Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-11-13

terrible weather. And the foot warmers
you know, are cold"
"What can we do, monsieur We have
telegraphed to Tonnerre for navvies, but,
as | said before, we must wait an hour at
least"
"It il abominable. Your majesty will
| take coldr' exclaimed the baroness.
eyes, indeed, am very cold," SAID tne
queen, shivering.
The general perceived that the hour for
beroism had come. He opened the car
riage door, sprang out, buried hlmseI up
to his knees in snow and caught the man
with the lantern. He said something IN
low voice to him. -
''If it were the great mogul hlmsen l
could do nothing" replied the oirclai'
"but we are close to the cottage OIL sls
mailman; he may have fire-and II the
lady likes to get out-eh, SabaLerF
A second lantern approached.
go and see if the signalman has fire"
Fortunately he had. The general was
more pleased than if he had gained bat
tie. He returned to the queen and told her
the result of his inquiries.
The next minute the three travellers were
stamping their feet to remove the snow
from their boots in the low room OF the
cottage to which the signalman had con
! ducted them, and he in his fur cap was
kneeling before the fire throwing dry logs
! on to the smoldering ashes.
r The oueen, seated in front of the cheer
= | ful flames, had thrown her cloak on to the
e back of her chair. She had drawn OH mel
long gloves to warm her hands and was
: gazing around her.
h 1t was q PEASANTS room, with noor o.
Il dried earth and strings of onions hanging
n from the blackened rafters. An old mus
n ket rested on two nails above the hearth
and on a shelf were few Powered plates
rs The general made grimace as he say
70 two cheap prints fastened to the wall VIII
d pips; one was the portrait of M. Thiers
p the other of Garibaldi in his red shirt.
But the queens attention is attracted
IA something by the side Of the big bed, a
x, most hidden by the striped cotton curtain
ne "a wicker cradle, whence comes the SCUM
ly of yawning made by waking child.
at In an instant the signalman has lett I'll
ry fire and is gently rocking the cradle.
X Don't be frightened, darling; there
nothing to be afraid of; tits only some
er daddy's friends"
hit This man in the fur cap seemed goo
father. He had head as bald as Sc. Peter
ed the coarse mustache of an old soldier. al
tn two deep scars on his face.
up SIS it your own little girlf" inquired q
lily queen quite interested.
lat ''Yes, madame, my little Cecile; she W
al be three next month"
on "Are you widowerl"
The man shook his head sadly. And I
ew queen, quite touched, rose, moved iowa
he the cradle, and looked down on little Gee
all sleepinp so peacefully, little wooden d
ith clasped lovingly in her small arms.
Poor child" she murmured.
md eyes. indeed" said the signalman in
len lovv voice "a mother must be hearth
mi to forsake little girl like this But it v
ace my own fault she left me. had no Du
ness to marry woman so much younI
ant than myself, and was to blame In all'
nth ing her TO 90 to the town where she ms
Veo bad acquaintance"
ent' But to leave this darlingl How co.
her, she do itY And Pm left to bring her uT
md best can. It's not easy because OF
bis work. At night, when hear the eng
ana whistle, often have to go OH ana lie
her crying.
her But in the daytime l carry her ON
ling left arm and wave my flag with my ri
With and she never even starts when the exp
into fies by Her frocks and caps give me n
u be trouble, but luckily a corporal in
|
had about needles and thread"
bing But, my poor man" said the queen
is very hard upon you. Listen sh
lppi- like to help you. There must be vll
six somewhere near, and honest people
dent would undertake the charge OF your J
the girl If it is only question OF money
her The sienalrnan shakes his head
low, mo. my good lady, no. I'm not pr
ven Twill accept thankfully anything you
hich like to do for my Cecile--but can Z
as let her leave me; no, not even for an nc
ienly But why mott"
rown "Why notS" returns the man, sadly
gravely. Because can trust no one
radle To make the child what her mother Is
which An honest woman. Would MADAM
nber, so good as to rock Cecile bit2 I'm
ough ed on the line"
the No one will ever know what wer
Young queens thoughts that winter
'rself as she rocked the child Of the poor 81
'op OF man, while the general and the bare
IS and whose assistance she declined, sat cr'
royal ing over the blazing fire.
20 ca When the guard opened the dool
) they called out, "Allons, messieurs ct di
royal the express is just going to start,
night oueen laid her well filled purse an
tn his bunch of violets from her waisthaI
the coverlet Of little Cecile's cradl'
these entered the train again.
II the But her majesty only staid two d
paris. and then returned direct to III
hough which she now rarely leaves, and
was so she devotes herself entirely to her
Translated from the French OF Fir
would Cappee for Boston Globe
it the
ape' ~ From Peasant to Sultana.