The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-02-03

pile Of rags, was my fiower-girl, heI
slender form convulsed with sobs. AT
my footstep she sprung up and seized
my hands wildly.
"Oh, save me! ave mel" she excEaim-
ed frantically. "She beat me because
/ would not 60 and steal! She says l
a make nor by that than by selling
flowers! she says she will kill me II l
don't do what she bids me! She has
gone for more drink, and when she
comes back she will kill me- know
she Will"
''She neve will-never shall strike
you again. l exclaimed, taking my re-
solve instantly. Sect Is night. Put
on a dark cloak and take my hand.
We will be far away from here before
she returns"
With the unquestioning faith Of a
child she Obeyed, and five minutes later,
clasping her little cold hand, we stole
out of the cellar.
Here her training stood her in good
stead-for she warned me when to slip
hastily into some doorway, or behind
some tree-box, to elude notice, and
when to hurry along fearlessly.
l got her to a quiet hotel at last, some
miles away from her former abode;
went out again and succeeded In pur
chasing a dress,a cloak, hat and veil and
took them to her, promising to call
early in the morning.
Early as did / call she vas dressed
and ready for me, and an hour later we
were on the train, she claspiug my hand
in perfect trustfulness, and l telling
her what a pleasant home she would
have with my mother, who had long
been wanting a young girl to assist her
with light household duties.
And looking into her lovely face beam.
ing with new hope, and radient with
such perfect trust, l felt that though 1
had failed in my chief mission, l had
succeeded in s%natching q lovely, inno-
cent and helpless girl from the clutches
of q base tyrant, and providing her
with a home such as l knew my moth
er's house would afford.
But W. were approaching the station,
and there stood Mr.. Jackson, my EN-
ployer, scanning the cars as they pass
I'd. Fol a moment, an intense embar-
rassment possessed me. l had thought
to return with the heiress; what would
he say to this substitute, however love-
ly and worthy in her W right? But l
was spared much further c~onjuacturc,
for he had spied me, and in a moment
was beside me as l alighted and as
sisted my companion to the ground.
Harry, my boy-congratulations!
You have done your work nobly-ex-
ceeded my most sanguine expecta-
tions!" he was beginning, when with q
1~eprecating gesture l checked him.
Mr.. Jackson!" l exclaimed" Let me
explain myself afterwards; but first let
say this lady Is not the young lady"
us it pos sible you don't know what
you have been doingY' he broke In, I'M
p%etuously. THE girl is the living i'm
age OF her mother. I knew her well,
twenty-five years ago. / would not
want no more perfect Identification
anywhere. Tell me, my DEAR" he add
ed, turning to my companion, what is
your nameT
''Coralie DAllaire" she answered
with er pretty foreign accent. only"
with a little nervous g~esture-''she
never would let me say more than
Coralie."
Never mind that now" interposed
Mr. Jackson, with instructive compre-
hension. THAT accent only confirms
the Identification. Her father was q
Frenchman:. Where were you going to
take her, Harry-homew
YES. 1 replied, thoroughly bewild-
cred by this unexpected turn Of affairs.
"A. good plan-couldn't be better.
Then come to the office. l want to
hear the whole story"
He hurried away, and esoorting my
protegee to my mothers house, L left
her there, and hurried at once to the
office. Mr.. Jackson bad gathered addi-
tional data during my absence, which
established Coralie's Identity beyond a
doubt, and later, in a conversation with
her, every detail was confirmed. Her
mother had died utterly destitute, in
the home of the old harridan, who, by
means of Coralie's ignorance OF the
country, and consequent helpressness,
had retained her hold upon her and
made her a source Of income.
well, my boy" said Mr.. Jackson,
some months later, calling to offer his
congratulations, you did pretty we'll
on your first business trip-found an
heiress and a prospective bride at the
same time" .
lit was no skill or ability Of mine,
SIR" I answered, pressing Coralie's lit
tie hand. 1T was the little thing that
chance did, that brought me not only
success but this rich reward"