The Portland daily press., 1894-05-22
A CHILD'S INFLUENCE.

IA OhEAhD NJ 1lt2 AlQ OAe
The Snow had been falling all day long,
and the dark November weather had
changed the streets of Paris to dismal
drains for the melting flakes.
An omnibus stopped at the head Of
Prony street. and from it's aristocratic in
terror stepped a 15-year-old boy, with a
morocco satchel under his arm. He ran to
the door of an elegant house, and the next
moment was Gathering up the marble
steps into the vestibule.
It's mother homer" he asked of the serv-
ant as she helped him off with his wet
overcoat and leggings.
NO." was the answer. "Her ladyship
has not come in"
'And my sisters?"
"Miss Christine and Miss Yvonne are in
the reception room with Diana and their
dolls.''
In the reception room he found Chris
tine seated before cheerful fire.
Ga, how glad am that you have got
nsne!' she cried, throwing her arms about
his neck 1--WE are so lonely! Father
went out soon after breakfast and mother
about the time you left for school. Father
came back with some cakes, but he went
right out again"
IT have been thinking of father and
mother all schooltime. Something is
wrong Have you not noticed, Christine?"
Mother seemed little put out with IA
ther. But that is nothing new. have no
ticed that this long time"
Eyes, . cried little g. 6-year-old Yvonne, 1T
have often seen papa crying when caught
him in the study and put my hands over
his eyes. Ever since the lady in red''-
"What is she chattering about?" inter
rupted the boy, with superior air.
Yvonne was touched in her feminine
weak spot.
II know it better than you, for was
with mamma Wewere coming out of the
Louvre shops, and had my balloon, the
one that you broke''-
You should say burst" said her broth
Taking no notice, the child went on
with her story.
''Then mamma said to Firmin: Il am
going to walk across the Palais Royal.
Have the carriage for us before the
Bourse ,"
Christine and Gaetan looked at each
other, hardly able to keep from laughing.
But Yvonne kept on with her reflections.
L
when we met papa with the lady in red
mamma drew me away and squeezed my
wrist SO hard she hurt me-"
ssWhat lady in red?'' exclaimed Chris
tine.
''There, now," cried Yvonne, "perhaps
you'll believe me- And the lady had an
elegant bonnet and gold veil, and silk
parasol, and-and"-
But Gaetan jumped up suddenly and
exclaimed: Don't listen to her nonsense.
Why should not papa walk with lady in
red if he wants to? There are plenty of
ladies who come here on mammals Thurs
days, and she and papa don't get angry
over them"
''Of course not, J" said Christine.
The hours crept on, the Greek theme
was written, and Ovid was in a fair way to
be converted into bad French, when lone
illness proved too much for Gaetan's phi
losophy, and he got up to rejoin his sister
by the fire.
just then several quick, sharp peals of
the bell were heard, and beautiful young
woman soon made her appearance The
children had hardly finished stormy but
afectionate welcome to their mother when
the door again opened, and their father
came in. He received the children's ca
resses in an abstracted way, and turning
to the countess said, with some emotion:
"Clotilde, we must arrange our affairs i'm
mediately. Take the children out and
come back here, beg Of you"
'tAs you like" she said
Left alone, Count Bellefontaine took the
code from the table and opened it at ar
ticles 1448 and 1449 and read:
1.-The wife who has obtained decree of
separation from bed and board assumes
the free control of her property She must
contribute to the expense Of educating the
children of the marriage. If her husband
has no property, she must bear the whole
of this expense"
He closed the book and leaned upon the
mantel with his back to the fire and said:
II don't care for the money, but the chill
dren. None Of them is to go with me-
TIE Judge SO ordered, and they are to be
brought to see nee once a month. As if I
were no longer their father, because No
consideration! Temptation, weakness
never taken into account, and then in three
years divorce-unless Clotilde should for
give. She'll never do that, for she has
chosen this course. Thank you, Clotiide, -
he continued. You have not kept me
waiting. Here are the keys of my secre-
tary. You will find cash and title deeds
all safe.''
''And how about yourselfs How are you
to liver Though I have been wronged,
bear your name and cannot permit you to
suffer-
II thank you, Clotilde for your COM
miseration, but cannot accept it at your
hands,
so, having broken your faith, you wish
now to play the magnanimousp
Remember that have been defeated
am punished enough
THAT is so, but that punishment weighs
upon me, too, and more heavily than you
imagine. The sight of my ruined home,
the publicity of all and the scandal afoat. -
'You were infexible.'
my dignity was at stake, sir.''
Say your pride"
eyes, and my hate. could not forgive
you for giving me a rival.'
"a rival I have told you a hundred
times how it was. You were off in the
,.,,.+..- ,,,,re;nr yoY1r ynathar Won had