The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-08-24

But, if it is true, will my darling be
always unhappy" stroking the blonde
hair pitifully and staring hard at the
bright spring sky to clear mist from
his own eyes.
Il do not know, Pere," patting the
wrinkled yellow face to comfort him.
Childhood is quick to appreciate "But
we will hope it is not true, eh, Perez"
smiling brightly.
Next morning betimes Pere wheeled
Christa to the apothecary's on Canal
street DR.. Pilot was a good old soul
with kindest heart but an old-fashion-
ed skill. Pere LIE Bonheur did not
know this, and it seemed wise to con-
tide his child to "a safe man who had
long experience" The CHEEKY dootar
made jest of the examination to quiet
the futtering baby heart, When II
was over he sent his assistant to buy
some bonbons, while he kept the pret-
| ty one on his knee, tapping her mite
of a hand softly against his large
PALM
"Well, LIE Bonheur," he said in his
big voice, "the caseis hopeless" Then
he explained the matter in Latin
words that no one understood, which
made it all the more dreadful.
you mean?" asked the, fearful old
clerk with a pleading look.
Eyes, that's about it! Your little
girl will never take stepW
The doctor confessed afterward that
he had no idea young children COM
prehend so well. Poor bachelor, he
f, had none of his own to teach him bet
! ter. At his words Christa's brown
eyes grew wide with tears and her lip
| quivered painfully. She held her arms
| to Pere, who gathered her to his bosom,
| his little dove with it's broken wing,
and went out of the apothecary's shop
with a sob in his throat. They had
| forgotten the sugar plums,
After this the lameness was never
mentioned. Rere sometimes caught
her looking at the small neighbors who
| ran in to play and felt his heart bursts
ing at the wistful eyes, but she always
answered his touch upon her head
with a happy face. He took Aer for an
airing whenever he could spare time,
and she always shared his errands of
kindness. One Sunday morning after
mass, when she was nearly eleven,
they went to the charity hospital with
bag of fruit for little girl who had
been run over by milk cart.
The young surgeon in charge looked
earnestly at the winsome Christa in
her wheel chair and asked Pere;
Your little daughter has the hip
diseasea'
Il do not know, monsieur he re-
piled. doctor Pilot tells me it can
not be cured"
"The proof of the pudding is in the
eating" smiled the young man softly,
at the mention of the old practitioners
name, "Let me come and see if there is
no remedyP"
Pere would be only too glad. And
the surgeon found case of congenital
weakness of the ankles, which could
be assisted if not cured. But the pa
tient must go to New York. Pere de-
cided it should be. He scraped and
pinched for the money and it was
now nearly year since she had left
him. Christmas eve, her birthrignt,
had rolled around and she was away
from him the first time in her life.
This was why Pere had visited her
room and hung up her tiny stockings
in feeble effort to cheat himself into
something like the happiness of last
year. But he buried his face deeper
in the empty arms and moaned aloud.
The door opened suddenly and ne
felt pair of soft hands about his neck
and little cheek pressed his, damp
with something not rain.
"Pere, Perez" fell the winesome voice
on his hpngering heart. "I'm come.
and I'm well and can walk like any
thing. See!"
But he would not lose his clasp about
her to enjoy even the miracle of the
cure. Close in his arms, her yellow
curls brushing his old wan face, she
! talked and he listened. Now, indeed, it
was Christmas! Twelve o'clock, and
the child up yet! What would Ag-
alice say? A sudden thought struck
Pere.
"My darling. can you walk to the
church at the corner?" He was hall
afraid of the impudence. "We will be
in time for the 'Agnus Del"
It seemed to him some token be-
longed to Christ that very night.
Il can walk anywhere with my
BRACE" she declared proudly.
So they went Kneeling with Christs
, before the great marble altar, with its
candles all lighted and tiny wa1
! Christus at its base, with the choil
: singing "Glory to God in the Highest
Peace on Earth, Good viii Towaro
; Men," Pere knew foretaste of heaven
? He stretched out his hand, and laying
it on his Christ-child's head, whispered
in his simple old heart: cat twelve
8 years old they brought him to the tenn
/. pie"