The morning call., 1891-02-18
MADELAINE LEROUX.
BY KATHARINE $. MACQUoID.

TO NlAeQUjer mounts lOr 4 snort way very
steeply, until it is come height above the
little meadow beside the Seine. On the
right is Il wooded hill, and the top of the
descent TO the meadow is bordered by silver
stemmed. slender-armed birch trees, which
at evening time look weird and ghoStly.
At the foot Of this road, on the side near
est the town Of Caudebec, there stands
plea;ant-loJking white house, with high
roof and two huge ch.mney-stacks. The
porch and Gay-%indow are covered with
climbing roses, which have stretched their
branches 10 reach an upper row Of lattices.
\ large Erass-pat. with a slated path rum
ming round il, is in front Of the house; and
this path continues on the left, aud is soon
lost TO sight in 4 sirubbery. backed with
trees. that leads to a garden behind. On
the other side low stone wall, So old that
it Is lgany-culored with moss ana lichen,
divides both front and back garden from the
orchard which slopes up the mill beside the
white 4oai.
The river makes sudden bend outward
after it has passed the house, so that its
steep green nix borders the road just OPP
posite Mile. Culumelle'S dwelling Only
few DAYS ago the high autumn tide of the
Barre swept furuusly over this bank, across
the road, and through the tall iron entrance
gates, till j; flung a shower OF yellow foam
and stones and twigs against Nile. Chaum-
elle's windows.
The river looked quiet enough this morn
ing, half yelled in q soft mist that gave
warning 81 coming frost. The trees far on
the left, where the river takes a dark bend
toward CaulebeCquet looked much less
dense than they had Looked yesterday; so
many brown and gold leaves had fallen
under cover Of the darkness.
The iattiCe above the bay-windOW opened
and 4 girls bright face looked out. For a
moment htr earnest dark eyes gaZad lovingly
across the Seine and then lettwaTd toward
the mist-veiled bend, but Madelane LerouX
was practical, and she knew that if she
meant To gather Aunt Nirginie a nGsegay
before breakfast she lad little time to spend
in Gdmr.ng the view from her window.
Tie lew remaining blossoms on the GiOire
de DjOg rose below her window were out of
reach, and SO were some creamy nOisette
roses on tile porch. When she reached the
garden, the border flowers that had looked
so gay from her window proved themselves
60 be receptions; the full white daisies, on
which she had reckoned, had blackened
tips, ard the chrysanthemum petals were
nipped brown. She gave little cry of
triumph as she looked round. Just against
the-iron fence in froutof the house she spied
a bunch of China roses, so eXquisitely varied
in their rosy tint that they seemed too lovely
10 be real. M2delaine thought this as she
stood looking at them; she was so absorbed
by their beauty that sudden grunt made
her start.
She turned round and saw an enormous
pig IN the middle IF the grass plat; it was
gEOuting both with lis front paws and with
ITS smut, in search If some treasure which
it evidently expected to find under the turf,
and It giunted as it grouted.
Ca away. so away, you nasty, greedy
creature. the girl cried in frightened
voice; You are spelling Aunt Nlrgiuie's
grass plat; 60, l say!" She swished her
lale blue skirt at the intruder; for an Instant
itlett OH gr0utlng; hui Ii stared at Madeaine
with such fierce little red eyes that the girl
drew back IN alarm.
What shall l do? I believe pigs bite
when they are savage then she shouted
- Joseph, Elise, come, come Joseph, make
haste; the garden viii be spoiled"
The huge pig had gone back with grunt
20 lis grGutlng, but the girls cries seemed tn
lrritate 1t; 1t came toward her, shaking Its
huge sides and gEunting. looking, she
thought, still more savage; it was between
her aud the house, and as it continued to
advance on her, Matelalne suddenly lost
courage, and she fed to the enuanc--gates.
A pas>er-by stopped as she reached them.
