The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-10-25
CONTINUED.
'pubLl3HED 81 5PfclaC 1REAHGEMtN1 ~1~y-.

"waiki feel like as If I could Almost
dance In 'em, I'm that light. Just like
dream, where you feels IL you could fly.
An 1t don't seem real neither. 1t kinder
frightens me to think as | may wake up
presently and find myself on the sacks up
in the corner of Baxter's wharf,
Turn it about. Say that this Is the
awakening, and Baxter's wharf the dream
to be forgotten"
tried to realize that, but my heart and
brain gave way under the strain put upon
them.
"Its too much for me all at once" said
struggling with my hysterical emotion
ITS more'n l can bear. Don't you say
another word to me just for minute or
two, or I'll make fool of myself again"
But though he did not speak, and turned
away, biting my lip TO stop its quiyering
the tears would spring in my eyes and
choking sobs rise in my throat.
Pm a-goin off, think" said l. with a
queer laugh, at length. at amt so much
these clos and things-it's this kindness
as comes over me. amt used to 1t. This
Is twice I've give way like this. Herep'
suddenly turning, in impotence with my
weakness ~ amt a,goin to carry on this
here way no more. I'm a-goin to be regular
good, am"
Taras nodded approvingly, and placing a
chair for me seated himself
There's the purse you give me: I've only
paid for the boots out of it," said |, offering
the purse
keep It; you are sure to want other
things You may see some ornaments that
you would like for your room-this would
look homeller for IL few triiles such as you
girls delight In"
There's somethin in here, though, az |
must give you, 'cause''- Not knowing
what excuse to make, took out the iron
ring had stolen from him in silence and
held 1t ont to him with shamed face
He took it,with smile, and putting 1t on
told me that II | wanted it again should
have it, but In a tone which led me to think
that there was more in his words than
then understood.
At that moment Mere Lucas entered the
room with the soup, and her EXPLANATIONS
of establishment as she recognized me in
my new gown gave a new turn to our
thoughts. Having set down the tureen, she
stepped back, and putting her hands on her
hips surveyed me from head to foot with
smiling admiration, while she conveyed
her thoughts In confidential but perfectly
audible asides. l distinguished only the
words "elegante" and "propre," but these
just served to whet my appetite for fat
terry,
"She says I'm elegant and proper, but
what else does she saySn asked eagerly
"Ahl to understand Mere Lucas compli-
ments you must learn French" Taras re-
piled, laughing. Come, let us see If her
dinner isn't Just as nice"
"Dinnerp' | exclaimed, why, we've had
one, How many do you have n day, for
goodness sake2" That dinner stands out in
my recollection as the most delightful |
have ever had There was greater variety
OF dishes than at a lunch, and each--espe-
cially a wonderful gateau prepared express
ly for me-was q fresh surprise. The can
dies, clustered round a boquet of bright
flowers and delicate grasses, shed soft
light over the table, the silver glttered, and
the wine shone like ruby in the glasses, Ii
afforded mo great satisfaction to he able,
after one or two little accidents, to hold my
knife and fork az Taras did, to forego the
habit OF resting my elbows on the table,
and to find that after all, thanks to my
large French seryiette. had not made a
| single spot on my new gown.
When we had finished our little cups of
| black coffee, ventured to ask Taras what
he usually did in he evening
"Well, usually | saunter along the en-
bankmcnt for half an hour or So" he TO
! piled.
"Would you mind me a-goin along with
you jest for oncesn asked.
| He glanced at my dress with moment S
hesitation, and then, overcoming his
! qIalms, said that he should be very happy
| to take NO.
jest you wait bit, )" said I, Jumping up.
"I'll be down in iiffy."
| The 'iiffy," / fear, must have been a
| rather tedious one to Taras, but at length
came down in my dark skirt, my sealskin
| Jacket and toqne and a pair Of pale kid
gloves.
"What dye think of me now," 1 asked
| fl eXultation.
Taras purposely restrained himself from
saying all he felt, for fear that praise might
do more harm than good at this time. and
| felt little disappointment when he said
very quietly that nlydress was ladylike and
graceful.
We walked over Westminster bridge and
along the embankment to the temple and
then back. My walking boots were tight
and plnched my feet cruelty, but had thu
pain been 10 times sharper could have
borne it cheerfnlly and without murmur
Indeed almost exulted in this suffering
and In the effort to conceal the slightest
trace of it from TarRs, with the feeling in 9
minor degree Of martyr enduring torture
for great cause. The gain to me was moth
ing less than tremendous. But yesterday
girls stopped to laugh in my face and jec,
at my grotesque distress; now they glanced
at me with looks of envy. There was moth
Ing ludicrous in my appearance, nothing
anomalous In my walking beside wei
dressed gentleman. l appeared to be hi,
equal.
Taras himself seemed pleased to have 6
companion to talk to-not that said much
| for was unused to taking any part in con
versation; my powers of forming ideas and
| expressing them were wholly undeveloped
and my chief anxiety was to hold my shoul
ders back like Miss Hopkins and to find q
gait which was neither shutting nor jerlly
He knew my tnabililgto talk. and so kept
up an easy running bat which called fol
nothing beyond .'yes'fi er mo" on my part
remember he told me the history of Mere
Lucas life-how years ago she had starved
with her husband in besieged Paris, when
even the rich could not get food; how she
had fought beside him on the barrlcades
where he was killed; how she herself mar
rowly escaped being shot with other com
munists only to be transported to an island
| thousands of miles from her country and
friends, and how, on her return to Paris
she found her children dead and not friend
to help her.
"She don't look like as If she'd gone
through all that" said /.
mo; time brings forgetfulncss, thank
Godl' he replied. But it struck me even
then that the old woman owed more to his
humanity than to time
A gentleman stood with his hand on the
knocker as we reached our door.
Come in. l am glad to see you" said
Taras, opening the door with his key, and
then, as we entered the living room, he in