The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-01
terrible weather, And the foot warmers.

w hat can we do, monsieur? We have
teleEraphed to Tonnerre for navvics, but.
rs said before, we must wait an hour at
least"
ut is abominable. Your majesty will
take cold!' exclaimed the baroness
1ca, indeed, am very cold" said the
queen, sivcring
The general perceived that the hour for
heroism had come He opened the car.
riagc door. spran,; out, buried himself UP
10 ms knees III snow and caught the man
with the 'a".crn. lie said something IN Il
low voice to him
IN 1T were the great mogul himself
could do nothing" replied the official.
but we are close to the cottage of n siy-
mailman; he may have !; iire-and if the
Iauy likes to get DUTCH, Sabalicrl'
a second lantern approached.
90 and See If the signalman has IL fire"
fortunately he had. The general wGs
more pleased than if he had gained ba.-
tie lie 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 cen
Quoted them and he in his fur cap was
kncelinS before the fire throwing dry lo.,s
The queen, seated in front of the cheer
full flames, had thrown her cloak on to the
back OF her chair. She had drawn off her
long gloves to warm her hands and was
gazing around her.
III was n PEASANTS room, with floor Of
dried earth and strings of onions hanging
from the backcncd iaftcrs An old mus
kct rested on two nails above the iniear,i,
ami on II shelf were Il few lowered plates.
The general made grimacc rs he saw
TWO cheap prints fastened To the wall with
pins; one was the portrait of NJ. THEIRS.
the other OF Garibalt.; in his rcd shirt.
But the queens attoAi ON is ATTRACTED, by
something b. the side q the big bed. nj.
most hidden by the striped cotton curtains
ii wicker cradle, whence comes the soui.d
OF yawning made by Il waking Child.
in I'M instant the sis;nalman has left tie
lire and Is gently rock ing the cradle
Don't be frightened, darling: there's
nothing to be afraid of; it's only some of
dadtly's friends"
This man in the fur cap seemed a uno,.
father He had Il head as bald as St. Peters.
the coarse muatache of an old soldier, and
two deep scars on his face.
us 1t your OWE little girl!" inquired TIC
queen, quite interested.
Yes, madame, my little Cecile; she will
VIC IHICc i.cNb HlOUlll.
"Are you n widowcr?"
The man shook his head sadly. And the
queen, quite touched, rose, moved toward
the cradle and looked down on little Cccile
sleeping so peacefully, Il little wooden dog
claspcd lovingly in her small arms.
Poor child" she murmured.
Yes, indeed" said the signalman in n
low voice. "a mother must be heartlcss
to forsake a little girl like this. But it was
my own fault she left me. had no bust
ness to marry woman SO much younger
than myself, and was TO blame in allow
Ing her to 90 to the town where she made
bad acQua!ntanccs."
3ut TO leave this darling! How could
she 60 1t? And Pm left to bring her up rs
best can. It's not easy because of nv
work. At night, when hear the engine
whistle, often have to so of and leave
her crying.
"But in the daytime carry her on my
LETT arm and wave my flag with my right,
;ind she never even starts when the express
flies BY Her frocks and caps give me most
trouble, but luckily II corporal in the
Zo"avcs generally gets to know sometime.
about ncc,!les and thread"
"!ut, my poor man" said the queen, at
is very hard upon You. Listen should
like To help you There must be II village
somewhere near, and honest people who
would undertake the charge of your little
g'rl Il it is Only Il question of moncy:'-
The s!Snalnan shakes his head
80, my good lady, no. Pm not nrou1
will accept thankfully anything you NAV
IKE to 90 for my Cccic-hnt can never
let her leave me; no, not even for an hour"
"I!ut why not?"
why not" returns the man. sadly and
GiT;vc,y. because | can trust no one else
to make the child what her mother is no.
AN honest woman. Would madame he
so i:ood as TO rock Ceciie Il bit? Pm want
ed on the line"
no one will ever know what were the
young queens thoughts that winter night
us she rocked the child of the poor signal
man, while the general and the baroness,
whose assistance she declined, sat crouch
Ing, ever the blazing fire.
When the guard opened the door and
called out, "Allons, mcssieurs ct DANES.
the express is just going to start" the
queen laid her well filled purse and the
banch of violcts from her Taistband OH
the covcrlet of little Cecile's cradle, and
entered the train again.
But her majesty only staid two DAYS in
Paris, and then returned direct to Prague.
which she now rarely leaves, ard where
she dcvotes herself entirely TO her SON.
Transmitted from the French of Francois
Cappcc for Boston Globe.
From Peasant to SultanD