Help me!' the girl said breathlessly,
and she orened the gate. Please drive
the pig away; | am frightened of it,"
She scarcely looked az the stranger; she
only saw that he was a man, and she
feit sure that he would help her.
Tie stranger seemed young and strong,
bat the pig took no heed of his raised walk
ing-stick. Seeing this lie raned a shower
OF blows on the back of the ugly brute,
which drew forth hideous series of grunts
and squeaks, and, to Madelane'S relief, the
creature tTotted cut into the road its
PDoimous sides shaking an accompaniment
to its ciamor.
Two wumen-servants and man ran into
the garden. There was buzz Of questions,
and Madelaine saw her aunt come into the
porch.
Come in, monsieur, come in, then : beg
of you. Let me thank you a thousand times
tor stopping mischief. Ehi then, monsieur,
il l. The fault of my careless gardener Ju-
seph, To HON, If you will believe me, |
have more than once pointed out the neces-
silly of mending that hole in the wall beside
the orchard. All! monsieur You are indeed
friend in need. 1t was we'll that you came
TO the rescue for that was the savage SOW of
the MaralS, and it is wonder she did not
fly at you. Were you much frightened, my
precious Madelaine?
BY this time Mile. Chaumelle had come up
with Madeleine and her champion, and the
stranger could not help smiling at the con-
trast between the aunt and the niece
The round ball of a woman, with her
happy, smiling face, seemed shorter than
she really was, as she stood patting the
sim, tall girls shoulder. just now Made
LANES dark, gypsy-like fare was bent down,
and her slender figure seemed to be crouch
log with shame ut the remembrance of her
cowardice, for she thought that really
formidable animal would not have been so
quickly routed; she thought too, that her
aunt was unnecessarily gushing in her graft
tude for such service.
Madelalne had only arrived late GA the
previous evening, and then NJ. le Cure had
gone in 10 supper; so there had not been time
Tor comfortable talk alone with Aunt Vir-
gile.
Madelaine Leroux had a father and an ex-
eellent stepmother. Her own mother her
Aunt Niiglule's sister, had died when the
girl was still an infant: but Though her star
mother loved her very dearly, Mime Leroux
DID not spoil Madeiaine as Mile. Chaumelle
dld, and the girl was always ready to 60 and
stay at CaudeDrc. She had come this time
TO lake h'r aunPs advice on very impor-
tant subject and she was uneasy until their
talk hau taken rlace.
Is monsieur making a stay in Caude-
becY Mile. Leroux asked the stranger.
1 shall be here a few days" he answered,
and then he glanced on to the porch as if he
wanted to be asked indoors.
Mile. Chaumelle was looking at him with
very mournful expression in her eyes.
PARDON me-, MONSIEUR" she said, and
Madel.ine thought her aunts voice sounded
broken. but yOn remind me so much of one
L knew years ago. May L venture to ask
your name?'
Madelaine looked hard at the stranger
and she thought she had never seen that
grave, almost stern face before. Dark gray
blue eyes looked out frankly under we'll
mai ked eyebrows, the nose and forehead re-
mlnuei the girl of an ancient coin, and the
mouth, though partly hidden by brown
mustache, was sharply cut and full of char
aeter. Madelaine decided that the stranger
must be very severe, and she felt sure he
must thlnk her aunt foolish. The Fart of
his fare she liked bestwa his broad. SQUARE
forehead, and the crisp wave of rich brown
hair above it. He looked, she faneied. sur
prised at ner aunts question, but he an
swered at once:
My name is Maurice Henri, mademoi
selle. live at present in Paris; but shall
prot ally settle in Rouen some day"
Mile. Chaumelle looked disappointed.
Ny friends name was not Henri. mon
sieUr; but it is strange that one of his Chris
tan names Was Maurice. Monsieur must
permit me to say that the likeness see
makes me feel as If lie were an old acquaint-
ance. Will lie be so amiabe as to come in
and breakfast with us this morning?"
NJ. Henri bowed. He had breakfasted
before he came out; but the spinSter's