held the door of the room
open and the young woman passed in, her
sharp old eyes noticed that she wore no
wedding ring. Marie shrugged her shoul-
ders significantly. then hurried downstairs
to inform her colleagues of the fact. As for
the young woman, once the door was closed
she laid the baby vi on the bed and walked
10 the burau, upon which stood u lighted
lamp. She raised her left hand and looked
at it closely. Directly below the knuckle of
her third finger the flesh had been CON-
pressed and redeemed, but both the marks
and color were now gradually dying away
''By this time Tomorrow every trace of 1t
will have gone-aS far as looks 60, II Will
be-eXactly-aS though l never had any ring
at all"
The cure called the next day. He was an
old man and had seen queer things even in
in that quiet place, but he bele' ed il her
iiStinciiyely
"You must take ne on trust for little
while she said to him in her gentle way,
when she caught his eyes wandering to her
hands. 1T doesn't matter What you call
me-Brovn, Jones or Robinson; anything
VIII do. | was married year ago, but II
doesn't matter to whom. That's why I've
come here. l wanted to get somewhere
where neither my baby nor l need be known
Oy her fathers name.
She was English, but she spoke French
gXerllrntly, and her pretty face and manners
wen bis sympathy. As lie was leaving he
called Marie to one side and pressed a coin
MO her hand.
''rbat's fur you, Maiie-on one condition.
fuu must se5 TO Ii that they all call her
madame"
'Mais, Monsieur lie Cure"
Enough, Marie Do as bid you, now,
and say no more about it,"
he days went by, but none of the village
people came 10 see her. They never called
In that vicinity; they were far too prim-
tive tur that. But nevertheless, had things
teen otherwise than as they supposed, they
would have s1on shown her, after their own
f.Suiou, that she was welcome guest.
One day the cure came ana found her
knitting upon long, white, fireey cloud.
"LooA :. she cried. holding II up for him
to see. Isn't it pretty? Tell your people
all Of them down in the village there
that if they will pay me | Will make them
clouds and mittens and all sorts of things far
prettier than they have ever seen. l don't
ask them to know me; l only want to earn
my living"
So the cure told them of it and put in
word parenthetically upon the little mothers
uenllf
Go and see her," said he. "She can't
harm you It's lonely for her up there all
alone, and you older women could help her
o much with the baby"
But the good people would have none of
her; If She worked well they would pay
her Well, but with her they would have no
fellowship.
Une night about two months later old
Marie came hObbllng down TO the cures
huuse and told him madam was ILL., When
he came to her she handed him the envel-
npe in which she kept her slender earn
lngS. On the envelope she had written the
name Of well-kn0wn pawn-broker in the
city, forty miles away.
There's just enough" she said. "I,have
counted it. Take it to him yourself OF
send 1t by some one whom you can trust
and who vii lose no time. They will give
you a little box with my ring inside it
ny wedding ring, you know. | had to
night We came. Even If I'm not here when
you get back you must put it on my fuger
and show it to them for baby'S sake. My
name and the date OF my marriage are
written Inside of it."
he cure waited to hear no more. He
caught up her hand and kissed it.
Il will 90 myself" he said.
1t was showing that night when he drove
away, and ali through the day that followed
the snow con tinued to fall. Early the next
n IL he
al the door and he saw at once that she had
been crying.
Madame is Dead" she said. "She died
just little lille after you went away
She led the way Into the room where they
had 'aId her IN plain pine-board coffin.
Some of the villagers had gathered there as
VEL! as the cures servant, Paul.
Paul, cried the cure, ring the church
bell, and when they ask you what has hap
pened tell them that you ring for mar
rage, burial and christening all at once.
teil them also that the cure wants them
here"
The cracked old bell rang out on the frosty
air and the people, startled by the unusual
sound, hurried TO the inn. They crowded
into the little room, men and women. and
TODD there in awed silence as the cure took
he cover off the little cardboard box. A
plan gold ring lay inside of it, aud he held
Il up so that all OF them might see
Lookv he exclaimed, as he read the in
oCbIpllOu ou tic iESiue Oh the ring. Here
is her marriage certificate and her Christian
name: Rosie-September 20, 1884, If any
OF you do not believe me- come and look for
yourselves"
There was dead silence throughout the
room, as after waiting for moment to see
if aay one would reply, he walked to the
coffin and lifting the little cold, white hand,
he slipped the ring upon her finger.
See how it fits" he said; you must all
call Ter madame now"
Presently he spoke to them more in the
tone which he was accustomed to use in the
pulpit.
ION Sunday the child shall be christened.
We will name her Rosie after her mother,
AID ROugemont after our village. You
know best whether you owe anything to her
Ut not, he continued. pointing toward The
coffin. But in case your conscience prcks
you Paul will stand at the church door after
the christening to receive what you may
wish TO give"
And that's how 1t happens that Just at the
entrance OF the graveyard, where they laid
madame th're stands plain white marble
slab. There are only three words on it, and
they are these: "ROsie Fut Bonnie"