Iuka reporter., 1890-11-20

The troubled child, clinging to Grncie's
hand and laying her other hand upon
The old mans head, faltered in plaintivt
broken English:
&c aG1as1'paps, >. .sran'papal Have yoa
"No, no, cherie," sobbed the old man,
this lady is not Maman!"
And when the child with a bewilder:
ed look turned her little face to Graciel
she lifted her into her lap and nestled
her IN her arms.
"No, Stella" she said, gently. Il am
not your mamma, but will always love
and care for you since you are related
10 me. Your father is my cousin"
With violent start Jean Leonard
raised his head and dashed the teari
from his eyes.
"Who are you ?" he demanded, breath
lessly.
"My name is Clifford" answered
Oracle.
Clifford! Clifordl Why, then, what
you told me is true! Madame ClorissS
is your n,otherp .
The thrilling words fell upon tho
eager ears of the girl like the explo-
sion of bombshell. but somehow shd
contained herself sufficiently to say:
"No, no! / did not say so; it was
you who said / was like Madame Cla
risse!"
"And you are like herl" exclaimed
the old man, "as like as two snowdrop,
hpon the same stalk"
"Then, in heavens name, tell me al
fou know of her. Think! / have neve,
known my mother! In that, your littl,
Stella and I are sisters, and it is tht
bnly hope of my life that l may find
her. Oh. Mr.. Leonard. when you ar.
lead, if you would have me love ani
iherish your darling, tell me where J
han find my mother"
Thus enjoined, the old man replied
"God help you. I cannot tell yol
where to find her; but this I can tell
fou: I knew her we'll, and loved he,
Tor her great goodness.
"God bless her!" was the fearful re
(binder.
Madame Clarisse is a great singer
1 saw her last year ago, when I went
10 say good-Dy to her.
Where was that?'
"In Paris"
"Oh, heaven! / have been in Paris
and never knew she was there. Oh
mother, mother"
Old Jean laid his hand upon he
bowed head, saying, gently:
There, there; don't cry so. Hov
should you have known she was Their
when she was not singing, and was iv
ing in retirement?"
"My heart should have told me-" sh,
sobbed.
He shook his head with sad smile
as he replied:
when you have lived as long as
have you will find that our hearts do
bot tell US as much as you think"
"But my mother, urged Oracle, dry.
hg her tears; "tell me about her."
well, you see, I met her years ago,
vhen she first came to sing at the
Grand Opera, and every season after
ward she sang until last year. Though
was but stage carpenter, and not
to be judge, l tell you /
never listened to such voice; it was
he voice of an angel fresh from
heaven"
"Oh, if 1 could only have heard i'll"
Yes, it is q great voice, but tho
'inger is better than great; she il
yood-good as the saint we pray to.
One evening, when I fell suddenly i'll,
md was thrust aside upon . heap OF
she heard of It, and sought
ne out She took me to my home in
Ter carriage, and cared for mo until
vas we'll again.
Every night she had . kind word
md smile for me. Even the women of
he opera loved her, and were better
or her presence. OF course, people
vill gossip, and it was whispered in
he thester that Madame Clarisse was
n American lady of standing, that her
name was Clifford, that he
Iad separated from her-God only
new why. That Madame Clarisse was
n American made me all the moro
1illing that Cora should marry an
-merican, and 60 to America to live,
here I believed all the women to be
ngels, and would teach Cora to lead
D honorable ife."
But the name of Cliffordl" put in
Tracie. eagerly; "you say that your
aughter married into q family of the
me namsi Did you not suspect that
" husband might be related to Mad.
ne Clarisse?"
Certainly I did"
did you not speak to Madame Cla.
'se about it?"
"Oh, mol I would not have ventur.
!. It was q ntesalliaqlce at the best
ct the gentleman should have mar.
ID my humble child; besides" he
ded, very sternly, II was not certain |
the time that they were married."
How you must have suffered!n
God only knows how muchl So |
u see why never told her. Indeed |
lever told her when Baby Stella was
to my care; / even cancealed from
: that I was growing feeble in health,
when I went to say good-by to her,
lore I sailed for America, 1 told heI
Tas going over on pleasure trip.
God forgive me for the falsehood,
could not bear to worry her with
troubles. knew that she had as