Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-12-26
CHRIS"


he dashed his horse into numbering cantsrI
but that did not imply any great increase o
pace, ana 1t was with only three minutes to
spare that they reached Waterloo. ..
She took her ticket for Paris, booked her
luggage, and was pushed into carriage Just
AZ the train was starting; and then at length
she had leisure to reflect upon what she was
doing and was about to do. Hitherto there
had only been room in her mind for the one
dea, that she must at all hazards effect her
escape from the wicked and trsacherous old
woman who had murdered her dog; but now
she could not help beginning to wonder
whether the Lavergnes, upon whose proteO-
ton she had resolved to throw herself, would
be altogether enchanted when young woman
who had run away from her relations dropped
upon them from the clouds. It seemed
shabby to doubt It, and yet there was room
for just a little bit of doubt. eat any rate, I"
thought Chris, elf they don't want me they
need not keep me. I am ready to work for
my living or do anything that James Compton
may tell me to do, until come Of age. except
| go back to Aunt Rebecca. That won't do;
and I don't see how he can possibly make
me-"
It is always a comfort to know ones own
mind. Chris, having made hers up quite de-
| cidedly, was able to dismiss all anxiety with
regard to such future events as were beyond
her control, and could allow herself to cry
little over the bereavement which she had
sustained. She was alone in the railway car
riage, so that there was no need to conceal
her tears, which flowed without restraint
while the train sped down the line toward
Southampton.
What happened to Chris soon after she had
embarked at Southampton was to encounter
. heavy easterly swell, which made her de-
plorably seasick, and all the night through
rendered her insensible to everything save
the dismal misery Of the present. The pas
sage, nevertheless, was q tolerably quick one.
and there was long time TO wait at Havre
before the express left for Paris, at which city
she arrived between four and i've o'clock on
the following afternoon, hungry, weary and
traVel-stained.
Her original intention had been to drive
straight TO the Lyons Station, and proceed to
Cannes by the night train but she now felt
too worn out to stick to this plan, and she
thought besides that it would be as we'll to
prepare the Lavergnes for her arrival by a
telegram. 30, instead Of continuing her jour
ney, she went to quiet little hotel in one Of
the streets leading from the Rue de Rivon to
the Rue st. Honore where her father, who
knew how to make himself comfortable, had
been wont to put up in days gone by; and
there she met with . welcome at once re-
spectful and voluble from the landlord and
the landlady.
These good folks, who had not heard Of the
death Of their former patron, expressed them-
selves as desol&ted when the sad news was
communicated to them, and showed their re-
greet after the customary French fashion,
which we, who are less expansive, console
ourselves by calling all humbug. Humbugs or
not, they were very kind to Chris, and put her
into their best rooms and bothered her with
no questions until later in the evening, when
she had had o nice little dinner and when
curiosity naturally began to assert itself. She
was going to friends at Cannes, she told the
fat landlord, who lifted up his hands in
AuIazement and calculated:
Cannes, in the month of September But
mademoiselle will be cooked alivel And
what friends can mademoiselle have at Cannes
0t Duch time Of the yearp"
They are French friends" Chris ex-
planned; "they live there all the year round,
and they have not been cooked yet. Besides,
love the sun. And that reminds me that
want to send telegram to them at once.
When does the train leave tomorrow morn
ing?"
The landlord was not sure, but would in-
qulre. At the same time, if he might be per-
mitted to give his opinion, he would say that
such journey as that would be better per-
formed by night than by day, rapport la
chaleur. Let mademoiselle repose herself
until the following evening; he himself would
accompany her to the station and recon-
for the south were not crowded at that sea-
son, and 1t would be easy to secure a coupe
lit. As for the expense of remaining few
more hours in Paris, he would only say that
old customers were not strangers, and he
ventured to think that mademoiselle would
not complain of the amount Of her bill.
After q minute or two OF consideration, Chris
decided to take this advice. The night Jour
ney would not only be less fatiguing, but
would land her at Cannes at a more convsn-
lent time; and to remain where she was for
another twenty-four hours would expose her
to no fresh risk, since, even in the very inn
probable event of her aunt's sending some
body in pursuit of her, it would scarcely oc-
cur to the pursuer to seek for her in Paris.
Accordingly she dispatched her telegram and
went to bed, where she was soon sleeping as
soundly as II she had committed no outrage
against those social laws which may be said
to form the tap-root Of civilization. 1t is true
that when she woke on the following morn
Ing she was q little overawed at finding her.
self in French hotel, and, for the time be-
ing, absolute mistress Of her own destinies;
but when she had swallowed her coffee there
10 still good coffee to be had in Paris, though
not at any Of the best hotels or restaurants),
she began to exult in her freedom and in the
thought that, come what might, she could
never again be forced to return to the hideous
squalor and monotony Of residence at Prim-
rose Hill.
After she had disposed Of her midday meal
she put on her hat and started for the gardens
Of the Tuilsries, whittier she had wandered
with Potter q few months-which seemed like
years-before. The landlord, who ran out to
open the door for her, was visibly shocked at
the idea that any young lady could walk
through the streets o. Paris alone; but he did
not permit himself any spoken remonstrance,
and for her own part she was too much ac-
customed to taking care Of herself to have
any fear Of her fellow-mortals.