Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-12-28
Tint city. once called heautifn1 still


of smoke and burning. The fierce meri-
dian sun drew out the stencil of char
red wood. On every side were the
signs and tokens Of destruction On
every side one heard of loss, and sor-
row, and death
The herd of tourists went tramping
through the city, staring, gaping, eN-
pauatng on the pectacle-disappoin
ed somewhat that things We're no
worse. They had expected to find Ba-
bylon a heap; and here We're her
palaces and churches still standing, her
spires and pinnacles still pointing
heavenward, her domes offering
against the hot blue sky. The tourists
we're disillusioned, and felt they were
getting very little for their money.
The mightier of the ruins remained
as anarchy had left them; but here
and there the work of reparation had
begun. Trade was reviving The mar
ketS had resumed their normal aspect.
and food was to be had at the old
prices. The theaters were beginning
to reopen their doors. Restaurants and
cafes had smartened themselves up to
accommodate floating popula ton of
travellers. taking in this desu.ated Baby
Ion on their way to fairer scenes.
Again the blinking of teaspoons and
the clash of glasses were heard on
the boulevard. The petits ereves, the
cocodettes, had emerged from retire
ment, or had come back from exile.
Paris was Paris again: but a soreIy
impoverished. somewhat Inundated
Paris
kathleen's life pursued its beaten
round all this time The oppressive
heat OF those August days did not de
ter her from her labor. Every morn
ing before the shops were opened she
was in the streets, neatly clad in her
black gown and close black bonnet.
a little marketbaS on her arm,
as of one who went upon a house
Wlfe's errand. In the dim early morn
ing she walked to her destination
one of those two hundred and thirty
two workshops which she had written
down in her list. Some of these We're
an the remoteSt corners of Paris, and
many Of her morning walks were long
and weary; but she was careful to al
low herself ample time for these long
distances. She always studied her
map overnight, and learned the names
of the streets by which she had to go.
She was thoroughly systematic in her
work; and she had by this time ac-
quired wonderful experiences in find
ing her way, wonderful knowledge
of the great wide-spreading town. 1t
seemed to her as if there were not
a corner Of Paris, not nook or an
alley, which she had not explored.
Sometimes her destination was some
foul-smelling lane at Belleville, some
dingy street near Montmartre. She
went as far as Vincennes on one side,
beyond Passy on the other. But what
ever the distance. she went to her
work with the same quiet patience,
the same tranquil aspect. Nobody ever
remarked her as an eccentric-lOOlzing
person.; no one ever saw WildneSS or
eXaltatiOn in her manner She walked
quietly onward, at a moderate bust
ness-lil&e pace, her little basket over
her arm; her pale earnest face shaded
by the neat little Grape veil, tied close
ly round the small black bonnet: and
she inspired no ones wonder OF curl
oslty. A clerks wife, catering Tor her
little household; a sempstress going to
her work. She might be either.
When she reached her destination,
and stood in front CT the curriers'
workshop, her task became more diff
cult. She watched for the going and
coming of the wOrkmen at their break
faSt-hOur, between nine and ten
clock. She had to observe without
being observed. She lowered near the
door of the restaurant where they
took their SOupe au frontage. She had
to loiter in the street of the lane, with
out appearing to be a loiterer. This
but, as every intelligent woman is
instinrtively an actress, she cOntrived
to perform this part of her task so
skilfully as to escape, for the most
part, unquestioned and unremarked
If there were shops in the street all
her little purchases for that humble
menage, which was not much better
than genteel starvation, were made
upon the spot. This gave her the op-
portunity of wasting time, and of
making inquiries. 1t was so easy
while buying pear or handful of
plums at the little fruit-shop, or a roll
at he bakers, to ask a few questions,
in mere idle curiosity as it seemed,
about the curriers' on the other side
of the way. Was it a small or a large
trade, for instance? How many work
men were emplOyed-and what kind
of men? Then if the shopkeeper was
inclined to gossip, and was friendly,
she could watch the men go to their
work from the threshold Of his shop,
and hear his remarks upon them, and
be sure that she saw the full compile
ment employed there.
Now and again it happened that a
workman was ill., or drunk, or idle,
and did not go to his work; and then
after ascertaining this fact, she had to
come back to the same spot again,
once, twice, thrice even, to make sure
of that one Grant workman. For the
man she wanted was one man among
all the curriers' of Paris, and to let
one escape her might be to lose him.
She hunted her prey with the ten
acity of a Red Indian.
The work was very slow work. Aug
ust was nearly over, and she had not
completed the third part Of her list
The curriers' shops were scattered